Dogwood crit cancelled

The popular Dogwood Arts Criterium in Knoxville on April 22 has unfortunately been cancelled. TBRA just reported this disappointing news, but the venue will be used for a replacement criterium on June 18. While that's a nice balance, the bonus is the previously cancelled Smokey Mountain Time-Trial has been rescheduled for June 17.

Knox Velo/YMCA is the club picking up the slack and putting these races back on the schedule. This scheduling change is actually an improvement when you consider we go from two different one day events on separate weekends to a full weekend of racing.

It's not explained why the April 22 was lost, but based upon my experience promoting races it could have been 100 different things. In the end it really doesn't matter and not worth fussing about, especially considering the dates are replaced. Actually I am a little happy because now it means I'll get to attend the June dates whereas on April 22 I'll be down in Auburn, Alabama at the SECCC championships.

If you haven't race the Dogwood crit course I recommend going and pegging it. It's a four corner rectangular course, wide open, safe and fast. Beginning in turn two it starts to go slightly uphill and after the 4th turn it's a rapid downhill sprint. You definitely want an 11/23 or 11/21 for this race. By that date in June you should be dumping your 12/25 anyway, which is what I train with all winter and early spring. Keep that 12/25 in a safe place for the River Gorge in September, you'll need it.