With a leaderboard that has quickly taken shape, the 2014 Southeast Regional Series presented by Stan’s NoTubes (SRS) has added a new criterium course and an Omnium option to event weekend. Hundreds of the best amateur and elite cyclists are heading to Asheville July 18-20 for the third stop of the five-state series.
The Southeast Regional Series has expanded its weekend only format of road racing in Asheville to provide points and prize purse in a special Omnium format, a three-day road racing competition.
Local team Crosstown Velo will be among the many teams competing in the series. Chris Emory (Arden, N.C.) is a series leader in the Master 35+ category and will look to maintain his lead as teammate Bryan Hoy (Hendersonville, S.C.) presents him with a tough challenge. “I’m proud to be the leader in such a regionally competitive event as the SRS,” said Chris Emory of Crosstown Velo. “Asheville is a fitting stop for the Series as it’s a hot bed for cycling and home to many competitive cyclists. Riders will enjoy the terrain and the mountains of Asheville particularly during the road race. I look forward to defending my overall position.”
The Asheville SRS weekend begins with a 10-mile Time Trial on Friday in Marshall, N.C. The course features a flat and scenic route on Blannahasset Island, which sits in the French Broad River opposite of Main Street. Nine separate categories will compete, beginning at 4p.m.
On Saturday, The Velodrome in Carrier Park, dubbed the “Mellowdrome” for its soft-banked track, will be the site for the Asheville Criterium. Once the home of stock car racing, the 500-meter asphalt oval track at Amboy Road has become popular for local cyclists as a training course. The criterium features 11 categorized races, from two events for juniors to races for Masters and men and women pro riders. Beginning at 8a.m., spectators can watch the racers navigate a one-third-mile loop from the pedestrian bridge that overlooks the track. Events are expected to finish at 4:45p.m.
“We’re excited to have access to the Mellowdrome in Carrier Park. We plan to add a few surprise elements to the races to make it both a fun and a hard effort.” said SRS Director Marilyn Cullinane, who also owns Start Smart Cycling in Greenville, S.C. “The Mellowdrome is a spectator-friendly venue in Asheville with a lot of rich history. With the addition of the Omnium, it definitely raises the level of competition and allows spectators to enjoy the high-velocity racing.”
On Sunday the race will return to Blannahassett Island in Marshall, N.C. for the Asheville Road Race. Featuring nine categorized events, racers will navigate a 12-mile loop starting at South Main Street along the French Broad River. The two-mile climb for King of the Mountain/Queen of the Mountain points on Ivy Road promises to be the most challenging yet for the SRS racers. The Asheville Road Race will begin at 8a.m. with the 80-mile Men’s Pro 1 /2 event. The final race is expected to conclude at approximately 3p.m., followed by awards for the Omnium and SRS.
Admission is free for spectators for all three races. The Southeast Regional Series presented by Stan’s NoTubes is the only road racing series for amateur and elite cycling teams which offers points competitions spanning multiple states in one region. The series offers over $50,000 in cash and prizes this summer, across five weekends of racing in five states. SRS is managed by Start Smart Cycling and offers points and prizes at each weekend series. The series concludes in September in Greenville, S.C. when the top men and women will be presented with the overall award jerseys, based on points earned at all five races: SRS Overall Champion’s jersey, the green- and- white-striped PEZ Cycling News Sprinter’s Jersey, and the Stan’s NoTubes King of the Mountain/Queen of the Mountain jersey.
Three additional sponsors include Earth Fare, Hincapie Sportswear and Mountain Khakis®. As the official jersey sponsor, Hincapie Sportswear will provide custom jerseys for the category leaders. Asheville-based organic supermarket Earth Fare will provide more than $5,000 in merchandise and prizes, along with mountain-inspired lifestyle apparel brand Mountain Khakis®, which is also the official apparel sponsor for the race.
Athletes can race all three days to qualify for Omnium points, or just race the Criterium and Road Race for SRS points. Individuals and teams are encourage to register early before fields close at midnight on Thursday, July 17. Registration information, the complete SRS schedule and event updates are available online at www.srs-racing.com/. Follow the event on Facebook (SoutheastRegionalSeries) and Twitter (SRSChampions).
Start Smart Cycling, LLC (SSC) is a professional event management and consultation company for the cycling industry. SSC provides planning expertise and on-site event implementation for cycling competitions and related activities across the U.S. In 2010 SSC was founded by President Marilyn Cullinane, who has over 14 years of experience in the cycling industry. Her company has been involved for four years with successful Florida-based events such as the Miami Dolphins Cycling Challenge (ridedcc.com) and The Orange Blossom Special. Cullinane founded the Southeast Regional Series in 2013, the first-ever regional road cycling championship series in the U.S., sanctioned by USA Cycling.
Web Site – http://srs-racing.com/register/
Twitter – @SRSChampions
Facebook – southeast-regional-series
For race information and sponsorship opportunities:
Race Director Marilyn Cullinane, Start Smart Cycling
[email protected]
