I just got copied on a message from the Brown and RISD cycling teams asking for assistance with a Time Trial, Road Race and Criterium. The Time Trial and Road Race will be held on Saturday April 20 starting from Scituate Middle School and on Sunday, the Crit will be held starting at Market Square in the loop along North Main and Memorial.
Fellow Cyclists and Cycling Enthusiasts!
I am a graduate student at RISD and race on RISD’s cycling team and on the weekend of April 20 and 21 we, along with the Brown cycling team, are putting on a collegiate race! This is very exciting for us since it is the first time a collegiate race will be held in Providence and we are looking for volunteers to help us make things run smoothly.
I know it is short notice (remember we are students and short notice is how we work…) but anyone who is able to help out for any amount of time on either day will be helping out a bunch.
Saturday we are having a Team Time Trial and Road Race in Scituate, RI (Staging is at the Scituate Middle Schoo) and need people to volunteer as marshals and lead and follow car drivers. I don’t want to blast everyone with tons of information right now but I’ll break down the basics.
The marshals will stand at major intersections and other important places and have two main responsibilities. One is to keep racers on course and make sure they pass safely through your spot and the other is to make sure cars and pedestrians make it through the intersection without putting the racers in danger. At the major intersections where traffic needs to be more controlled I believe there will be police officers doing the actual traffic direction, you are there to support them.
Drivers are just needed for the road races on Saturday. Five races go off between 10:15 and 10:45 and four races go off between 12:30 and 1:00. Each race needs a lead car that stays in front of the first racers of that race and a follow car that stays behind the main group or potentially leads the main group if there is a significant break away that the lead car has to lead. If you can drive for both races that would be great but any time you can give is awesome.
Sunday we are racing in downtown Providence and need marshals to perform the same duties as Saturday and a few pace car drivers (same idea as a lead car). Sunday’s races start at 8:00 and the last race should go off around 1:00 with the day ending around 2 or 2:30.
Here is a link to the volunteer form.
Here is a link to our race website that has loads of information about the courses and schedules as well as a flyer you can download. risdcycling.com/rhoderace
If you have any questions you can email me at mmcdermott18@gmail.com.
Thanks again and if you can’t volunteer at least come out and cheer us on. The crit course on Sunday should be really fun to watch!
Michael McDermott