Commonwealth Classic:

The Tour of Virginia, formerly the Tour of Shenandoah, will showcase rising cycling stars in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia. The seven-stage, six-day, 477-mile race caters to developing riders by recognizing leaders in the Under-25 category. Organizers model the race after the Tour de L’Avenir, a similar European contest.

“When we renamed it, we wanted it to represent quintessential Virginia—its history, its climbs, its populations. It’s hard to completely capture the state in six days, but adding Central Virginia makes it more representative,” says race director Matt Butterman.

Charlottesville, Bedford, and Lynchburg join Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, Hot Springs, and Staunton as race hosts. New routes also visit Covington and Clifton Forge in the Allegheny Highlands.

The growing race avoided expansion to Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Tidewater for logistical and financial reasons. “In smaller areas and towns, cycling events are a major sporting activity," says Butterman. "They don’t compete with professional sports teams."

About 120 riders, mostly on six-person teams, will compete for $20,000. Look for riders from squads like the Slipstream (formerly TIAA-CREF) and Priority Health to shine. Recently named to USA Cycling’s national development team, Brent Bookwalter is likely to defend his title.

New climbs make for a tougher Tour—including the east side of Reed’s Gap, a popular local climb near Wintergreen once included in the Tour DuPont. Racers will also tackle a steep seven-mile, category one climb up Route 606 near Warm Springs. Butterman says, “Overall, the course changes will put us on the map for difficulty.”

A day of criteriums on April 28 in downtown Harrisonburg and a mass touring ride called the Grand Tourismo departing from Charlottesville on April 29 will let amateur racers and enthusiasts participate firsthand in the Tour.

The latter will raise funds for diabetes research, a cause close to the heart of Butterman, who has been a Type I diabetic for 32 years. “Cycling has helped me immensely to control the disease," he says. "Regular exercise can help people live with the disease.”
An all-diabetic squad, Team Type I, will compete in the Tour, the first time ever in a major stage race. They set a speed record at the Race Across America in 2006.

For more info and a complete schedule visit www.tourofvirginia.com.

—Sue George