The following is a spectator guide to this weekend’s U.S. Para-Cycling Road World Cup event at Cummings Research Park in Huntsville.
Race Times
- Sunday race times: 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Monday race times: 8 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Cummings Research Park Road Closures and How to Access the Race Course
Plan ahead on where to park and how to get there. The Chamber of Commerce suggests using these roads to come in:
- Enterprise Way (coming from University Drive)
- Discovery Drive (from Enterprise)
- Voyager Way Jan Davis Drive
Do not use Bradford Drive, Farrow Road or Pegasus Drive, unless you arrive well before 6 a.m. You will not be allowed to drive on Explorer once the course closes. At that point, Huntsville Police will redirect drivers trying to enter from the roads mentioned above.
U.S. Para-Cycling Road World Cup Event Map
ITT Course Map
Parking
There are four main parking areas that provide the closest access to the race. You may walk a very short distance to the course from each parking area. Do not directly park on any of the main roads leading to Explorer Blvd. You may park at Columbia High School, but you must enter from Slaughter Road to Farrow Road. This entrance to Columbia cannot be used as a cut-through to Explorer, as Explorer will be closed to vehicle traffic.
If entering the Park from Jan Davis Drive, the following companies have offered their parking lots:
- Sangoma (445 Jan Davis Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35806)
- Collins Aerospace (on Google it’s listed as Rockwell Collins – 420 Jan Davis Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35806)
If entering from Voyager Way, you may park at these locations:
- ASRC Federal/Aviagen/Yorktown Systems Group (350 Voyager Way, Huntsville AL 35806 – and Google lists ASRC Federal as Analytical Services Inc)
- TSC (Technology Service Corporation) (310 Voyager Way NW, Huntsville, AL 35806)
- Bridge Street Town Center (park in the lot behind Cinemark movie theatre – you’ll need to walk from there, northwest, to SAIC (6725 Odyssey Drive NW) to access viewing on Explorer)
If entering from Enterprise Way, you’ll turn left on Discovery Drive to access parking at these businesses:
- Intrepid (next to 615 Discovery Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35806)
- Delta Research (access through Intrepid’s lot to the North)
- S3 (615 Discovery Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35806)
- 631 Discovery Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35806
- Kord Technologies (635 Discovery Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35806)
- Lakeside Office Center (Pull in at 620 Discovery Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35806) Dynetics is also allowing people to park in their lot. Use Enterprise Way to turn right into the parking lot where the road meets Discovery. Dynetics’ address is 1002 Explorer Blvd NW (you’ll need to turn in from Enterprise.)
Accessible Parking
Auburn Huntsville Research Center’s parking lot is reserved for people who need wheelchair access to the course. This business is located at 345 Voyager Way NW. This location has full access to sidewalks that lead to viewing of the course. Signs will be posted at the business showing that this lot is reserved for accessible parking only, and this lot will also be staffed to ensure it remains open for those who need wheelchair access to an accessible viewing area. Others not needing this access will be directed to alternative lots. There will also be an ADA restroom located in the accessible viewing area.
Viewing
The athletes will race along Explorer Boulevard, but most of the sidewalks are on the interior of Explorer. Please note you won’t be allowed to cross the road once the course closes each morning at 6 a.m. It is suggested you position along the grass on the exterior of Explorer Blvd. There’s plenty of room for everyone to space out and great viewing options everywhere.
General spectators are also allowed to park at Columbia High School this year. This will put you near the start/finish line, which is a very exciting spot.
There will be a live stream of the Start/Finish line. Please check huntsvilleparaworldcup.com during race week for the link.
Police and course marshals will be located along the route, and their role is to keep the cyclists safe. If they advise you to move back, please mind them.
Also, please leave no trace, only footprints. When you leave your spot, please take all of your belongings and trash with you. Trash receptacles will not be provided around most of the course, just at the Start/Finish area.
Restrooms
There will be portable restrooms available for public use at a few spots along the course:
- The Point at Lake 4 (just west of Explorer & Voyager Way at the accessible viewing area in front of Auburn Huntsville Research Center – this restroom is wheelchair accessible)
- Intrepid – (next to 615 Discovery Drive NW)
- Columbia High School (at Explorer and Moquin)
- Dynetics (at the intersection of Explorer & Mark C Smith)
Types of Races
You’ll see a variety of Para-cyclists in this event:
- Handcycle athletes compete using an arm-powered or arm trunk power hand bike where a recumbent position is mandatory. In another type of handcycling, athletes compete from a kneeling position. You will see both types at the Huntsville event. In the event schedule – these are classified as H1, H2, H3, H4 and H5. H1 athletes are classified as the most impaired, and H5 athletes are classified as the least impaired.
- Tricycle athletes are unable to ride a bicycle due to lack of balance and/or restriction in pedaling due to spasticity/dystonia. Severe locomotor dysfunction can be mixed pattern (athetosis/dystonia/spasticity and/or ataxia) of unilateral or bilateral involvement. In the event schedule – these are classified with the letter T.
- Cycling races are classified with C1-C5, and these athletes compete with a standard bicycle. C1 athletes are classified as the most impaired, and C5 athletes are classified as the least impaired.
- Tandem Cycling is classified with the letter B. Tandem events have an able-bodied pilot in the front, and a stoker in the back who has some degree of visual impairment. The stoker provides the power and speed while the pilot’s main job is to steer.
Show Your Support
- Many of the athletes are excited about coming to Huntsville. Many of the Team USA athletes have competed here before and loved our hospitality – so let’s give them another big Rocket City welcome! For our other international athletes, this may be their first trip to Alabama, so we want to give them a great experience in the Rocket City! You are encouraged to make posters and hold them up as racers go by and wear patriotic colors. If you’re having an event with your company, wear your company shirts and post your support on social media with the hashtags #Huntsville2023 and #Paracycling, and tag us:
Facebook.com/TennesseeValleyOutsider
Facebook.com/HuntsvilleAlabama
