Road World Cycling Championships

[calwinston]

Here is a video from the UCI- Championships in Copenhagen last year.

Im excited to see that Richmond is going to be on a international stage.

[burt]

The video of the Copenhagen event (above) is exciting to watch. This year's Cycling Championship is in The Netherlands, then Florence in 2013, Spain in 2014 and RICHMOND in September of 2015.

There's still 3 years to prepare, but when you think that there will be close to half-a-million visitors from around the World arriving for the 9-day affair it boggles the mind.

Charlotte is coping with about 100,000 visitors this week during the Democratic Convention and the area has at least twice as many hotel rooms as Greater Richmond's 18,000.

CLT offers flights to every major city in North America as well as many international destinations. We can only hope that RIC and local officials are in negotiations with major airlines and Amtrak to provide top-line service during the event.

Shuttle buses by the dozens will be needed to transport people to and from hotels within a hundred-mile radius of Richmond.

It's an event that requires massive planning and cooperation from all juristrictions.

[burt]

Planners of The World Road Cycling Championship 2015 met with Henrico officials last night and encountered some resistance. However, most appeared to acknowledge the event's potential economic impact.

One of the races may start at Short Pump Town Center and wind its way downtown.

It is not known how large a TV audience it will attract since the event has not been held in The US since the 1980's, but it is estimated over 300,000,000 viewers will tune in, thus, attracting big sponsors and big bucks.

Almost half a million visitors are expected to be in attendance for most, if not all of the 9-day event.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...ike-ar-2198001/

[burt]

Hanover County is more receptive than Henrico to the 2015 World Road Cycling Championship.

I wonder what kind of reception Officials of Richmond 2015 will get when they go before Chesterfield lawmakers?

From the RTD on 09/12/12:

http://www2.timesdis...201-ar-2200815/

[burt]

2015 cycling event on track, according to those who should know.

From Lou Llovio in today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...ack-ar-2208797/

[burt]

Lou Llovio has another comprehensive story about the Big Race in 2015.

The video leading off this story is the same as the one in the above posting, but the content of the piece is an in-depth coverage of preparations for the World Road Cycling Champioships with special focus on Wilson Flohr, Jr. who is CEO for Richmond 2115.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...0363/#poll_1730

[burt]

The big event is two years and seven months away.  450,000 are expected to attend the 9-day cycling event in Central Virginia, and preparations are underway.

 

From today's RTD:

 

http://www.timesdispatch.com/business/retail/program-to-help-local-businesses-cash-in-on-cycling-event/article_a123a35b-de0c-550c-b91a-b594d666bb63.html

[joanpone]

I am sad to report that Burt died this week. A late comer to the computer world, he loved these forums and reveled in all his friends and followers. He will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, my friend.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Our loving biking community has created a petition to get city council to create a bike master plan.

 

http://riderva.com/city-council-fund-and-approve-a-bike-master-plan/

 

I've signed.

 

I want the city to be a beautiful place that we can showcase to everyone when "the world comes to Richmond" in September 2015.

 

I encourage everyone to sign onto this too. 835 supporters goal. 137 right now. We got this.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

The RTD calls it simply a "preparatory run" for the 2015 UCIs, but it's an important event in it's own right.

 

The River City is now host to the 2014 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships.

 

http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/article_4a99dcac-b4f9-11e2-946e-001a4bcf6878.html
 

The announcement was made during the awards banquet at this years event in Utah.

 

The CEO of Richmond 2015 says it will be a chance to test logistics and course refinements.

 

All it says to me is that Richmond is becoming more and more serious with it's biking identity.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

The courses for the 2015 UCI championships races were unveiled today:

 

http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/courses-for-world-bike-races-revealed/article_88d70394-9e43-11e3-b049-0017a43b2370.html

 

http://rvanews.com/sports/courses-released-for-2015-road-world-championship/109444?east-end-daily

 

http://richmond2015.com/

[eandslee]

I've got to say that now that the UCI begins next weekend, I'm getting really excited for Richmond!  I'm excited to see Richmond on a world-wide stage and hope they don't screw it up.  This is going to be very HUGE for Richmond if pulled off successfully.  After hosting this race, Richmond will surely be considered again for all kinds of other big-time events.  People will also "discover" Richmond and all it has to offer.  This should all result into benefit after benefit for the region.  No longer is Richmond the sleepy town people think it is and I think this will open a new chapter in the building up of Richmond and its place among the cities of world-class cities!  As you see and experience things related to the UCI, please take the time to post photos, experiences, videos, etc. so that we can all catch a glimpse of things we might not hear about or see otherwise.  For instance, I would love to see a time lapse video of the conversion of the Broad Street as it transforms into the center point of many of the happenings of the race (don't know if something like that exists, but it would be cool).  Anyway, if you have anything good, bad, or indifferent regarding the UCI - post away!  Looking forward to seeing everyone's posts!

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Very anxious to see how ready aesthetically and strategically Richmond is. I'm also very worried about attendance numbers. If it falls short then we'll all have to sit and listen to people bltch and moan about road closures for a ''small little bike race''.

[Blackbird Fly]

Check this video out, It was produced by Specialized bike company. It highlights the city very well!

http://chpn.net/news/2015/09/14/5-minutes-with-richmond_45444/

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

It's so hard not to get psyched for this.

I really hope turnout is good. 

Meanwhile, here is the official website for Richmond 2015 for those who aren't familiar:

And a nice imgur gallery for all the races + times:

http://imgur.com/a/8MdKW

[eandslee]

Keep the updates coming!  Loving what I see thus far.  Since the local news outlets have been a bit mum on any of the hype, I'm relying on you guys for photos, videos, and information you can't get anywhere else!  Let the bikes roll!

[eandslee]

Watched watched the TTT today on TV. Richmond looked great and the crowds were awesome!  I'm so proud of my hometown!  To top it off  BMC won gold in the men's TTT!

[eandslee]

Awesome!  Thanks for sharing your photos and you experiences today!  Again, really proud of Richmond!

[blopp1234]

Awesome! I have been trying to go see some off the events, but have yet to go. Love that our city is getting the opportunity to host this. Also I love the new vcu children's hospital. Very modern and it looks great!

[varunner]