Touring Cyclists Depart Holly Springs 10/05/06

More than 1,000 bicylists rode out of Holly Springs Thursday morning after spending the night in tents at Womble Park. A concert and other festivities highlighted the Town's welcome to the Cycle North Carolina tour. See a slide show.

Holly Springs was one of a half-dozen overnight stops for the cyclists on a week-long ride from the mountains to the coast organized by N.C. Amateur Sports.

"Hopefully our success with this event will be a building block for us to attract other events this size," said Scott Barnard, manager of Bass Lake Park and an organizer of the event in Holly Springs.

Cyclists were appreciative of the "extras" Holly Springs provided, including the concert by the Craig Woolard Band, a free shuttle service to local restaurants, and the inclusion of sponsors' tents at Womble Park.

"They were really, really impressed at how Holly Springs rolled out the red carpet," Barnard said, adding it was possible that the town could host a stop again in two or three years.

The cyclists begin arriving late Wednesday morning in Holly Springs, their only Triangle destination. Most slept in tents in the park.

A local band, GB4, took the Womble Park stage before the Craig Woolard Band performed. Holly Springs Rotary Club sold beverages from Holly Springs' own Carolina Brewing Company. Event sponsors hosted welcome and information booths.

The week-long mountains-to-the-coast bike tour started in Banner Elk. It ends Oct. 7 at Emerald Isle. This is the eighth year for the Cycle North Carolina event. It was the first for Holly Springs.

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Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us