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Thursday - Road Race - Pro/Elite only
The first event is a road race for the Pro UCI Women and Men, as well as the amateur Men 1,2 categories. The finishes of all three races will be at Baum Stadium...a traditional opening day fast sprint to the finish line! The anticipated finishes are: Men 1,2 race 2:15 PM, pro women 2:45 PM, and the Pro men's race is 4:00 PM.
A bike race finish is an all-out sprint that no matter how tired the riders are or how long they've been in the saddle; they sprint like there is no tomorrow! Come enjoy bikes at speeds up to 40 miles per hour...the sound and rush of wind created by a group of bikes is truly a unique experience. Oh did we mention - fans and spectators of a bike racing event pay no admission - it's FREE!
Friday - Road Race - Pro/Elite only
This race will finish on top of iconic Mount Sequoyah by way of Spring Street over to Assembly and then through the gates for a true uphill finish. This will have great energy with spectators lining our hilly streets to get an up-close and personal view of what a pro cyclists experiences at the end of a long day in the saddle! Spectators who would like to see the finishing stretch on Spring Street should consider parking in an open lot in the downtown area and walking. To see the actual finish at Mount Sequoyah...access the mountain by way of E. Rockwood Trail to N. Sequoyah Dr to Rex Dr to Williams Dr. Carpooling is encouraged since space is a premium and Mount Sequoyah will have limited non-race vehicular traffic.
Come enjoy the shopping, restaurants, live music and happy hours before and after the races. Oh did we mention - fans and spectators of a bike racing event pay no admission - it's FREE!
Saturday Morning Road Race- Amateur
The first event for the amateur category riders will be a road race. The course will take the competitors from Fayetteville, Arkansas to the Hogeye loop. From Hogeye riders will proceed on the tradition 23-mile loop. There are two main areas for prime viewing:
1. The start/finish of the road race take place at the intersection of 15th and Razorback in Fayetteville. See Race Schedule for estimated finish times in the Saturday road race for all categories.
2. "The Wall", found on Hwy. 156 approximately 3 miles east of the intersection of Hwy. 265 and Hwy. 156, is a difficult climb for the riders, as well as the "feed zone" area. Please be respectful of the residents in the area and the racers that will be riding on the course. We encourage you to park at the white church as you enter Hogeye and walk, but if you decide to drive to "The Wall" area, please drive past the "feed zone" and park off the road.
Saturday Afternoon Time Trial - All Riders
If you've not been to Devil's Den State Park before, you're in for a real treat. Be sure to visit in the fall, the leaves are spectacular! The third event is a time trial for the Pro category Women 1,2 and Men 1, as well as the Men 1,2 categories only. Devil's Den State Park is the site of the Thursday afternoon event, an uphill "Time Trial". Race Schedule to see the estimated start times in the time trial for all categories. Go to the start and catch some of the action as riders leave the start house; walk up the course (be careful of riders) or the finish line. Seeing these competitors cross the line completely exhausted is inspiring, emotional and a little a painful. Directions to Devil's Den State Park, 1133 West Arkansas Highway 74 Winslow, Arkansas 72959. Depending upon arrival time, you must use the appropriate entry to the park. Before 12:30pm arrival - take I-49 south to exit 45, turn west/right on Hwy. 74. After 12:30pm arrival - take I-49 south to exit 53, turn west/right and then proceed south on Hwy 170 to Devil's Den State Park. See Course Details and Maps for more information.
Sunday - Experience Fayetteville Criterium - all levels.
The final and the most spectator-friendly stage of the events. The Start/Finish line and vendor expo will be at the intersection of Center St. and Church Ave. The criterium is the final stage of the Joe Martin Stage Race with the leaders from the previous stages looking to hold their advantages while the other competitors try to overtake them in the overall standings. The racing action is fast and furious with riders going at speeds over 35 miles per hour around ninety-degree turns with handlebars and shoulders touching.
You will find some of the streets blocked to traffic in the downtown area, but park your car in one of the many open parking lots available on Sunday or on Mountain St., or portions of Center St. The walk will be worth the effort. Bring the family and enjoy the vendor expo, free kid's ride, community cruiser parade and some exciting racing action on the streets of downtown Fayetteville.
To see a map of the criterium course go to Course Details and Maps to view the downtown area. See Race Schedule to see the estimated start times for all of Sunday's categories.
