Road Closures Planned For Tour of The Southern Highlands Race

WOODSTOCK, GA -- Next week, the city of Woodstock will host kick-off festivities for the Tour of the Southern Highlands Stage Race, the only Pro/Am stage race since the Tour de Georgia.

This race, the first leg of the three-day event, will start at 7 p.m. Friday, March 3 and the route will follow Market, Hickory, Paden and Mill streets.

The race will end at approximately 10:30 p.m., and the event will feature live race announcements, live music, kids’ races and a corn hole tournament on Elm Street’s Event Green.

Set-up for the event will start around noon Friday, with clean-up from the event wrapping up around midnight.

Motorists should note that Market, Hickory, Paden and Mill streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. March 3.

Access to the parking decks at Walton Communities will be allowed at certain intervals during the race, the city said.

Friday's race will be reserved for the professional men and women in the sport. On Saturday, March 4, the amateurs will join in on the action alongside the pros for the Stage 1- Merckx Time Trial and Stage 2 - Circuit Race along Arnold Mill Road in Cherokee County.

Racing headquarters and starting points are at Arnold Mill Elementary School. The 5-mile Time Trials begin at 7:30 a.m., with the Circuit Race running from noon to 5 p.m. along the five-mile stretch of Arnold Mill and North Arnold Mill roads.

The third and final stage, set for Sunday, March 5, moves north to Ball Ground for a road race consisting of a 15-mile loop with over 1,200 feet of climbing. Food trucks, beer and community activities will start at 11 a.m. and go on throughout the day as the race takes place.

Citizens and visitors should plan accordingly and expect travel delays in and around this area. For more information about the event, visit the website.

Image via Dingo Race Productions, LLC