FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:   

 

Jim Martin, The Piedmont Triad Omnium, Inc.

336-266-9927

 

William Deal, Executive Director, TRIP

336-956-6150

 

Jo Ellen Edwards, Uptown Lexington

336-249-0383

 

Robin Bivens, Lexington Tourism Authority

336-236-4218

 

Lexington – Davidson County to Again Host the

Piedmont Triad Omnium Bicycle Races

 

For the second consecutive year Lexington and Davidson County will play host to the Piedmont Triad Omnium, a series of four bicycle race events taking place over three days, July 10 - 12. Included in the racing events are a criterium, street sprint, time trial and road race.  It is expected that more than 350 riders classified by age and cycling experience will compete for prizes and a cash purse worth over $9,250.00.

 

William Deal, TRIP Executive Director said: “Our community is truly fortunate to host this event again in 2009. Last year’s event received very high marks from the organizers, the participants and the spectators. This year’s Omnium promises to be the premier sporting event of the summer in Davidson County and is the only Omnium taking place this year in North Carolina. The participants at this level of cycling embody the perfect storm of elite athleticism and fierce competitiveness. And we get to witness the action at arm’s length before us for free! Several of last year’s spectators said that the sight, sound and the feel of the wind created by the cyclists racing by in mass was the most excitement they had ever experienced at a live sporting event. ”     

 

“Cyclists who attended the races last year remarked about the safety of the course in uptown Lexington, the friendliness of businesses, and the location of the race,” said Jim Martin, organizer of the Omnium.  “Racers have been asking about this year’s criterium and Omnium all year long.  Because of the positive comments and excitement we decided this was the place to return to in 2009.”

 

Recognizing the impact the race had in 2008, The Lexington Tourism Authority is this year’s lead sponsor for the event.     “Many of the board members of the Lexington Tourism Authority were spectators of last year’s event and witnessed firsthand the excitement brought to the area because of the races.  Not only did the event bring the racers and their families into the Uptown area, they visited our other amenities, ate in our restaurants and shopped in our shops thus bring an economic value to the area.” says Robin Bivens, Executive Director of the Lexington Tourism Authority.  “We are proud to be sponsors this year and look forward to seeing not only the visitor participants and spectators but the locals as well.  It’s an exciting weekend.”

 

Two of the cycling events will take place on the streets of historic uptown Lexington: the criterium on the evening of Friday, July 10 and the street sprints on the evening of Saturday, July 11.  The Omnium kicks off on Friday evening, July 10 in uptown Lexington with a criterium under the lights. The criterium begins at 6:00 p.m. and will conclude around 11:00 p.m. A criterium is a fast paced, circuit race covering a ¾ mile course that is designed to use the sharp turns and short distances of a downtown area to challenge the skill, strength, stamina and strategy of each contestant. 

 

Speed of the riders will range from 25-35 mph with the riders in tightly-packed formation. From the start-finish line at the intersection of South Main Street and First Avenue, the racers will proceed north to the Square, turn left onto West Center Street race one block and turn left onto South State Street. Once on South State Street the racers will go full-tilt for four blocks before turning left onto west Fourth Avenue for one block, then turning left onto South Main Street and sprinting back to the Start-finish line. 

 

At least six races will be held. Each race will last between 30 to 55 minutes each, depending on the classification of the riders competing. There will be approximately five minutes between the races.  The “main event”, the race involving the “Pro” class of riders with a purse of $1,280.00 will begin at 9:55 p.m.

 

Prime viewing locations for all of the evening’s races will include the Square where there will be bleacher seating on a first-come first served basis; the elevated lawn of the Old Post Office at South Main Street and Third Avenue; and the sidewalk dining areas at Café 35 and Naples Restaurant on South Main Street. The racing action and the viewing will be especially intense in the course’s four ninety degree turns. During the criterium, a Jumbotron video monitor will be set up at the start/finish line showing live racing action.

 

“Restaurants and businesses in uptown Lexington welcome racers and their families to Lexington” said Jo Ellen Edwards Executive Director of Uptown Lexington, Inc.  “Our merchants have talked about shoppers who discovered their stores and have returned during the year and restaurants about the increase in business the event brought to them.  Riders and residents will find many restaurants and businesses open later than their usual Friday and Saturday hours.  We also invite residents to come and watch the races.  Last year, riders expressed both appreciation and amazement at the number of spectators cheering them on along the routes.  Let’s amaze them even more this year!” 

 

The Omnium moves to Davidson County Community College on the morning of Saturday July 11 for time trials. Time trials, also known as the Race of Truth consist of a single cyclist racing against the clock over a 14.5 mile course. Riders depart the start/finish line at one minute intervals. The rider with the lowest elapsed time over the course is the winner. The time trial is a test of the rider’s strength and endurance. A special feature for this year’s time trials will be a time trial for tandem bicycles (bicycle built-for-two). The tandem time trial is the first event of the day and will begin at 8:00 a.m. The other time trials will follow the tandem time trial and will continue through the morning and into the afternoon.  

 

The Omnium moves back into uptown Lexington later in the afternoon on Saturday, July 11 for street sprints beginning at 5:00 p.m. The street sprints are essentially three-block long bicycle drag races on South Main Street. The riders will race southward on South Main Street from the starting line at First Avenue to the finish line at Fourth Avenue. Eight cyclists will compete in each heat until a winner is determined. Given the short distance and downhill slope at the start of the race course, the street sprints favor riders with explosive power and crashes are common during street sprints.   Prime viewing will be anywhere along the race course and at the finish line where bleacher seating will be available on a first-come first served basis. During the street sprints, the Jumbotron video screen will be set up near the finish line.  Extra features on Saturday will be Celebrity Sprint races with Triad media personalities. Also, waitresses from Hooters of High Point will serve as starters for the street sprints. 

 

The cyclists return to the Davidson County Community College on Sunday, July 12 to conclude the Omnium with a series of challenging road races. The road course is an 11.6 mile loop from DCCC with challenging rolling hills and a flat, fast finish. The road course encompasses Old Greensboro Road, Clodfelter Road, Ridge Road and Yokely Road. Prime viewing locations will include the Lake Thom-A-Lex area and the finish line at DCCC. Eight classifications of road races will be held, the first beginning at 8:00 and the last starting at 1:05 p.m.  

 

This year, racers and spectators will be able to enjoy the race from one of two beer gardens.  The Friday night garden, sponsored by the Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce, will be located in the Conrad & Hinkle parking lot at the corner of Barbecue Alley and West Center Street.  Saturday night’s Beer Garden is jointly sponsored by the Young Leadership Forum and Uptown Lexington, Inc. This garden will be located on South Main Street between 3^rd and 4^th Avenues – the site of the finish line and the jumbotron! 

 

In addition, several uptown Lexington restaurants will be open late for the race.   Among them are Café 35 and Noah’s Kitchen who will be open Friday and Saturday nights until 10 pm, Naples Italian Restaurant will be open until 11 pm both nights, The Candy Factory will be open until 9 pm, and Perfect Blend Coffee Shop will be open until 10 on Friday and 8 on Saturday.

 

All of the Omnium races are sanctioned by USA Cycling, the preeminent sanctioning body for competitive cycling in America, and are under the direction of the non-profit Piedmont Triad Omnium, Inc. The purpose of the Piedmont Triad Omnium, Inc. is to raise money by hosting and sponsoring USA Cycling events. The monies raised will benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as well as local Triad non-profit organizations that promote a healthy lifestyle through sanctioned USA Cycling events. The Piedmont Triad Omnium also advocates for items or issues which would increase bring healthy, athletic events to the Piedmont Triad; advocates for planning for parks and recreation sites which will benefit both tourists and residents of the community; and works to build partnerships among recreation interests, departments, agencies and attractions.

 

The Piedmont Triad Omnium began as the dream of local cyclist Jim Martin in 2007. Jim envisioned the race as an opportunity to raise awareness of the sport of cycling while also raising funds for the Central North Carolina Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Martin’s wife Lisa was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis about the time he became interested in competitive cycling. Jim worked hard to organize the first Piedmont Triad Omnium which was held in Davidson County in July, 2008. The event was well received by participants and spectators alike. This year over 350 cyclists from all over the eastern United States are expected to compete in the Omnium.

 

All monies raised from the Omnium come from registration fees paid by the racers and from the supporting sponsors. There is no charge to the spectators of any of the events. 

 

More information on the Piedmont Triad Omnium is available at www.thepiedmonttriadomnium.com .

 

Sponsors/Beneficiaries

Title Sponsor

Lexington Tourism Authority

 

Race Event Sponsors

 

Flow Mini  NO E

Holiday Inn Express

Howard Construction Company, Inc.

 

Gold Sponsors

CornerStone Health Care

NewBridge Bank

 

Silver Level Sponsors

Comfort Suites

Michael & Lynn Berry (sponsoring the DFL Tandem Time Trial)

Doug Pierce

Lexington Chiropractic & Wellness

Oakwood Furniture Galleries

Paceline Bicycles

Cafe 35

Village Tavern

 

 

Jesse Day

Regional Planner

Specializing in bicycle, pedestrian and open space planning

Piedmont Triad Council of Governments

2216 W. Meadowview Road Suite 201

Greensboro, NC  27407-3480

Phone: 336.294.4950

Fax: 336.632.0457