CYCLISTS, not motorists, were breaking the speed limit on Friday, as parts of Wangarattas CBD became a temporary circuit for elite riders to do battle in the Sam Miranda Tour of the King Valley, as part of the 2015 Subaru National Road Series. The criterium circuit took in the block of Docker, Norton, Cusack and Ovens streets, which had a significant disruption to vehicular traffic and access. The event was met with mixed reaction from members of the public and businesses some appreciating having such a prestigious event right in the heart of the city, while others were aghast at the inconvenience on a busy Friday afternoon. Rural City of Wangaratta economic development manager, Gary Warrener, believed the event had gone quite well. People took up various vantage points around the circuit, including at a number of cafes close to the action, he said. It has been a great promotion for the city, especially with television coverage. Mr Warrener said there were limited location options for the street criterium, and the traffic management plan would be subject to review. But he remained upbeat about the overall benefit of an event said to generate $2 million into the region, having attracted not only the 200 best road racers in the country, but also more than 1000 other competing cyclists exposed to the lovely King Valley. The State Government was certainly behind the efforts of local vigneron and confessed cycling tragic Sam Miranda to grow the event he started in 2007. Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) announced on Friday a $15,000 grant in support of the significant tourism event. A Cycling Australia spokesperson told the Wangaratta Chronicle yesterday they had been very happy with the threeday, four stage event. Yesterday, however, proved a day of racing drama, with a serious crash seeing the mens race abandoned, and the womens race was also marred by a crash, and was subject to a protest, changing the result.