Downtown Salisbury became a race course Thursday night as the Giordana Crossroads Classic returned.
The six-day, six-race event stopped here for the Sun & Ski Sports Salisbury Criterium on its third night of racing, and it comes back to Rowan for the weekend. This year’s edition of the Crossroads Classic started Tuesday and runs through Sunday, with other races taking place in Mocksville, Concord and Statesville.
Salisbury’s course features a 0.9 mile figure-eight loop with cyclists racing at speeds of 40 mph or faster. With packs of dozens of cyclists and teams drafting, jockeying for position, sprinting to the finish and, occasionally, crashing, it’s been called NASCAR on two wheels.
On Saturday, Aug. 3, the participants will take to the roads of Rowan County with the High Rock Road Race. The final race of the six-day series will take place around City Park with the City Park Circuit Race on Sunday, Aug. 4.

For more information about the Crossroads Classic, check out www.crossroadscyclingclassic.com