With a cloudless sky helping to provide summer-like temperatures, competitors in the Clocktower Classic handcycling event zipped through downtown Rome during Saturday’s criterium stage of the race.

Carlos Moleda, of Bluffton, S.C., captured first place during the criterium.

Moleda has been among the leaders in the overall standings throughout the five-stage race, which resumed on Saturday morning with the Hill Climb portion of the race, followed by the criterium later in the afternoon.

Matthew Upshaw, Dane Pilon and Moleda owned the best aggregate times following the Hill Climb race.

The event resumes, and concludes, today at Technology Parkway with the time trial that begins at 10 a.m.

The postrace awards ceremony will be today following the time trial.

The Clocktower Classic Handcycle is the only timed stage race specifically for handcycles in the nation.

The event begin Thursday in Cedartown with the prologue time trial in Cedartown, then shifted to the grueling 36-mile Road Race.

Then came Saturday’s Stage 3 Hill Climp that started at Fouche Gap Road and ended atop Lavender Mountain.