With warmer weather creeping in, many of us dreaming are about summer, but none with such excitement as the cyclists of Richmond. The city is hosting the Road World Cycling Championships this year – the third largest bike race in the world, following the Olympic and Tour de France races. It’s slated to bring more than a thousand athletes from 75 countries and a projected 450,000 spectators to the Commonwealth’s capital.
When it comes to bicycle races, Europe is the place, with dozens of events in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium, but the International Union of Cyclists, based in Switzerland, wants to increase global interest in the sport, so it’s decreed that every five years the World Road Cycling Championships should be held elsewhere.
Lee Kallman is with Richmond 2015, a group that figured its city was the perfect place for a race. We spoke with him before last fall’s Tour of Richmond.
“We’ve got the convention center, which is a huge facility that will be the center of our operations for the week. We’ve also got great weather, great terrain and a great fan base. I mean this event here, the Tour of Richmond, over a thousand cyclists riding all over the region tomorrow.”
Three places wanted the 9-day competition - Richmond, Quebec, which dropped out early, and Oman in the Arabian Peninsula.
“The average temperature over there at this time of year is in the hundreds. The terrain is not super interesting.”
With strong support from the business community, Richmond prevailed, and cyclist Greg Leach says it’ll be a great way to showcase the city.
“I am stunned to have this quality of cycling coming to the city. I don’t even think Richmond realizes. I’m in communication with several international journalists, and they’re all planning to come. Millions will be watching on television, and it’s a great way to show off the city.”
Kallman is confident Richmond will provide a large pool of volunteers to do the many jobs that must be done.
“Helping racers get from point A to point B. We’re looking for people that speak other languages to help translate, course marshals to be out on the course, making sure that people are safe.”
And cyclists say hosting this event will give Richmond a reason to improve its roads and make the city even more bike friendly than it is today. The event begins September 19th.
