West Memphis CVB has high hopes for inaugural ‘Race between the Bridges’

West Memphis CVB has high hopes for inaugural ‘Race between the Bridges’

Organizers hope to highlight recreational opportunities created by Big River Crossing

news@theeveningtimes.com

Cycling interest continues to spin all around the county. The Marion Chamber has held an annual Countryside Ride which has included stops at a pecan orchard, pedaling passed Mound City and onto the Big River Crossing (BRX). The West Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau uses its tourism tax revenue to promote cycling in the city and produce a pair of friendly rides, a circuit to Horseshoe Lake and the Gravel Grinder through the Delta Regional River Park and atop some of the St. Francis Levee with a post ride feast and entertainment at Pancho’s. But cycling in the county just got more serious.

A bike race has been announced and the proving ground is in the Delta Regional River Park. True to bike race history, and maybe a nod to the Louisiana Purchase that included this area, the bike race promoters have a French name. The Cirque du Velos (CdV), a cycling team from Memphis has organized a bike race around the river park. The group is for those interested in competitive bike racing and the name translates Circus of Bikes. The inaugural Race Between the Bridges will follow the bike trail loop between the BRX on the Harahan Bridge and circle back just north of the Hernando DeSoto Bridge.

Speed is the key and the races offer awards to top finishing men and women in three different distance heats.

The races serve to highlight the new bike and pedestrian trails through the county that hold views of the Memphis Skyline while peddling through the Natural State’s delta and farm scenery. The bike team sponsorship represents a break from city sponsorship of local bike rides.

“CdV’s intention is to highlight our appreciation for outdoor recreational opportunities provided by the Big River Crossing, and CdV is the sole host of this race,” the group announced.

The race will take place at the trail head of the Big River Crossing on the Arkansas side. There will be three races: The A race (5 laps), the B race (4 laps) and the C race (3 laps), and each race will have a gravel bike division and a mountain bike division. There will be awards for top 3 male and female finishers for the race and each category. The race is set for Saturday, Feb. 24, at 9 a.m.

Registration is available through the race managers and official vendors, Start2Finish at https://racebetweenthebridges. racesonline. com/register.

By John Rech