Kelly Fisher-Goodwin didn’t know for sure whether she would be back for the Tour of Lawrence in 2014 after winning both the Kansas University campus race and the downtown criterium — making her the overall women’s champion — a year ago.

The issue wasn’t her interest in the three-day event itself, which begins tonight on Vermont Street with sprint races. Fisher-Goodwin and her family are moving to Louisiana in July, and she didn’t know if the timing would work out.

“I was pretty sure if I could get away, I’d be coming back,” the 39-year-old who currently lives in central Missouri said, adding her decision solidified when her entry fee was comped by the event’s organizers because she is the defending champion. “That’s one thing that’s really cool and if they continue to do I would try to even travel back for it.”

More than 600 cyclists, including professionals such as Fisher-Goodwin, will compete at the sixth annual USA Cycling-sanctioned event, which also is open to amateurs.

Brian Jensen, of Lawrence, rode as a regular professional with a team until 2008 and has competed in the Tour of Lawrence every year of its existence. He took second place in the KU campus race last year to champion Joseph Schmalz, who also will be back this weekend.

Saturday’s campus race, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with different levels of cyclists competing, will be Jensen’s first this weekend. While the spectacle of tonight’s street sprints are entertaining, Jensen would prefer to watch.

“Some guys get really excited about it. I guess if you’re good you get excited about it, and if you’re not good at it you don’t really want to do it,” he said, hinting with humility he falls into the latter group.

Races conclude Sunday with the downtown criterium, featuring a course around Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets. Jensen called it a unique event that he looks forward to every summer.

“Anything that’s at home has a lot more value,” the city racer said. “It’s just more interesting — your friends are watching.”

Fisher-Goodwin, originally from Kansas City, agreed, and hopes she’ll be able to return in the future, even after she has moved away.

“This could be it. I’m hoping it won’t be,” she said. “I’d like to come back for this race. The atmosphere is really fun.”

The races free for spectators and Tour of Lawrence organizers said the public is encouraged to line the streets of the race courses.

Tour of Lawrence

Today — Street sprints: 7 p.m. on Vermont Street

Saturday — KU campus circuit race: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 2.25-mile loop through KU’s campus

Sunday — Downtown criterium: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 0.8-mile course on Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets