Virginia Intermont College and King College have collaborated to host a major cycling event featuring collegiate riders on April 6-7, 2013. The cycling teams from both local colleges will host and compete in the Cobra-Tornado Spring Classic, sanctioned by USA Cycling and National Collegiate Cycling Association. The event is known as an omnium and consists of three parts: Individual and Team Time Trials, a Road Race, and a Criterium in downtown Bristol. With varied race courses, the event will showcase the rolling hills and mountainous terrain of East Tennessee as well as historic downtown Bristol.
College and University teams from throughout the Southeast including Florida, the Carolinas, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee are expected to compete. Six categories will race on both days: the Men’s A,B,C,D categories and the Women’s A and B categories. The “A” category consists of riders who race at the pro level. B/C/D categories are beginner to intermediate. Both VI and King College compete in the SECCC conference. King is currently in 1st place after four events and VI is following close in 2nd place. This will be the last race before conference finals in Clemson, S.C.
The Time Trial competition starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning. The course, just over four miles in length, will run from the Weaver Pike exit on Highway 394 for two a half miles, on to Sweet Knobs Trail Road and finish just outside of Bristol Motor Speedway. Team Time Trials will go first and then individual races will follow.
The Road Race, starting at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, consists of 15.2 miles of track next to South Holston Lake where participants will ride along the South Holston Dam Rd, Emmett Rd., Highway 421, Pemberton Rd., and back to South Holston Dam Rd. to the original starting location at the Weir Dam. Each category will race different distances up to 60 miles. All will finish at the Weir Dam.
The Criterium begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in downtown Bristol, consisting of a half-mile track. Criteriums are exciting races similar to a NASCAR race, and purely an American form of bicycle racing. The course’s starting point will be on Shelby St. heading east in between 7th and 6th St. Riders will turn right on 6th St., right on Broad St, right on 8th St., and right on Shelby St. back to the starting point. Races will be 30 min. to 1 hour in length. The “A” riders will race for 1 hour.
The Cobra-Tornado Spring Classic is open only to collegiate cyclists. All races will be held rain or shine, and USAC rules will govern each race.
The public is invited to come out along the race courses and support collegiate riders in this event. Spectators and cycling enthusiasts may station themselves to watch at any safe location along the course sidelines. Weir Dam offers both the start and finish of the Road Race, and Downtown Bristol offers the advantage of seeing the racers round many laps.
More information about the race can be found online at http://cobratornadospringclassic.wordpress.com/.