Greenville Cycling Classic returns to downtown this Thursday

Third Annual Event Draws Top Cyclists, Includes Road Closures

Cycling standouts — including six-time national champion Luke Fetzer, U.S. criterium champion Lucas Bourgoyne and top female athlete Samantha Schneider — will compete this week, as the Greenville Cycling Classic, presented by Prisma Health, returns to downtown. The criterium bike race will be held on a 0.6-mile closed course.

“You can walk around the entire course and see the racers navigate the tight turns and fast straightaway,” said race organizer Steve Baker. “Many people say they can’t believe how fast these racers can ride their bikes. It really is a thrilling evening, and we encourage everyone to experience it for themselves.”

The course runs clockwise and begins and ends on Main Street at the intersection with Coffee Street.

The free event will cause road closures from 10 a.m. to midnight Thursday, April 30, with the first race starting at  3 p.m. and continuing to the start of the final Men’s pro competition at 8:10 p.m. SEE THE FULL EVENT SCHEDULE HERE.

In addition to the collegiate and professional races, youth ages 12 and up can register and take part in “Ride With the Tour de France Legends,” including George Hincapie, Christian Vande Velde and Bobby Julich, at 5:30 p.m.

“The course is challenging from a racing perspective and it’s super exciting for spectators,” said Baker. “We hope to keep bringing this race back every year.”

The City’s weekly concert services, Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive, also will continue as scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at NOMA Square, with a performance by the Mac Beaty Band.

“We close the roads that we use for the race course to car traffic but the bars, restaurants and stores in downtown are open for business during the event,” Baker said. “We welcome everyone to come downtown and enjoy some amazing bike racing action.”

Areas impacted:

• Main Street, from East North Street to Washington Street
• Coffee Street, from Main Street to Brown Street

There will also be road closures from noon to 10 p.m. Areas impacted:

• North Street, from Main Street to Brown Street
• Brown Street, from North to McBee Avenue
• Washington Street, from Brown Street to S. Laurens Street
• Main Street, from Washington Street to McBee Avenue
• McBee Avenue, from Brown Street to S. Laurens Street
• South Laurens Street, from McBee Avenue to Washington Street

The Greenville Cycling Classic is part of USA Crits, a series of criteriums featuring some of the fastest cyclists in the country. It’s also the latest chapter in Greenville’s rich history as a premier cycling destination. In 1986, the Michelin Cycling Classic became the first official professional race downtown, a tradition that continued many years. The City later hosted high-profile competitions such as the Tour DuPont, before the launch of the Greenville Cycling Classic in 2024.

A VisitGreenvilleSC spokesperson said the 2025 Greenville Cycling Classic drew more than 200 competitive cyclists and generated an estimated total economic impact of $236,000.