Press Release
Criterium goes against football wind by Joe Medley of The Anniston Star
April 7, 2010
Forward thinking grew the Anniston area's annual cycling weekend into a top tourism event for Alabama, and planners thought ahead when they switched from the first May weekend to April 17-18 this year.
Planners couldn't plan for things not yet scheduled, so they must hope that spring football games at Alabama and Auburn on April 17 won't cut deeply into crowds for the annual Noble Street Festival, which surrounds the Sunny King Criterium.
"A-Day wasn't something we really though about," principal organizer Mike Poe said. "There's always something. There's so much stuff going on that you can't find a date where nothing is going on."
Thoughts behind moving the cycling date involved an explosion of competing races in May and a potential conflict with NASCAR races at Talladega next year.
The Sunny King Criterium is on USA Cycling's National Racing Calendar, making it a points race and big draw for top teams. Other races popped up around the same time, however, creating competition as top teams decided where to send riders.
"USA Cycling asked if we would consider moving our date," Poe said.
Planners want to keep the Criterium and Cheaha Challenge on the same weekend. They also wanted to change the date this year to get people used to it for next year, when the potential conflict with Talladega comes into play.
The first 2011 weekend with a May date also includes the final day of April. Typically, NASCAR comes to Talladega on that weekend.
Poe consulted then-Talladega Superspeedway president Rick Humphrey and determined that a conflict was likely.
Organizers also sought to avoid other conflicts, such as with the Knox Center Series. Weighing all concerns, they opted for mid-April of this year and next year.
News of Alabama and Auburn scheduling their spring games for April 17 came months later. Local cycling enthusiasts suddenly had competition from college football.
Since Nick Saban became Alabama's coach in 2007, the Crimson Tide's spring games have averaged near-capacity crowds in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Auburn's game draws 35,000-40,000 to Jordan-Hare.
Alabama and Auburn fans typically make a day of it, with tailgating and other activities.
Poe said he doesn't expect to lose riders because of A-Day games in Tuscaloosa and Auburn. The worry is smaller crowds for the Noble Street Festival.
"The Festival starts at 10 or 11 and goes until 9 p.m., so, hopefully, they would still have time to get back," Poe said. "If they still have the energy, they could come downtown and eat dinner at the Festival."