Hundreds of cyclists will descend on Crystal City and Clarendon this weekend for the 25th annual Armed Forces Cycling Classic.
There will be several races over the course of the weekend. Spectators can watch participants race through Arlington on three separate routes: one in Crystal City, another in Clarendon, and a third spanning Crystal City to Rosslyn. A schedule lists the start times for every race.
From 7 a.m. on Saturday, spectators can watch the Crystal City Challenge Ride, which starts and finishes on 12th Street S. east of S. Eads Street, according to a route map.
The route extends past the Pentagon and continues all the way to Rosslyn before circling back. Competitors must complete as many laps as possible before the race ends at 10 a.m.
Attendees may also observe the competitive pro races through Crystal City, along a rectangular route that starts and ends on 12th Street S., then loops onto S. East Street, 15th Street S. and Crystal Drive. The first heat takes off at 10:25 a.m.
Then, on Sunday, spectators can watch pro and amateur cyclists race through Clarendon from the start and finish line at the intersection of N. Herndon Street and Wilson Blvd, beginning at 10:05 a.m.
The course circles through Washington Blvd, N. Highland Street, and Clarendon Blvd.
In a traffic advisory, Arlington County Police Department suggests attendees and spectators ditch their cars when heading to the weekend’s races.
The Crystal City Metro station (Blue and Yellow lines) is located near the Challenge Ride/Crystal Cup racecourse at the corner of 18th Street and Clark Street and will be accessible on Saturday, June 3. The Clarendon Metro Station (Orange and Silver lines) is located within the Clarendon Cup racecourse at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and N. Highland Street. Vehicular traffic (to include buses) will not be able to access the Clarendon Metro Station after 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 4.
For those who are not able to watch in person, the races will be live-streamed on Saturday from 11 a.m.-2:15 p.m. and on Sunday from 9:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
The police department also published which roads will be closed for the events this weekend.
2023 Challenge Ride and Crystal Cup
The 2023 Armed Forces Cycling Classic: Challenge Ride and Crystal Cup bicycle races will take place on Saturday, June 3, 2023. The following roadways will be closed in order to accommodate the event:
From approximately 4 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- 12th Street S., from S. Elm Street to Crystal Drive
- Crystal Drive, from 12th Street S. to 15th Street S.
- Westbound 15th Street S., from Crystal Drive to S. Fern Street
- S. Eads Street, from 15th Street S. to Army Navy Drive
From approximately 4 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Richmond Highway, from 20th Street S. to I-395
- Route 110, from Richmond Hwy to Wilson Blvd/I-66.
Additionally, there will be points within the area of road closures for residents and guests of the affected residential buildings and hotels to cross.
- Army Navy Drive at 12th Street S. — access for 1201 S. Eads Street parking garage (The Point)
- Long Bridge Drive at 12th Street S. — access for 1200-1400 blocks of S. Clark Street (Crowne Plaza Hotel)
- 15th Street S. at S. Eads Street — access for 1425 S. Eads Street (Paramount Apartments)
- 14th Street S. at S. Eads Street — access for 1434 S. Eads Street (Embassy Suites Hotel)
- 13th Street S. at S. Eads Street — access for 1201, 1205, 1211 and 1221 S. Eads Street (The Point, Cortland Pentagon City and Bella Vista Condominium)
2023 Clarendon Cup Cycling Classic
The 2023 Clarendon Cup Cycling Classic bicycle race will take place on Sunday, June 4, 2023. The following roadways will be closed in order to accommodate the event:
From approximately 3 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Wilson Blvd, from N. Highland Street to Washington Blvd
From approximately 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Wilson Blvd, from N. Edgewood Street to N. Highland Street
- Wilson Blvd, from 10th Street N. to Washington Blvd
- N. Fillmore Street, from Clarendon Blvd to Wilson Blvd — there will be no access to Clarendon Blvd from N. Fillmore Street
- Clarendon Blvd, from Washington Blvd to N. Edgewood Street
- Washington Blvd, from Kirkwood Road to N. Garfield Street
- Washington Blvd, from N. Garfield Street to 10th Street N. — westbound only
- N. Highland Street, from Washington Blvd to 13th Street N. — access to the public parking garage in the 1300 block of N. Highland Street will be available
- N. Garfield Street, from Clarendon Blvd to Wilson Blvd