H
undreds of professional cyclists and their families, friends and fans will pedal into West Virginia’s capital city over the next week, as USA Cycling brings its Professional Road National Championships to the Kanawha Valley.
For the second time in as many years, downtown and other city neighborhoods will welcome athletes of all ages as they compete in several road cycling races. According to race officials, last year’s races brought 435 athletes from 46 states to Charleston.
The National Championships serve as a qualifying event for the U.S. Olympic Team. This year’s winners may qualify for the 2028 Summer Olympics, to be held in Los Angeles.
The competition schedule kicks off at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 19, with the Para-cycling Road Race. Athletes with visual or physical impairments will compete on bicycles, tricycles, and handcycles in a route that begins and ends at Haddad Riverfront Park. Most of Monday’s competition takes place along Kanawha Boulevard, from the city’s West Side to downtown.
Due to the competition, Charleston’s residents, visitors and workers will want to take note of some traffic and public transportation changes.
Traffic changes
Traffic in various areas of the capital city will be impacted each day of the competition, which runs through Monday, May 26.
The City of Charleston has created a web page with details of daily street closures during the National Championships.
“This list is meant to serve as a guide and may be subject to change,” officials note on the website. “Times are approximations based on race start times and the time needed to prepare for the race.”
On Monday, May 19, city workers will begin closing roads at 5:30 a.m., with the full closure anticipated to be in place by 7 a.m., in time for the race’s 9 a.m. start.
“If you work downtown or must cross the race route, please allow extra time for your commute,” officials advise. “If your destination is within the downtown footprint, you will likely be entering at Virginia Street or Laidley Street.”
Monday’s road closures include:
- Truslow Street, from Kanawha Boulevard to Virginia Street
- Virginia Street, from Truslow Street to Court Street
- Court Street, from Virginia Street to Lee Street
- Lee Street, from Court Street to Summers Street
- Summers Street, from Lee Street to Quarrier Street
- Quarrier Street, from Hale Street to Summers Street
- Hale Street, from Kanawha Boulevard to Lee Street
Roads will be closed from approximately 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Kanawha Boulevard from Capitol Street to Clendenin Street will also be closed all day.
More information, including parking information, is available on the city of Charleston’s website.
KRT bus service modifications
The Pro Road National Championships will also affect local public transportation.
“From Monday, May 19 through Monday, May 26, buses are unable to access the City Center Station,” officials with the KRT bus system noted in a release. “A temporary transit center to load and unload passengers will be located on Summers Street and Donnally Street by Park Place Stadium Cinemas.”
The changes will affect where passengers catch the bus from the downtown terminal, officials note.
Passengers riding the 1SA/1SC, 2C/2KC, 3N and 3I, #4 Quincy, #5 Cross Lanes, #6 Elkview, #8 Sissonville, #17 Southside, #21 Southridge and #23 Clendenin buses will load on Summers Street.
Riders on the #10 City Park, #11 Oakridge/Wertz, #13 Beech Avenue, #15 South Hills, #16 South Park, #18 Fort Hill, and #19 Trolley will load on Donally Street.
More information and exact route details are available on the KRT website.
Local economic impact
Despite the road closures and other modifications, the USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships are big businesses for the Kanawha Valley, officials say.
In 2024, the event generated an estimated $4.6 million in economic impact, increasing visitor spending by nearly 22 percent, according to data from the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Nearly 3,000 overnight guests stayed locally during the inaugural event in Charleston, officials said. Hotel occupancy increased 8 percent, and short-term vacation rental occupancy jumped 50 percent during the event.
“Hosting the USA Pro Road National Championships in our Capital City provided a significant boost [in 2024] to our local businesses, hotels, and restaurants while also showcasing our Capital City as a prime location for major sports tournaments,” Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin said in a statement.
