Inaugural Heart of NC Asheboro Criterium Race Weekend

Asheboro, NC - On Saturday, April 9 something new and exciting is coming to Downtown Asheboro, North Carolina, the Inaugural Asheboro Criterium! The Asheboro Criterium kicks off the Heart of North Carolina Race Weekend and will feature electrifying professional and amateur criterium style bicycle racing right in Downtown Asheboro. This event will bring race participants and cycling enthusiasts from all over the region to the City of Asheboro for a day of entertainment. Prepare to be awed at the blazing pace the amateur and professional athletes will churn out and their ability to maintain the same quickness from street corners to the finish line.

So what is it? A criterium is a high-speed bicycle race on a closed course over public roads closed to normal traffic or as some have referred to it, NASCAR on two wheels. With this being Petty country, NASCAR is something we understand. A criterium is like NASCAR, bumper to bumper, side by side racing -- except it is powered by legs and lungs, not gasoline engines. Why is a criterium so much fun to watch? Imagine observing a group of extreme athletes pushing their bodies and bikes to speeds of over 40 miles per hour, while maneuvering through tight corners to become the race champion. These athletes not only have to rely on their own personal strength but on their team members to help support them through the race. There are potentials for breakaways from the main pack, sprint finishes, and the occasional crash. The electricity from this type of event is not only felt by the athletes, but by the spectators that are only inches away and have come to cheer them on!

As should be expected with our local terrain and rolling hills, the Asheboro course will be challenging for the participants. The Asheboro criterium will be a 0.6 mile clockwise loop starting on South Fayetteville Street going north, turning east onto Worth Street, south onto Cox Street, west onto East Academy Street and finally north again to the finish line on South Fayetteville Street. The cyclists must whip around these corners and master the hills on South Cox and East Academy Street to stay in the front of the pack. The goal is to complete as many laps as possible during the allotted time frame and come out in front!

This exciting event is free for the public to come watch and is a great way for adults and children alike to learn about one of the fastest growing sports in America. You will not only be close to the action and the athletes, but kids will have the opportunity to try it out for free during a kids race being held at the start line on Fayetteville Street at 5:45 pm! We expect thousands of race fans lining the course for the Criterium in the historic downtown community. Asheboro's great restaurants and shops will all be open for people to enjoy, so plan to bring the family out and spend your day in Asheboro on Saturday, April 9th, and see what all of the commotion is about! The action starts at 11am!

Asheboro Criterium Race Schedule
Category 5 + 11:00 am 30 Minutes
Masters Men 45 and older 11:35 am 45 Minutes
Women's Open 12:25 pm 45 Minutes
Masters Men 35 + 1:15 pm 50 Minutes
Category 4 Women 2:15 pm 30 Minutes
Category 3, 4, Men 35 + 2:50 pm 40 Minutes
Juniors 15-16, 17-18 3:35 pm 25 Minutes
Juniors 10-12, 13-14 3:35 pm 25 Minutes
Category 4 Men 4:05 pm 45 Minutes
Category 3 Men 4:50 pm 50 Minutes
Free Kids Race 5:45 pm 50 Yards
Professional 1,2,3 6:00 pm 60 Minutes

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