It all started in 1996. The Tour du Pont not only rolled through the quaint little town of Blacksburg, Virginia, but provided a spectacular finish right smack dab in the middle of the Virginia Tech mall. On top of that, America's most well-known cyclist nabbed the win. It was proof to all who cared to pay attention that Blacksburg was officially on the map, and officially one of the best cycling towns on the East Coast. To all the local cyclists that had been riding on these roads and competing in the local races, such as the Duckpond Criterium, it came as no surprise. For them, it didn't take the approval of the likes of George Hincapie, Lance Armstrong, Davis Phinney, and Bobby Julich, who each finished that exciting stage. They knew plenty well how incredible a town Blacksburg is. They knew just how suited to racing this little mountain hideaway could be.
Not long after the Tour du Pont ended, the local yokels wanted to call some more attention to their community, and organized the Mountain Magic Road Race. Covering most of the popular territory around Blacksburg, this race ended with a grueling seven mile climb up the front side of Mountain Lake. The race was a huge success, and has become the stuff of legend throughout Southwest Virginia.
Very soon, Blacksburg's population exploded, and there were competitive endurance events seemingly every time one turned around. There were cycling races, triathlons, running races. The active community in town couldn't have been stronger, and the town couldn't have been happier. Every time a race was run, more people saw the mountain beauty of Blacksburg, ate at its uncrowded, wallet-friendly restaurants, took note of its friendly and enthusiastic populace, and enjoyed its clean, unpolluted air.
However, as per the laws of nature, not to mention Murphy, all good things must come to an end- at least for a little while. After a tragic accident during an event, the Town of Blacksburg became suddenly very hesitant to allow the chance of another incident. Thus, even more quickly than it rose to glory, Blacksburg and its bike-racing heritage slipped quietly into the past, existing only in the memories of those that loved it, and those that worked so hard to create it.
Much in the way a forest fire can die, only to be resurrected days later by a small ember, a group of racers have been recently working relentlessly to bring bike racing back to Blacksburg. Though a difficult task, the tireless team has again won over the hearts of the town officials, and has successfully scheduled June 20th as the long-awaited return of a racing weekend to one of the most bike-friendly communities on the East Coast.
If you've been hoping for something a little different, something a little more exciting, and something with a little more history and passion, putting the 2009 Blacksburg Classic weekend on your calendar will undoubtedly refresh your spirit, while at the same time provide a stiff challenge to your cycling skill and ability. It's a race not to be missed. And with a range of categories to suit every rider, there's really no excuse not to be there.