The USA Cycling National Championship time trial and road race returns to Greenville this Memorial weekend. The Professional Individual Time Trial National Championship will be held Saturday, May 26. The Professional Road Race National Championship presented by TD Bank will be held Monday, May 28.
More than 300,000 spectators have watched the GHS USA Cycling Professional Championships in the past six years, and more than $500,000 has been raised by the Palmetto Peloton Project (Stars & Stripes Challenge) events for cancer research, benefiting the GHS Cancer Center.
The Time Trial race will be held on the south section of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) campus, near the intersection of Millenium Boulevard and Research Drive. The event is free and open to the public, and event parking is available at the CU-ICAR Autopark.
Before the professional races begin, spectators are encouraged to come early and watch the Roger C. Pease US Handcycling National Criterium Championship, presented by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. About 30 elite handcyclists will compete. And just before the pro race, you can watch the Top 20 fundraisers for the Peloton Project’s Stars and Stripes Challenge, presented by Amgen, race the clock.
The Championship course is 6.9 miles long, wtih the professional competitors completing three laps for a total of 20.7 miles. The handcyclists will complete one lap.
The course has three roundabouts where you can watch cyclists pass in both directions. Race announcers will call the action at the Start/Finish line.
The Road Race, held in downtown Greenville on Monday, pits more than 125 professional cyclists on a 110 mile course. The race will finishes at South Main and Camperdown Streets in downtown Greenville. The event is free and open to the public; parking is available at several downtown garages and lots.
The course should be challenging, with four large circuits taking the pros over Paris Mountain. Up to six shorter circuits are planned in downtown Greenville, so fans in this area can see the peloton pass 10 times! The full laps include the climb up Paris Mountain, and should take about 45 minutes per lap. Racers will go up the Furman University side of the mountain. These shorter circuits at the beginning and end of the race will use downtown streets. Fans can see cyclists pass every 8-10 minutes on these shorter circuits.
Threre’s plenty to do downtown while the race is underway. Free activities are available at the Health and Wellness Expo, adjacent to the course. While the professional road race is underway, the U.S. Handcycling Series criterium will take place downtown. And children 3-12 can participate in a free Kid’s Race.
Event website – http://www.usacyclingchampionships.com/default.aspx
The SC State Cycling Championship which in the past has been held in conjunction with the USA Cycling National Championship will be held June 9 at Fork Shoals School.
SC Cycling Championship website –
http://www.usacycling.org/events/getflyer.php?permit=2012-2273
