New London - A Dutch team comprising "welders, car mechanic, postman, teacher and students ... from a country where the national pastime is bicycle racing" has arrived in the city for the Whaling City Cyclone cycling event at Fort Trumbull Sunday.

New London Mayor Rob Pero will welcome them at a City Hall reception at 5 p.m. today.

The team will first compete in New Britain at the Nutmeg Games Saturday, said Race Director Bill Humphreys. The seven-member ORA team of Robbie King, the two-time winner of the Cyclone, will also compete.

The 35-mile, 56-lap race starts at 2:30 on Walbach Street. The first of nine races starts at 8:30 a.m.

To view the race, enter the Fort Trumbull neighborhood from Howard Street. Parking is available in the Pfizer Inc. visitors parking lot and opposite the Italian Dramatic Club building.