WHERE TO WATCH – Spectator Viewing for Road Race Championships
Start Time: 9 am Event: Road Race Championship for Women (64.7 miles/104 km)
Start Time: 12:30 pm Event: U.S. Handcycling Criterium Championships for men & women
Start Time: 1:30 pm Event: Road Race Championship for Men (102.8 miles/165 km)
ï‚· The official Start/Finish at E MLK Blvd and Market Street is the prime location for spectators. Most of the activities are free for the entire family, and here are some highlights:
o see the rider introductions and interviews from the awards stage before each race start
o watch race action on a Big Screen TV and listen to the announcers as they describe the climbs, the hairpin turns, the breakaways
o witness multiple laps before the exciting finishes – men will cross through the start/finish line 11 times and the women will cross eight times!
o visit the 2014 Volkswagen USA Cycling Professional Championships Expo with free stuff from vendors, including: Volkswagen, USA Cycling, Cuore, Osmo Nutrition, Bonk Breaker, Shimano, American Bicycle Group- Litespeed, Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga, Get Out Magazine, UnitedHealthcare, Sports Legs, Mavic, Madaris Siding & Windows, LLC, Pacenti Cycle Design
o shop the Farmer’s Market on Monday, which will be part of the Expo
o sign up the children (ages 3-12) by Noon at the Expo for the free UnitedHealthcare Kid’s Races. Once registered, parents will get more info about the start at 3pm
o and of course, get a good spot to see finishes of 3 exciting races – women’s championship, men’s championship and U.S. Handcycling
ï‚· Check out the Sierra Nevada Beer Garden, located on E. MLK Blvd near the start/finish. Drink responsibly with friends and enjoy $5 beer in an area next to all the action. Funds raised will support Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga.
ï‚· Use the Chattanooga Bicycle Transit System to access different sections of the race course all day. Near the start/finish, some of the nearby bicycle stations are at:
o MLK Blvd & Lindsay St
o MLK Blvd & Market St
o Broad St & 10th
o McCallie Ave & Lindsay St
o Market St & 12th
ï‚· Race circuits downtown will be on start laps and finish laps* highlights are:
o can't get better than the watching from corner of Market Street and McCallie – racers use this intersection TWO TIMES on each lap and both are sharp left-hand turns!
o watch first laps at corner of 1st Street and John Ross Bridge, then visit Tennessee Aquarium or Hunter Museum of American Art
o watch first laps of race along Market St, then use Bike Share to cross Walnut St Bridge (pedestrian and bicycles only) and enjoy lunch on The North Shore or at Coolidge Park
o buy some food and drinks at one of the restaurants on The North Shore along River St or Frazier Ave, then take your lawn chair and set up a spot to watch the pros battle on the new Hill Climb on Woodland Ave and Kent Street
o take a picnic to Coolidge Park for the day. You can walk to several good viewing spots, or just sit on a blanket and enjoy a big screen TV with live audio/video feed of all the races!
ï‚· Want a great spot for photos on The North Shore? There are three sections that are on the course and near all the restaurants and shops…
1. sharp "S" turns from N. Market Street Bridge to Frazier to Woodland. This section begins the GTI Launch Hill Climb. Look for the Volkswagen display to score some noisemakers! 2. sharp 90-degree turn from Forest Ave back to Frazier. This is a swooping downhill. 3. 90-degree turn from Frazier to Veterans Bridge, with downtown Chattanooga in the background.
ï‚· Along Georgia Ave and Vine St, this is near Fountain Square Park and several restaurants. Watch the peloton make a sharp left-hand turn toward Univ of Tenn-Chattanooga, then you can walk 2 blocks to McCallie to see the peloton sprint back to Market Street
ï‚· See the peloton make a 120-degree turn at the base of Lookout Mountain under the shade trees, where Hwy 148 joins Hwy 318
ï‚· Want to watch at the top of Lookout Mountain? Join the American Dudes Memorial Day Bikin’ Party at the top of the epic climb on Monday. It’s the spot where pro cyclists amass points for Mountain King of the Mountain/Queen of the Mountain competitions. You can ride your bike or take Carta to access Lookout Mountain, via Ochs Highway. And you can access all the other attractions in the area – Rock City, Ruby Falls and the Incline Railway.
o American Dudes will host a free party at Scenic Hwy. and S. Forrest Ave.
o Enjoy a big screen TV with race coverage, food vendors, fan Expo, and access to the Sierra Nevada Beer Garden
o Carta has plans for 4 buses to make the Mountain Attractions Express Loop and 3 larger buses to shuttle riders from Finley Stadium to the Incline Parking lot in St. Elmo. This is in addition to their regularly scheduled service routes.
o Bus Stops are:
§ Stop 1) Incline Railway Parking lot off St. Elmo/Tennessee Avenue
§ Stop 2) Rock City Parking lot off Ochs Highway
§ Stop 3) Incline Railway (Top of Mountain on E. Brow Rd.)
§ Stop 4) Special Stop for KOM/QOM at intersection of Scenic Hwy/N. Bragg Ave.
§ Stop 5) Ruby Falls Parking lot on Scenic Hwy.
§ Stop 6) Incline Railway Parking lot off St. Elmo/Tennessee Avenue
Online Information
– For access to PDF maps – www.usacycling.org/2014/pro-road-time-trial-nationals
– To fill out volunteer application – www.outdoorchattanooga.com/learn/usa-pro-cycling-champs
– Follow on Twitter – @usacycling (#USPRO)
– U.S. Handcycling information – www.teamusa.org/Home/US%20Paralympics/Sports/Cycling.aspx
– Info on Lookout Mountain American Dudes event – Brian Johnson, member of Local Organizing Committee for Lookout Mountain, [email protected], 423.503.9652
