USA Deaf Cycling Team – Tryouts

The official schedule of races for the tryouts has now been posted, and I will give you the URL right after this message. First, I have some important information to share. I announced in my previous message that the races would run on Saturday, July 5th and Sunday, July 6th. However, that two-day event in Lancaster, called the Dutch Country Stage Race, consists only of the following:

• road race on Saturday morning
• time trial on Sunday morning
• criterium on Sunday afternoon

The two-day event does not include a 1,000 meter sprint. We will have a separate 1,000 meter sprint here in Washington, D.C. in the morning of Friday, July 4th. Cyclists therefore need to arrive on Thursday, July 3rd for the tryouts and expect to race on the 4th, 5th, and 6th.

The 1,000 meter sprint on Friday the 4th will only be for deaf cyclists trying out for the Deaflympics. The Dutch Country Stage Race on the 5th and 6th is an organized race open to other participants, and the men’s race is open to Categpry 2/3/4 cyclists. This means you will be competing against each other, and against hearing cyclists as well. It will be a fun experience for you.

You may fly into either Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD on Thursday, July 3rd. I encourage you to choose to depart on Monday morning, the 7th, after the races. You may try to leave very late at night on Sunday the 6th, but that would be cutting it very close and you could risk missing your flight if you choose to do this.

It is very important that you send us your flight information so our volunteers can pick you up at the airport on Thursday in preparation for Friday morning’s race, bring you to Lancaster for the weekend, and then bring you back to the airport for your flights home.

Some of you have had some questions about this tryout. The most critical thing you need to know is that your participation is mandatory for attending the Deaflympics. If you do not participate, you will not be able to compete in the Deaflympics.

I look forward to seeing you at the tryouts.

Dutch Country Stage Race: http://www.redroseraces.com/index.php?option=com_races&task=listRace&id=56&Itemid=42