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Bicycle Race Arrives in Fayetteville

By: Ben Glodowski

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.- A four-day stage race descends on Northwest Arkansas beginning Thursday, April 12. The Joe Martin Stage Race exists in several divisions with multiple routes, lengths and start times.

Thursday and Friday consist of Road Races, ranging from 64 miles for Pro Women to 113 miles for Pro Men.

Cyclists transition to time trials Saturday, April 14 at Devil’s Den State Park. That leg is only 3 miles long, but has an average grade of five percent.

Finally on Sunday, the race enters the Criterium stage, where riders race each other through the streets of Downtown Fayetteville. Men complete 16 laps and Women 13. Kids ages 3-9 can participate in this stage for free.

The race will bring over 750 athletes to the region to compete. A full schedule as well as prime spectating locations can be found at http://www.joemartinstagerace.com/index.php