The 2015 Collegiate Road Nationals is coming to the Asheville area this weekend, May 8-10. The three-day championship event is expected to bring together 400 riders from 115 schools across 48 states. Motorists should be prepared for some road closures.
The event is presented by USA Cycling in partnership with the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission. The town of Marshall will host the weekend’s Road Race and Time Trial events. The Road Race loops along Old Marshall Highway following the French Broad River to Alexander and back to Marshall via Marshall Road, Jarrett Farm Road and Bailey’s Branch Road.
Saturday’s Criterium will lap Asheville’s South Slope, with races running from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Category Crit races are open to nonchampionship racers on Saturday as well. The course loops on Hilliard, down Coxe, back up on Millard, Buxton and South Lexington.
Organizers say, “Come on out and support our country’s up-and-coming cyclists!”
For a schedule and course maps are available here, and to volunteer go to here.
The Criterium Race is by far the best spectator event in cycle racing. The riders run a short circuit and pass by many times as they race to the finish.