Who needs D.C. and N.Y.C. when RVA beckons?
Connie and Flemming Eriksen had staked out a prime viewing spot Sunday along Broad Street at First Street for the UCI Road World Championships team trials.
Flemming and Connie Eriksen
The residents of Esbjerg, Denmark, were there waving Danish flags and cheering on the competitors. True race fans, they’re in Richmond for the 10 days of the competition.
Check out Connie’s cap and you’ll see autographs of various international racers. Flemming was wearing a cap from the 2013 UCI World Championships in Tuscany, Italy. They’ve also made one trek to the Tour de France.
It’s their first trip to America, and it was because of the race. They spent four days in New York, then three in D.C. before heading to Richmond.
Giving Back
Glen Allen resident Steve Parker is embracing the world this week. Sunday, he was serving as a volunteer at the 30-K mark of the trials on Monument Avenue. He’s also helping with the bike races again on Tuesday and Wednesday, then it’s off to his native England for the Rugby World Cup.
Steve Parker
Parker has been in Richmond since 1981 and retired after 30 years working for Dominion Power. He’s been helping with Sports Backers as a volunteer for several events this year.
“I just retired and was looking for things to do,” he said.
Family Fun
It was a short walk from their home in the Fan to prime course-side viewing on Sunday for Melissa Oliver and her daughters, Grace and Maeve.
The Olivers: Maeve, Grace and Melissa
Melissa said they had enjoyed the trials on Saturday, and plan to check out events over the ensuing days, as time allows.
“It was really exciting,” she says.
Wheels Go Round
Blacksburg resident Jebbie Crowe was looking for a bus stop to make her way downtown for the trials on Sunday. She’s in Richmond for the week for the event.
Jebbie Crowe UCI
Like the Eriksens, she’s a world traveler when it comes to bike racing, with three trips to Europe for the Tour de France. She also traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee for the U.S.A. Cycling Professional Road and Time Trials.
Her son-in-law is Ian Sherburne, mechanic for BMC racing, but she’s a fan of bike racing in general.
“Bike racing is exciting and fun,” she says. “People think it’s boring, and it’s not at all.”
