Professional Bike in Mocksville on Thursday ~ NASCAR on 2 Wheels!

Cycling is one of the hottest sports in America. According to Scarborough Research, the number of folks who have ridden a bike jumped an amazing 25% — from 47.72 million to 59.67 million — between the Spring of 2010 and Spring 2013.  And just as the number of folks biking for recreation or commuting purposes has grown greatly, so has the interest in competitive cycling, especially in short-course, closed-circuit races called criterium.

On Thursday, July 30, folks from Davie County and surrounding communities will get a taste of this exciting sport during the 2015 Giordana Crossroads Classic Criterium in Downtown Mocksville.  Cyclists will compete in timed races, three consisting of amateur riders (though cash prizes are awarded), and races pitting riders from professional teams against each other in 60 minutes of what can only be described as hair-raising action.

Mocksville-Criterium
There are a couple of things that make a criterium a great spectator sport. Watch a multistage bicycle race like the Tour De France in person, and you get a single glimpse of the horde of rides – but the short, closed-circuit of a criterium means you can see the cyclists jockeying for position for almost the entire event. The Mocksville course is a mere half-mile in length, and pros can hit speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. Add in 90-degree turns, and what you’ve got is pretty much a pedal-powered version of NASCAR.

Mocksville-Criterium5While the bulk of teams will come from North and South Carolina, cash prizes and the thrill of competition lure teams from across the nation to take part in the Crossroads Classic.  Last year, for instance, professional teams California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia made the journey to Mocksville.

Mocksville-Criterium Schedule
Things get rolling at 5:15 PM, as streets are shut down and the course is set up. (Note to Mocksville residents All vehicles inside the bike race area will not be able to leave from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM.)  At 9:00 PM, the professional riders begin their hour-long competition.

For complete details on this free event, visit Giordana Crossroads Classic where you can also learn more about criterium, including how to compete in upcoming events.