Richmond is hosting the North American Cycle Courier Champion?ships in May, but the big coup comes in 2015 when the city hosts the World Cycling Championships.
?The people you see in Tour de France? Those people,? Williamsburg Area Bicyclists president Ted Moreland said.
The event is expected to generate $135 million in economic benefit and attract more than 450,000 visitors over nine days. That?s way more than Richmond?s 20,000 hotel rooms can accommodate. Moreland thinks Williams?burg can benefit big time with hotel spillover.
With two active bike clubs and a host of amenities, the Historic Triangle is looking to increase its own cycling and mountain bike tourism.The Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance has a brochure aimed at cycling visitors, listing eight rides.?Williamsburg Area Bicyclists prints a book of 27 rides, available at local bike stores.
?There?s a big push with active tourism right now,??Moreland said. ?We want to put a spotlight on Williamsburg as a bicycle-friendly destination.?
He believes we have a good chance. A 100-mile race at Salisbury University in Maryland attracted 8,000 visitors, filled every hotel room in the area, and ?doesn?t have a tenth of the attractions of Williamsburg,? Moreland said.
Cycling and mountain biking are on the rise here, with more than 300 WAB members and an active Eastern Virginia Mountain Bike Association, which builds and maintains trails.
He and others are working to create local bike events that will simultaneously drive tourism while entertaining locals. A bike festival is in the works, with competitive criterian and mountain bike races, bike clinics and recreational events.
?This year we can?t because the road racing schedule is already set,??he explained. They are shooting for 2013 for what they hope will become an annual event.
They are also partnering with James River Velo Sports to set up a cyclocross competition this fall. Cyclocross combines elements of both road and mountain biking, with obstacles thrown in.
Meanwhile, Eastern Virginia Mountain Bike Association president Kirk Moore is expanding trails at York River State Park, at the state?s request.
More ? Visit www.wabonline.org or evma.org for more information or to get involved.
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Source: http://www.vagazette.com/articles/2012/02/18/news/doc4f3ed9571eeb5735645657.txt
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