A thousand bicyclists are expected to meet at Lake Sammamish State Park this Saturday for the Lake Sammamish Grand Prix, the first of a six-race series in the sport of cyclocross.

Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing that takes place on varied terrain, often switching quickly between pavement, grass, gravel or — in the case of Lake Sammamish State Park — sand.

“That sand element isn’t found at any of our other races,” said Zac Daab, the co-founder of race organizer MFG Cyclocross. “Sand is unlike other terrain, unlike mud or unlike dirt. It really wants to suck your wheel down, making it difficult to hold to a straight line. It’s pretty difficult to go fast.”

Lake Sammamish has been included in MFG’s fall Cyclocross Series almost every year since it was established in 2009 by Daab and co-founder Terry Buchanan.

Since then, attendance has grown to an average of 1,000 competitors per race day while the number of categories has swollen to 29, Daab said.

Single-speed bicycle racing has become one of the more popular categories for both men and women. This will be the second year the race has included a beginner’s category that welcomes families.

The Lake Sammamish GP will begin at 9:30 a.m. with Junior Boys and Girls and Beginning Women races.

More information about the race and registration can be found at MFG Cyclocross’ website.