Knoxville, Tenn., May 31, 2018 - - A record eight-plus hours of live broadcast and webcast coverage will be provided this year for the 2018 USA Cycling Professional Road, Individual Time Trial and Criterium National Championships in Knoxville, Tenn. Event partner WATE-TV, the ABC-affiliate station based in Knoxville, will oversee all production for the broadcasts, including live webcasts for both the women’s and men’s road race events, from start to finish, on Sunday, June 24.
Three days of competitions for the 2018 USA Cycling Professional Road, Individual Time Trial and Criterium National Championships will take place June 21-24, 2018. The U.S. Pro Championships award Stars-and-Stripes jerseys for the best professional cyclists in the nation.
Cycling fans across the U.S. and around the world will have free access to webcasts on Sunday via USA Cycling’s YouTube and Facebook channels, showcasing the elite men’s and women’s road race. Sports announcer Brad Sohner will provide commentary for both races, beginning with the elite women’s 72-mile contest at 9 a.m. ET. The elite men’s 120-mile race begins at 1:15 p.m. ET.
Support from the WATE Six On Your Side partnership will expand regional television coverage this year for the men’s road race on Sunday to include stations in Memphis (WATN ABC) and Nashville (WKRN GRIT) viewing areas. The WATE-TV audience includes Knox County and 21 surrounding counties in East Tennessee and Southeast Kentucky. By adding live coverage in two other Tennessee markets, the broadcast will be available to more than 2.2 million households. Highlights from the ITT and Criterium championships and interviews with the winners will be included as part of the regional television programming.
“USA Cycling is extremely pleased that live coverage of both the men’s and women’s road races will be provided on Sunday. The Professional National Championship is a very special event where we get to see the best American cyclists compete for the coveted stars-and-stripes national champion jersey. Sharing that excitement with fans across the country is an important part of the work we are doing to support the growth of cycling here in the U.S.,” said Derek Bouchard-Hall, President and CEO of USA Cycling.
Racing begins on Thursday, June 21 with the Individual Time Trial, referred to as the “race of truth”, in Oak Ridge, Tenn. This is a new 7-mile course along the banks of Melton Lake and the internationally-acclaimed Oak Ridge Rowing venue. The U.S. Pro Criterium Championships will take place in downtown Knoxville for the first time on a 1.1-mile circuit. Racing will take place under the lights Friday evening in downtown Knoxville, featuring the start/finish line, expo activities and award ceremonies along the iconic Gay Street corridor.
Joining hundreds of communities across the U.S., Knoxville and USA Cycling will celebrate Olympic Day on Saturday, June 23. Several U.S. Olympians will be present to sign autographs and there will be free children’s races along Gay Street from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. to celebrate the birth of the modern Olympic Games in 1894, which included road cycling.
The U.S. Pro Road Race Championships on Sunday are the signature events of the three days of competitions. The Road Race course will use the same start/finish line on Gay Street in downtown Knoxville as the Criterium. The women will race the 8-mile route for nine laps, and the men will complete 15 laps.
“If you experienced the USA Cycling Pro Road Championships in Knoxville last year, you know what an amazing event this turned out to be. I am confident that this year’s event will be even better for the athletes and the fans,” said Chad Culver, Visit Knoxville Sports Commission Senior Director. “Increased exposure from WATE and a spectacular start/finish line set-up on Gay Street in the heart of downtown are just a few of the many things we’re excited about. This is something you simply cannot miss.”
Four types of VIP Hospitality Access Passes will be available for purchase, including VIP Access for Individual Time Trial, Criterium, and Road Race, as well as a 3-Day VIP Fan Experience Package to encompass the entire event. The official Expo for the championships is free for spectators and will be open on Friday night for the Criterium and all day Sunday, located near the start/finish on Gay Street.
BROADCAST AND SOCIAL MEDIA
- The U.S. Pro Road Race Championships for women and men will be webcast on Sunday, June 24 on the USA Cycling YouTube Channel, and Facebook Page.
- The men’s road race on Sunday afternoon will be broadcast live by WATE-TV in Knoxville, WATN-TV in Memphis, and by WKRN-TV in Nashville. Highlights and interviews from the women’s race will be included in this programming.
- Follow race updates on Twitter @usacyclinglive #USPro #CritNats
- Follow other event updates on Twitter @usacycling and @knoxrocks
MORE INFORMATION
- For access to PDF maps and schedule of events - usacycling.org/2018/pro-road-crit-time-trial-nationals
- For information on Knoxville accommodations, VIP Hospitality and volunteer opportunities - www.visitknoxville.com/usa-cycle-knox/
About USA Cycling
USA Cycling is the national governing body for the sport of cycling in the United States and oversees the disciplines of BMX, cyclocross, mountain bike, road and track. The mission of USA Cycling is to develop the sport of cycling in the United States at all levels and to achieve sustained international racing success while fostering a shared commitment to safety, integrity, and the joy of cycling. USA Cycling works to identify, develop, and select cyclists to represent the United States in international competition, and also supports amateur bike racing through grassroots development programs and the provision of critical infrastructure to run organized racing. USA Cycling’s membership is comprised of racers and cyclists of all ages and abilities, clubs, coaches, officials, mechanics, and race directors. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit usacycling.org.
About Visit Knoxville
Visit Knoxville (Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau) is the official CVB for the City of Knoxville and Knox County. Visit Knoxville is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, private company that works together with the community, business leaders and local and state government to further develop Knoxville as a premier leisure, meetings and travel destination. The Visit Knoxville Sports Commission is managed by Visit Knoxville and strives to bring world-class sporting events as well as amateur sporting type events to Knoxville, Tennessee.
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