Photo by David Goodyear

By David Goodyear

The day dawns clear and promising as the sun stretches to crest the tree line overlooking the placid Delaware River in New Hope, PA. Time begins to slow as what was previously the main street of New Hope is transformed into the final stop of the prestigious UCI America Tour and the USA  Cycling National Racing Calendar. Bucks County lives and breathes cycling in all of it's various forms; road, cross, mountain bike and touring. Bicycling in Bucks County is the kind of riding cyclists dream about; covered bridges, scenic river views, quiet country lanes, challenging climbs and their accompanying dizzy descents! This past weekend, professional cyclists from 26 teams representing 15 countries had a chance to experience the sublime riding in the 6 communities scattered along the race route. Their journey from New Hope to Doylestown would carry them over 166 kilometers (or 103 miles in “old money”) with 8300′ of climbing; all of which would be done in about 4 hours and 20 minutes for the fastest riders (think about 24 MPH)!

Photo by David Goodyear

I had an opportunity to gain the riders perspective of the task ahead of them.  For many of them, this was their first visit to Bucks County and they were in love with the fans, the roads and the scenery. Bittersweet for them; their time would be spent in a cocoon of suffering and concentration as required by this sinewy and demanding course.  Our conversation focused on the difficulty of the race course (of the 142 starters only 65 would finish); their comments reflected the challenging topography.  Intimidating, bold, challenging, brutal and dramatic were some of the more frequently mentioned words. Others envisioned the 50 mile an hour descents on undulating, winding roads with a healthy level of respect! One rider wondered if there were trolls under the covered bridges and would there be a toll to pass. His mates echoed, the toll was the deep suffering on the steep climbs immediately following the crossing of the bridges. These are short stiff climbs that evoke a visceral response from a rider's legs while they experience the eternal joys and pains of their profession.

Photo by David Goodyear

The mention of  the “hill” on Wismer Road (from Carversville Northbound) has their full attention. Six times they will ascend this monster! This is a climb where the air grows still and fans alongside the road can see the pain etched deeply in the faces of the riders. Brute force carries the riders up and over the summit; those that can not match the pace are jettisoned out the back of the peloton, digging deep into their reserves to make it to the flat and downhill sections hoping their legs will “recover” before the next assault. The last 8 miles of the course are fast and furious as those riders with “some gas left in the tank” look to win the day and stand on the top step of the podium in Doylestown.

Winner Janier Acevedo, photo by David Goodyear

Road racing offers one of the most unique and passionate relationships between participant and fan. Admission is free; if you want to see another part of the race course you get in your car or get on your bike and travel to that part of the course. The level of intimacy, being right next to the riders encouraging them to keep going is unparalleled in any other sport. Fan participation along the race course this year was robust and high-spirited. Wismer Hill has become the place for parties, picnics and Tour de France style celebrations. More than one rider has chosen this part of the race to abandon (stop racing) and spend time with the fans (having a cold beverage, some patè or other crudités!)

Cycling is a balance of give and take; you work for the team leader often sacrificing your own result for their success. It is a sport of finesse, succinct power and grace. It is also a sport where the fan can walk up to a professional athlete and have a conversation or look at their “machine.” There is an infectious level of excitement for fans of all ages. Whether it is the furious gallop to the finish of a bunch sprint, or the spine tingling experience at watching a rider go downhill at over 50 miles an hour; professional cycling excites. The Thompson Bucks County Classic and the Thompson Criterium bring that excitement right to our front door step. World class racing, world class roads and world class fans will keep it coming back every year. Keep coming out; if you haven't been here, come experience all that Bucks County has to offer!

David Goodyear is a husband, father and avid cyclist. As someone who has been on both sides of the starting line, he still gets goose bumps at every race!

We Are Supported By: