KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For the third year in a row, Knoxville is hosting USA Cycling's Road National Championships, but this year, the Scruffy City is hosting the Para-cycling competition as well.
The events began Thursday in Oak Ridge, where the professionals will participate in Individual Time Trial competition along a 6.9-mile course that winds along the banks of Melton Hill Lake.
Friday is the Criterium. This is a fast and technical 1.1-mile circuit that starts and finishes on Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. The women cyclists will race for a maximum of 75 minutes while the men compete for 90 minutes.
On Saturday, Para-cyclists will compete in the Road National Championships. Paralympic cyclists can compete in one of four bike categories, bicycle, tricycle, handcycle, or tandem.
The races wrap up on Sunday with the Cycling Pro Road National Championships that start and finish on Gay street. The 7.9-mile route will take competitors along the Tennessee River, down James White Parkway, and through Knoxville historic Old City. A new challenge for athletes will be a steep hill on Clinch Avenue.
There will be periodic road closures throughout the weekend to accommodate the different race courses. Portions of Gay Street, Clinch Avenue, James White Parkway, and several others will be closed for most of the day on Saturday and Sunday. Gay Street between Church Street and Cumberland Avenue will remain closed from 6 p.m. on Thursday until 9 p.m. on Sunday.