NOTES AND QUOTES for a Tuesday in the Napa Valley:

The Napa River Velo Gran Prix, a criterium which takes place April 4 in downtown Napa, is expected to draw 500 cyclists.

There will be nine timed races, to be held on a .45-mile course with the start-finish line in front of the Napa County Criminal Courthouse at Third and Brown streets. Races start at 8 a.m. and run until 5 p.m.

The professional elite men’s 1⁄2 race starts at 4 p.m. and will last for an hour. The course goes north on Main St., west on Second St., south on Brown St., west on Third St., and east on Third. The finishing sprints, which could reach speeds of up to 35 mph, will be on Third St.

“It’s a very short course,” said Jess Raphael, the race director, who added that there are four 90-degree turns and a 270-degree turn. “It’s extremely technical and it involves a lot of short bursts of speed and then decelerations and banked turns, a lot of very close grouping. The more technical a course is, the safer it is, because it keeps the speeds down.”

Several of the races will go for 40 minutes.

“It’s a spectacular spectator event, because you can see almost the entire course from anywhere on Third Street,” said Raphael.

A special race for children of all ages will begin at 11:30 a.m., with several starts for the different age groups. Participation is free. All participants must be registered and have a helmet. The kids’ race is sponsored by the Napa Sheriff’s Activities League.

This is the second year for the downtown criterium, sanctioned by USA Cycling. It’s part of the Northern California/Nevada Cycling Association.

“Since we’re a second-year event, we should have more of a following,” said Raphael. “I think the word’s gotten around about us.”

Cash prizes and awards of Cycles Gladiator wine, bike products from Napa River Velo, Cytomax, and many others will be presented to the top finishers. A most aggressive rider award will be given for each race.

There is no charge for spectators. Proceeds go to benefit the Stone Bridge School. Volunteers from Stone Bridge School, ZteaM and the Eagle Cycling Club will assist with the event. For more information, contact Raphael at jessraphael@sbcglobal.net.

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Cal State Sacramento’s Jake Croxdale, a freshman, and Weber State’s Ryan Galovic, a senior, were named to the Big Sky Conference’s 2008 Fall All-Academic Team for football. Both are Napa High graduates.

Croxdale is a running back who is majoring in kinesiology. Galovic is a linebacker who is majoring in technical sales.

The Big Sky also recognized athletes on men’s and women’s cross country, women’s soccer and volleyball teams.

Croxdale played in 11 games and rushed for 347 yards on 94 carries, a 3.7-yard average, and scored one touchdown. He averaged 31.5 yards per game for the Hornets, who went 6-6 overall, including a 3-5 mark in the Big Sky.

Croxdale also caught three passes for 30 yards.

Sacramento will open its 2009 spring practice schedule on April 8. The Hornets will conduct 14 practices and two scrimmages before capping the offseason with the annual spring game on May 2.

Also playing for the Hornets are Carlo Trinchero, a linebacker, who went to St. Helena, and Jarred Pereira, a linebacker from Vintage.

Galovic was a team captain and starting roverback on defense for Weber State, which finished last year’s season with a 10-4 overall record (7-1 Big Sky) and was voted seventh in the final Sports Network poll and ninth in the NCAA Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) Coaches poll.

He had 45 total tackles for the season.

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Justin-Siena football highlights will be shown on Napa Community Public Access Cable TV-Channel 27 on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. throughout the month of April.

Channel 27 will also carry Justin-Siena football senior tributes on Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:45 p.m.

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Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo right-hander Mark DeVincenzi got the win, pitching three scoreless innings of relief in the Mustangs’ 18-15 victory over Cal State Bakersfield March 23.

DeVincenzi (2-0), a Justin-Siena graduate, gave up one hit, walked one and struck out three. He came into the game in the fifth inning and retired all three batters he faced, including two on sacrifice flies.

DeVincenzi also threw two innings in a relief appearance in Cal Poly’s 14-9 win over Dartmouth March 25. He gave up two hits and struck out two.

E-mail Executive Sports Editor Marty James at mjames@napanews.com or call 256-2223.