KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For seven years, Knoxville has hosted the USA Cycling championships. Visit Knoxville said 2023 could be the last year the city welcomes some of the nation's best cyclists for the championships.
They said the USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships will return from June 22 through June 25, and said the event would be free to the public.
June 22 would be the individual time trial national championships, held in Oak Ridge along Melton Lake Drive. Cyclists will need to complete laps in the 7.2-mile course. Women will need to complete two laps, and men will need to complete three laps of the course.
On June 23, cyclists will compete in the criterium national championships. That competition will start and finish on Gay Street, with cyclists repeatedly making a 1.1-mile circuit in the downtown area. Athletes will race for a set amount of time, and then a specific number of finishing laps.
The next day will be Olympic Day, when fans can meet athletes for a free autograph session, and Olympian meet-and-greet, a bike rodeo and more from 10 a.m. through 12 p.m. in Knoxville's Safety City.
June 25 will mark the Pro Road National Championships. Women cyclists will race for ten laps on a 6.8-mile route crossing the Tennessee River and weaving through downtown and South Knoxville. Men cyclists will complete 17 laps.