Welcome to the Mobile Cycling Classic!

March 2-3, 2024

Mobile County, Alabama

The 6th edition of the Mobile Cycling Classic is moving from scorching heat of the Summer to a much cooler and comfortable temperature of the Spring.

This edition will feature a new race format that will prove to be challenging for all participants. This new format will consist of an undulating Road Race loop of 17 miles on Saturday morning, followed by a 10km Time Trial in the afternoon at Municipal Park in Citronelle, AL.  Sunday morning, we will begin proceedings with a memorial 5K Fun Run at 8 a.m. followed by the criterium race at 10 a.m.

The Mobile Cycling Classic is sanctioned by USA Cycling permit #8500 and is hosted by the Mobile Sports Authority, the City of Mobile and Mobile County. The cycling event will be done as an omnium with different points structure for each stage based on difficulty. For instance, the road race will contain the most points!

It will be pedals to the metal in Mobile County and we are excited to introduce this new format and race courses at the Classic. Cyclists and runners throughout the region will be in town competing for cash prizes and/or medals.

Schedule

Thank you to the following sponsors:

Saturday parking will be at 18260 Municipal Park Dr, Citronelle, AL 36522. Follow signs!

Sunday Parking for the 5K and cycling races can be found at BR Williams Trucking Company at 5630 Commerce Blvd East, Mobile, AL, 36619 or near the vicinity.

5K Fun Run – This is a new event to the MCC in honor of the late Victor Birch who was hit and killed by a drunk driver on his way to train at Commerce Park where the 5k will be held. This course will be certified and can be used to qualify runners for bigger events in the region.

Online registration is open at $20/adult, $15 for 11-19 and $10 for under 10yrs until early bird ends February 21st then $30/adult, $20 for 11-19 and $15 for under 10yrs until registration closes February 29th.

You can find the registration page here https://www.runreg.com/mobile-classic-5k

Onsite registration will be $35/adult, $25 for 11-19 and $20 for under 10yrs.

Victor Birch

Victor Birch was a well-known runner in the Mobile area who competed in road races, relays, duathlons, and even triathlons.  He established himself a local running legend with an extensive running career, completing 16 marathons, including 3 Boston marathons. At the age of 49 he set a personal record winning a marathon in Florida with a time of 2:59. At the age of 60 he completed his first Ironman competition.

Victor was the leader of the Blue Bell Bombers running team where he initiated all communications and organized races and other various events for the team. Most of the training for the Bombers was done at Commerce Park off Rangeline Rd. This was Victor’s “home course” and the loop is now named after him. Victor was tragically killed on September 25, 2022 in a car accident, a head-on collision by an impaired driver on Rangeline Rd. Victor was on his way to Commerce Park to help train a friend for an upcoming Ironman competition.

He was an active member of the Port City Pacers where he volunteered at numerous events in the community. His passion for the sport of running was contagious and affected hundreds of people. He was willing to help anyone reach any goal they were trying to achieve and was a huge encourager.

About The Mobile Sports Authority
The Mobile Sports Authority (MSA) is a non-profit sports commission formed in 2008 by the Mobile County Commission. The main mission is to create a positive economic and public relations impact for Mobile County, the City of Mobile, and the region through attracting, hosting, managing and supporting sporting events. MSA is the main point of contact for sports and sports-related activities for the Mobile County area. For more information on MSA, please visit www.mobilesportsauthority.com.

About Team Share the Road
Team Share the Road was organized in May of 2011. We currently have over 500 members and are continuing to grow. The purpose of Team Share the Road is:

1) to educate and promote safe bicycling;
2) to assist in funding for accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians;
3) to assist in funding Complete Streets Projects and Safe Route to Schools Projects;
4) to support the Traffic Safety Center of University of Montevallo and the Child Safety Institute at Children’s Hospital of Alabama;
5) to purchase helmets for those in need;
6) to purchase equipment for indigents’ bicycles; and
7) to conduct instructional safety seminars for bicyclists and motorist of all ages.
8) We worked with local governments in Mobile and Baldwin Counties drafting 3-foot ordinances. Mobile, Chickasaw, and Daphne passed the ordinances. We are continuing to work with the other municipalities. We are on the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee and are working with the appropriate officials regarding the accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians in the area.

Two of our Board Members are licensed by the League of American Bicyclists as licensed bicycle instructors. We routinely present Bicycle Skills Classes, Bicycle Maintenance Classes, and Bicycle Rodeos at community events and schools.

Team Share the Roads also holds indigent bicycle maintenance clinics to install lights and performed maintenance on individuals that approached us at designated, informally announced, locations. We conducted Bicycling 101 classes to instruct the youth on the importance of bicycle safety and basic maintenance. We provide helmets to children and adults that do not have resources to purchase a helmet. We distribute safety vests, safety stickers, safety materials and pamphlets of the applicable laws.

Team Share the Road also organizes bicycling events. We organized Criteriums at Sunny South Raceway, organized the Joy to Life Ride, assisted Mobile Infirmary with the Duathlons, coordinated Rides of Silence for Mobile, and organized MSA Tour de Bay Criterium and Metric Century Ride with the Mobile Sports Authority.