After 150 Kentucky Derbys, Louisville Knows Sports

New Venues for Pro Road Criterium and Team Time Trial National Events

(June 6, 2017) – The USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championships presented by Papa John’s returns to Louisville for a second consecutive year, June 29-July 2, along with USA Cycling’s Professional Criterium and Team Time Trial National Championships. The three road cycling championship events feature 40 individual and team titles up for grabs for both professional and amateur athletes. The professional championships, held in Greenville, S.C. last spring, make their first appearance in the Derby City.

The four-day competition opens at 8 a.m. on Thursday, June 29, at Spencer County High School near Ray Jewell Memorial Park in Taylorsville with individual time trial events for amateurs, juniors and Under-23 elite riders. Routes vary from 10 kilometers for the youngest age groups (11-12 years of age) to 34 kilometers for the men’s U-23 and open divisions. The “race against the clock” for teams will follow using the 34-kilometer course, highlighted by the Professional Team Time Trial National Championships. Last year, Rally Cycling swept the TTT for men and women.

On Friday and Saturday, amateur and junior road titles will be decided on a 7.9-kilometer circuit in Louisville’s historic Cherokee Park designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead. Racing begins at 7 a.m. on Friday with the longest competitions, 23 laps for a total of 177 kilometers for both the Category 1 men and Category 1/2 U-23 men (19-22). Junior men (15-16) will end the first day with a 10-lap contest beginning at 5:15 p.m. Saturday races range from three to 15 laps for seven categorized races for male and female juniors.

Anchoring the final day of competition is a full day of criterium racing through the heart of downtown Louisville along “Museum Row” that includes the Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville Science Center and the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. A new 1.5-kilometer course features a start/finish on W. Main Street near N. 7th Street. There are six distinct corners on this serpentine course. Heading east on W. Main, the first section uses S. 6th, W. Market, and S. 5th streets then travels east on W. Main for one block to connect to N. 6th St., W. River Rd, Washington St., N. 8th St. and a final pass back on W. Main St. Events begin at 8 a.m., with the pro women racing from 5:45-7 p.m. and the pro men racing from 7:15-8:45 p.m. The awards ceremony follows at 9 p.m.

Top professional cyclists from across the country are expected to compete for the Stars-and-Stripes jerseys of the Professional Criterium National Championship. The defending men’s champion is Brad Huff (38, Springfield, Mo.) of Rally Cycling and the defending women’s champion is Lauren Tamayo (34, New Port Richey, Fla.) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling.

See more information on USA Cycling national championship events at the official website – www.usacycling.org. Live streaming will be available on Sunday for U23 and pro criterium races. You can also follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, @USACycling, using hashtag #RoadNats (Thurs. to Sat.) and #CritNats (Sun.).

A full schedule of events and course maps are provided online, as well as volunteer information:

• Amateur Road National Championships presented by Papa John’s (Click HERE)

• Pro Criterium and TTT National Championships (Click HERE)

WHERE TO WATCH

Thursday – Professional Team Time Trial National Championships:

• Start/Finish at Little Mountain Rd, next to Spencer County High School

Friday/Saturday – Amateur Road National Championships:

• Cochran Hill or the feed zone on Scenic Loop
• Start/Finish near Alta Vista Road

Sunday – Professional Criterum National Championships:

• Start/Finish on W. Main Street at N. 7th St. and enjoy live commentary on the public address system by race announcers
• Riders will pass intersection of W. Main and 6th streets twice on each lap
• Visit the Muhammed Ali Center (open Noon – 5pm), where the course turns from N. 6th St. to W. River Road. Admission ranges from $7 for children to $12 for adults.
• Visit the Kentucky Science Center (open 9:30am-5pm), and watch the race on the final turn from S. 8th St. to W. Main St. Admission starts at $8 per person.