The racers of the inaugural Tour of Pennsylvania, are set to speed through northeastern Lancaster County on Wednesday morning. The first stage of the six-day tour will start in Downingtown and finish in Carlisle.
The first sprint of the race, for riders under age 25, will be at the center of Ephrata, at Main and State streets, at about 11:30 a.m. (Depending on their speed, the riders could arrive in Ephrata as early as 11:10 or as last as 11:45.)
Riders will be crossing Lancaster County on U.S. Route 322, from the Chester County line, until they cross into Lebanon County near Cornwall. There will be a King of the Mountains climb up the long, gradual grade on Route 322 near Cornwall. That hill, named Spring Hill, tops about 900 feet of elevation. Overall, the 91-mile stage has rolling terrain, with 5,443.6 feet of climbing, but only 219 feet of elevation gain.
According to race organizers, the Norristown-based Pro Cycling Tour, state police will be controlling traffic for the race. Troopers will be stopping all motor vehicles in both directions of Route 322 for the race and reopening the road after the riders pass. The rolling closure should have traffic blocked for 15-20 minutes at any point along the route, organizers said.
Typically in stage races, such as the famous Tour de France, there is an overall winner at the end with the lowest combined time for all the stages. There are also competitions within the overall race, for the best sprinter and climber and winners of the individual stages. The first rider across the sprint line in Ephrata will get points toward the sprinter competition and time bonuses that will lower his time for the overall competition.
The stage follows a prologue time trial along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia Tuesday. Stage three starts in Camp Hill after an auto transfer from Carlisle and ends 104 miles later in Bedford. The route passes through several of the towns founded when men under the command of Gen. John Forbes cut a path through southwestern Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War in 1758. The route was designed to bring the riders to Pittsburgh, which was founded by Forbes. The 450-mile race, retracing his route, is the first event in the city’s 250th birthday celebration.
The last stage is a criterium in Pittsburgh on a two-mile circuit on Sunday, June 29. The stage will be broadcast live on the Versus cable channel, from 5-7 p.m., said Pro Cycling Tour Chief Operating Officer Jerry Casale.
The race is is an “espoirs” race for riders age 24 and younger. It is the only such race in the United States.
Although this year’s race is tied to Pittsburgh’s anniversary celebration, the Pro Cycling Tour hopes to make the Tour of Pennsylvania an annual event, such as statewide stage races being held in California, Georgia and Missouri.
