September 26, 2009 TD Bank Mayor's Cup brings cycling to Boston Play video

(NECN: Kristen Caira, Boston, Mass.) - The streets around Boston's City Hall were shut down to traffic for the city's first professional cycling race.

The TD Bank Mayor's Cup attracted the top cyclists from around the nation on Saturday.

"It's special because we can't venues like this to race, and when we get venues like this, we get crowds like this," racer Kyle Wamsely said.

Mayor Thomas Menino said that this race was the first step in making Boston a world-class bicycling city.

"It's part of our Greener Boston. We have put 250 bike racks in, we'll have 500 in by this time next year," Mayor Menino said. "Also, we've got bike lanes -- we're increasing the bike lanes."

The cycling will continue on Sunday during the 5th annual Hub On Wheels, for amateurs. The event will raise money to buy computers for Boston public schools.