"Blessing of the Bicycles" at start of the UCI Road World Championships at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

RICHMOND, VA – Clergy from Richmond-area churches are offering a “Blessing of the Bicycles” at the start of the UCI Road World Championships on Saturday, September 19 at 8 a.m. at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. The brief ceremony will bless the bikes and riders before the Elite Men’s and Women’s Team Time Trials Training, the first official race activity. The Team Time Trials Training is 9 a.m. – noon on Saturday, September 19 and start outside the Garden’s gate at 1800 Lakeside Avenue.

The Blessing of the Bicycles will take place on the lawn in front of the Garden’s Visitors Center. The public and clergy are welcome to participate, however, parking inside the Garden is unavailable. Those attending must plan to find parking around the Lakeside Business District and/or walk or bike in. Please be aware spots may fill quickly and may be affected by road closures.

Clergy who would like to participate are asked to wear green stoles over street clothes and help say blessings with individual riders and bikes. Interested clergy should contact Reverend Laura Inscoe, Rector of St. John’s Church, at linscoe at gmail.com.