Tour Of The Southern Highlands Returns To Woodstock

WOODSTOCK, GA — The Tour of the Southern Highlands cycling stage race will descend onto Woodstock and Ball Ground next weekend. The events will kick off Friday, March 2 with a pro criterium prologue race for men and women taking place on a .8-mile course.

The race begins on Market Street and will go clockwise to take a right on Hickory Street, another right on Paden street and a final right on Mill Street to return to Market Street. Residents are invited to an infield race watch party that will take place on the Elm Street Event Green adjacent to the Noonday Creek Trail. This will offer spectators the perfect viewing position of all the action. There will be Reformation Brewery craft beer, food trucks, corn hole and other activities.

The March 2 event will also be held during the kickoff for the 2018 Friday Night Live season, so you can expect a festive atmosphere throughout downtown to welcome competitors and their families.

On Saturday, amateurs join the action with the Merckx Time Trial beginning and ending near Ball Ground Academy on Valley Street. This two-mile out-and-back race kicks off at 7 a.m. On Sunday, the High Country Road Race consists of counter-clockwise laps around a 15-mile circuit in Ball Ground. The course starts and finishes on Valley Street in front of Ball Ground Elementary School. The Stage 3 Road Race begins at 8:30 a.m., with up to three fields on course at any one time.

This road course features beautiful scenery of rolling, pastoral terrain and includes short, challenging climbs to separate the field, before long, flowing downhills give riders a chance to come back together. Best spectator viewing locations on this course will be at or near the corner of Valley Street and Beck Street near Ball Ground City Hall. There will be an awards ceremony and closing festival with food and activities following the men’s race.

The Tour of the Southern Highlands is a three-day professional and two-day amateur cycling stage race. The event is a USA Cycling-sanctioned Pro/Am initiative that also includes a USA Junior National Team selection race. It’s the only United States Junior National Team selection race east of the Rocky Mountains, and will have participants and their families traveling from as far as California to compete.

“Downtown Woodstock is happy to have Tour of the Southern Highlands back this year,” Tourism Manager Kyle Bennett said. “The restaurants and shops are delighted to welcome competitors and spectators alongside Friday Night Live event-goers with great sales and specials and a fantastic atmosphere.”

Go to visitwoodstockga.com/tosh or visit www.toshsr.com for more information.

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