Nice weather, good turnout expected for Chattanooga’s River Gorge Omnium bicycle race

Cyclists round a turn from Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard to Market Street as they compete in the men's Masters 35+/45+ category of the Goss Insurance Criterium race on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The criterium race, part of the larger River Gorge Omnium event, consisted of multiple categories of races in a route that circled the TVA and EPB buildings in downtown Chattanooga. Cyclists round a turn from Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard to Market Street as they compete in the men's Masters 35+/45+ category of the Goss Insurance Criterium race on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The criterium race, part of the larger River Gorge Omnium event, consisted of multiple categories of races in a route that circled the TVA and EPB buildings in downtown Chattanooga.

By Rosana Hughes August 25, 2017 4 min read

With highs in the mid- to low-80s this weekend, Chattanooga’s River Gorge Omnium will have ideal weather conditions for bicycle racers coming to town from across the country.

“We are thrilled about the weather,” said Melanie Singer, a second-year racer and a volunteer organizer for the omnium. “It makes it much more enjoyable and it’s a lot easier to spectate when it’s not 90 degrees.”

Singer is one of the women on the Chattanooga Taco Mamacita women’s team who will be participating in all three races – time trial, criterium and road race – as well as a stationary time trial challenge on Friday.

“The team is the most important thing to me,” she said. “I have these best friends who are as into bikes as I am, and they are incredibly supportive.”

If you go

Today: HerTT – 6 p.m. at Warehouse RowSaturday, Aug. 26: Criterium – noon-9 p.m. at 1201 Market St, Chattanooga, TN 37402