ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) – The USA Cycling National Endurance Mountain Bike championship is halfway complete, and racers have had to face some storms throughout the tournament.
With more severe weather in the Roanoke Valley, we wanted to talk with officials about how they’ve been impacted.
“We prepare for that. We have flexibility in our schedule to kind of, you know, shorten some practices, allow for some weather delays. And then we’ve got a team, you know, that’s keeping an eye on the radar,” said USA Cycling National Events Director, Kyle Knott.
Knott said mother nature is not putting a damper on the championship tournament, but there have been some impacts.
He said the severe weather we got this week caused one of the short track races to be delayed.
“Right now, we’ve been fortunate enough, you know, I think 40 minutes is the longest delay we’ve had, and that’s not too bad out here in bike racing,” added Knott.
Thankfully, the organization allots time for weather-related delays and when cases are too severe, they have a panel that will meet to figure out the next steps.
He said if things get too bad, they do have wiggle room to extend the competition another day.
“We race rain or shine. Lightning is the only thing that’ll get us and even then, like, you know, I said we’re going to get it in which may be on a delay, so come on out and watch,” he closed.
There’s still time to come out and watch the races at Explore Park, just be sure to come prepared with an umbrella.
The tournament ends July 20.
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