Despite wet weather, Downtown Lawrence this morning was converted into a national championship bike racing course.

Events for the 2005 Collegiate Road National Championships began as scheduled at 8 a.m. this morning as steady rain fell on the downtown area.

The event has closed parts of downtown to traffic — including portions of Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire streets — from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Bill Mitchell, race director, said the weather had not delayed the event and that the area would be open for traffic by 3:15 p.m.

The event is in town through Sunday, but today is the only day races will be held in downtown. On Sunday, the event will close the South Lawrence Trafficway from U.S. Highway 40 to Iowa Street from 6:30 a.m. to about 11 a.m. Sunday.