Watching the Races
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Live TV, Radio & Webcasts
Saturday, Sept 6 -- Univest Grand Prix
Live Webcast 11am-3pm
TV Coverage 5pm-9pm
Sunday, Sept 7-- Univest Criterium of Doylestown
Live Webcast 11am to 1pm
Live TV Coverage 11am-1pm
Saturday, Sept 6 -- Univest Grand Prix
Live TV Coverage 11am-3pm
Sunday, Sept 7-- Univest Criterium of Doylestown
Live TV Coverage 11am-3pm
Live Webcast 11am-3pm
Race Highlights
Saturday, Sept 29 -- 1pm-2pm
Monday Sept 22 -- 3pm-4pm
Sunday October 5 -- 8pm-9pm
Saturday, Sept 6 -- Univest Grand Prix
Live Radio Coverage 10am-3pm
View 2006 Photo Gallery
Marco Quezada/www.marcoquezada.com photo
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The Univest Grand Prix is a two-day family festival held in historic Montgomery and Bucks Counties, Pennsylvania, and built around the
excitement and prestige of televised professional bicycle racing. The festival consists
of two spectacular pro races, races for children ages 3 to 17 combined with a children's fun fair, and a special ride for the "weekend warriors" -
recreational cyclists who want to test themselves on a true racecourse. Adding to the full weekend is the Doylestown Arts Festival that
complements
Sunday's Univest Grand Prix of Doylestown, held in the beautiful Victorian town. Great locations and local food combine with the excitement of pro
racing to make the Univest Grand Prix one of the most entertaining weekends a family can find. What's more, it's free for all.
Please read on to see what the Univest Grand Prix can offer:
Univest Grand Prix Road Race, Saturday, September 6th
North America's Pro Classic live! Watch on a giant TV screen at the finish line in Souderton. Or if at home, be sure to watch Channel 69 WFMZ-TV's live, start-to-finish coverage from 10:30 am to the finish at 3:00 pm. National and international fans can see it live too -- watch same-day coverage on Universal Sports and Universalsports.com
The Univest Grand Prix is a true, classic road race where top racing cyclists from across the globe gather to do battle with North America's finest stars on a hilly and twisting course that only a strongman can win. Teams from Italy, Mexico, Holland, Poland, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada and Germany have honored the Univest Grand Prix with their presence over the years, and given the race its stellar international reputation.
The Univest Grand Prix has unique character: It begins with a scenic 70-mile loop, passing through Lansdale before heading Northwest across Montgomery County into very beautiful countryside. The race crosses covered bridges and flys across reservoirs. The "peloton" hits the final Souderton/Telford finishing circuit at about 1:00 pm for thirteen laps of the brutally hard (and spectator friendly) 5 kilometer/3-mile loop. Fans see the riders up close and pushed to their very limits in a true test of endurance and skill.
Where's the best place to watch the racing on Saturday?
There are a variety of ways to watch a bicycle road race. The first place to choose is right in Souderton near the finish line. It's there that the giant TV and announcers will keep you informed, that area foods are available and where you can see the excitement of the final sprint. Walk up the Wile Avenue hill and see the riders struggle up it - there's a reason the crowds in Europe always flock to the uphill sections. Go watch on the hill and you'll understand why. Then walk back to the start/finish line with 2 or so laps to go for the finish.
Another active way to watch is to walk the 3-mile circuit backwards. If you are a brisk walker, you can make it back for the finish. You see the riders the most often that way, and on every part of the racecourse.
To add to the fullness of your day, make a road rally of it. Go early and pick one or even two spots on the opening 70-mile loop and watch the race go by before heading back to Souderton, hopefully ahead of the pack, to watch the final laps on the circuit. Excellent vantage points around the race course include:
- Leidy's Sprints
Lansdale - Main (Rt. 63) and Susquehanna - 10:40 am
Harleysville - BikeWorks located on Maple at Rt. 113 - 11:00 am
Salfordville - The Firehouse on Old Skippback Pike - 11:25 am
- VisitPA.com Best Hill Climber
Top of Old Church Road in Upper Salford - 11:30 am
Eichele Roads in New Hanover Township - 11:40 am
Knuckles Road in Salford Township - 12:35 pm
- Landis Supermarkets Feed Zones
Church and Water Streets in Upper Hanover Township - 12:00 pm
Wile Avenue in Souderton - From 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Univest Grand Prix of Doylestown, Sunday, September 9th
The Criterium! This short circuit, fast-action racing style represents the heart and soul of USA racing. Held on a new 1.4-mile course in the center of Doylestown, the race encircles their famed Arts Festival.
The Univest Grand Prix of Doylestown begins at 11:00 am and ends at about 1:00 pm. Get there early for a prime viewing spot, watch the intensity of the pros unfold, then finish off your day, and the perfect weekend, with the Arts Festival. Kids races too! Free to all, registration at 9:30 am, sprints on the finish line stretch from 10:00 to 10:30 am. Autograph sessions with the pros for the kids. See the Children's Races section for more information.
Start/Finish Line: West Court and Main Street, Doylestown. See course and parking information.
Hotels
Official Race Hotel
Homewood Suites by Hilton
1200 Pennbrook Parkway
Lansdale, PA 19446
215-362-6400
homewoodsuites.hilton.com
Other Hotels
Best Western-Inn at Towamencin
1750 Sumneytown Pike
Kulpsville, PA 19443
215-368-3800 or (800) 277-3615
www.valleyforgeinn.com
Race Office
SAAC
259 North 2nd Street
Souderton, PA
215-723-7997
Children's and High School Races
Souderton, Saturday, September 6th
Races for children ages 3 to 12 will be held on the start/finish line in Souderton between 11:00 am and 12:30 pm. Please see the Children's Race section for more information. A special race for High School-aged students will be held from 9:00 to 9:45 am.
Doylestown, Sunday, September 7th
Races for children ages 3 to 12 will be held on the start/finish line in Doylestown between 10:00 and 10:30 am.
Admission is free for all for both days. Helmets must be worn. Prizes will be awarded to all participants.
Please see the Kids race section for more information
Event Schedule |
Univest Grand Prix (Souderton, PA)
North America's Pro Classic |
| Date: | Saturday, September 6, 2008 |
| Opening Ceremony: | 10:30 am |
| Official Start: | 10:50 am |
| Children's Sprints: | 12:00 pm |
| Estimated Pro Men Finish/Awards: | 2:45 pm |
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| Univest Grand Prix of Doylestown, PA |
| Date: | Sunday, September 7, 2008 |
| Men's Pro Race Distance: | 50 miles/80 kilometers, 35 laps of a 1.4 mile circuit |
| Children's Sprints Registration: | 9:30 - 10:00 am |
| Children's Sprints: | 10:00 - 10:30 am |
| Autograph Alley for Kids: | 10:30 - 10:40 am |
| Opening Ceremonies: | 10:30 am |
| Pro Men Start: | 11:00 am |
| Awards Ceremonies: | 1:00 pm |
What do some of those cycling terms mean?
A few of the most commonly used terms are:
- Attack - an explosive acceleration of effort made by a rider to shake others out of their slipstream and gain time
- Break or breakaway - an individual or group of riders who gain time on the rest of the field
- Draft or drafting - when a racer tucks in behind another cyclist to seek a break from battling the wind; drafting can reduce the amount of energy a rider has to expend by as much as 30%. All tactics in cycling revolve around the concept of drafting.
- Paceline - if racers are in a break, or if the peloton is moving very fast, riders will take turns at the front, both to keep the pace high and allow one another to rest; is related to drafting.
- Peloton or field - the main group of cyclists in the race; all description of action in the race use the peleton as a reference point.
- Sitting-on - the action of a rider refusing to take turns and ride in the wind. The rider "sitting on" the back and efforts of the others.
- Bridging the gap - the effort of leapfrogging from one group to another.
- Drop - leaving another rider or group behind, dropping them out of your slipstream
Directions
Printer Friendly Version of Directions
Directions to Souderton:
From Interstate 78 and Route 309:
Follow 309 South to Route 113 South. Continue on Route 113 South until you enter Souderton; follow directions to Spectator Parking.
From PA Turnpike:
Take Exit 31 (Lansdale) off the Northeast Extension to Route 63 West. Go four miles to Route 113 and turn right (North). Continue on Route 113 North until you enter Souderton; follow directions to Spectator Parking.
Directions To Doylestown
From Race Hotel (Best Western New Hope Inn):
Left out of parking lot onto York Road/Rt. 263 South
Merges into Route 202 South
Follow Route 202 South (veers to the right in Buckingham) into Doylestown. Continue on State Street (do not enter the Highway section of Route 202 in Doylestown) into the center of town.
10 miles, 20 minutes
From the North. Traveling on Rt. 611 South:
Take the State St Exit off Rt. 611 South
Turn right onto State St at end of ramp
After going through the next traffic light (Progress Dr) take the second right onto Lafayette (before gas station on corner)
Look for on street parking in this neighborhood. Start/Finish is 5 blocks down, then 3 blocks after turning left on Oakland Ave.
From the South, Traveling on Rt. 611 North:
Take the State St Exit off Rt. 611 South
Turn left onto State St at end of ramp
After going through the next traffic light (Progress Dr) take the second right onto Lafayette (before gas station on corner)
Look for on street parking in this neighborhood. Start/Finish is 5 blocks down, then 3 blocks after turning left on Oakland Ave.
From the East. Traveling on Rt. 202 South:
Shortly after the junction with Rt. 313 (Swamp Rd) turn left to continue with Rt. 202
Take the second exit to remain on Rt. 202
Take the next exit which is State St
Turn left onto State St at end of ramp
After going through the next traffic light (Progress Dr) take the second right onto Lafayette (before gas station on corner)
Look for on street parking in this neighborhood. Start/Finish is 5 blocks down, then 3 blocks after turning left on Oakland Ave.
From the West, Traveling on Rt. 202 North:
Take Rt. 202 to the junction with Rt. 611
Stay straight through this junction, do not get on the Rt. 202 on ramp.
After going through the next traffic light (Progress Dr) take the second right onto Lafayette (before gas station on corner)
Look for on street parking in this neighborhood. Start/Finish is 5 blocks down, then 3 blocks after turning left on Oakland Ave.
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