Road Bike Racing - JAcksonville Races indefinitely postponed

A cautionary tale:

"The race weekend in Jacksonville scheduled for April 19-20 has been postponed indefinitely. Attempts are being made to reschedule for this summer or fall.

Due to the conduct of the racers (mostly the Pro/1/2 field) the Sheriff’s Office in Clay County is no longer supporting bike races. No police = no races. This is just a reminder (and I say reminder because we act appropriately 99.9% of the time) that when you are visiting races, you are there as guests and should act appropriately. You never know who is watching and what that can do for future races in that area."

What sort of conduct?

I did the race last year, and all I saw was people not getting off the pavement when asked to do so. It's a rural county, and I think they just don't like"our type"

I remember hearing something about the P/1/2 field strung out across the entire road. There was a stiff cross wind on the finishing straight last year. If I remember correctly (and I'm old, so maybe right maybe not) the officials stopped the race and yelled at the field. The rumor I heard today was that some of the people at the race gave the Deputies a hard time and there were complaints from the locals about the race.

I can't pass along hard facts, so what the heck I'll throw the rumors out.

Where did this info come from? Just asking because there's nothing on floridacycling.com or anywhere else I can find.

When the race flyer mentioned that the crit had been moved from downtown to an office park, it looked like they were having either organizational or funding problems (at least compared to past years). I wonder if that's not the translation here; "support" meaning "volunteer hours" from the police?

FWIW, I live and ride in Clay County and it's not exactly Deliverance here. :)

Isn't Middleburg in Clay County?

The racers all the way across the road is also what I heard. Come on up to Tallahassee this weekend as an alternative. We have a true downtown, technical, crit course. We also have a really hilly road course, with a start/finish right in the heart of a small town. You won't find that sort of thing anywhere else in the SE. Just stay right of the center line, please. We'd like to keep doing it in the future.

I got the email from Drew as well. I remember the cops yelling at people last year to stay off that one road. This sucks, because I really liked those races. The jax races are the only ones I'd come home for.

The racers all the way across the road is also what I heard. Come on up to Tallahassee this weekend as an alternative. We have a true downtown, technical, crit course. We also have a really hilly road course, with a start/finish right in the heart of a small town. You won't find that sort of thing anywhere else in the SE. Just stay right of the center line, please. We'd like to keep doing it in the future.

Forecast for tomorrow, 80% chance of rain.

I'll be there. ;)