French Broad Cycling Classic Race in Madison County, NC
http://frenchbroadcyclingclassic.com
The French Broad Cycling Classic (sponsored by Liberty Bicycles) takes place on the third weekend of July each year. It has been the premiere bicycle race in Western North Carolina since 1990. It is permitted under the United States Cycling Federation guidelines and it is part of the North Carolina Racing Schedule. The multi-day event combines everything our region has to offer (scenery, hospitality, and bicycle friendly roads) and attracts more than 1000 participants.
On the first day, racers compete in a flat 20 kilometer Time Trial course along NC 251 just outside Marshall, North Carolina. It is an out and back road course along the French Broad River that measures the individual strength of each rider using the clock, to cover the 20K distance. The rider with the fastest time wins the event in each racing category. On the second day, the race takes the riders on an undulating and challenging road course around Mars Hill and finishes with a mountain top finish just outside Marshall, on Walnut Creek Road. This is a mass start event for the various racing categories and it starts in downtown Marshall. The race course and route varies with each racing category. The distance varies between 25 miles to 65 miles in length, with plenty of climbing in each race. The first rider to cross the finish line wins the race.
The third and final race is a criterium type race that takes place in the south Asheville area, near the Airport Road. Again, it is a mass start race with multiple events based on racing category and ability. The race course is typically a one mile circuit course that riders race around, multiple times. The duration of this race varies with each category. It generally lasts between 30 to 90 minutes per race. Points are awarded after each race based on the rider’s overall ranking and racing category. At the conclusion of this final event, the overall leaders for the Omnium (points accumulated over all three races) series are crowned.
