Posted: February 27, 2015
Contact: Beth Monroe, Public Relations & Marketing Director; (804) 262-9887, ext. 316; [email protected]

*Images available upon request

Garden is Start Venue for Elite Men’s and Women’s Team Time Trials September 20

RICHMOND, VA — Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is honored to be part of the 2015 UCI Road World Championships coming to Richmond in September. The Garden, located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue in Henrico County, is the start venue for the elite men’s and women’s team time trial events on September 20, 2015. Team trial training will take place on the previous day, Saturday, September 19, 2015. To learn more about World Championship events, routes and schedules, visit Richmond2015.com.

The Garden’s involvement is a natural fit. The historic home on the property, Bloemendaal House, was originally the Lakeside Wheel Club. Built in 1895, the structure was one of the nation’s first “wheel” or bicycle clubs and the epicenter of early cycling history in Richmond.

Now, exactly one hundred and twenty years later, the property is recognized as a world-class botanical garden. Recently, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden was voted second place in USA Today’s 10Best Public Gardens contest.

To help welcome visitors to Richmond during the 2015 UCI Road World Championships, the Garden will have the following special exhibit and activities:

• Saturday, September 19 – Sunday, September 27: The Lakeside Wheel Club and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, an exhibit about early cycling history in Richmond. Eight panels address different topics, including “The Cycling Craze at the Turn of the Century,” “Women and Fashion in the Bicycle Boom,” and “The Heyday of the Lakeside Wheel Club.” Included with Garden admission.
• Sunday, September 20: The Garden is the start venue for the elite men’s and women’s team time trial events and admission will be free on this day.
• Monday, September 21 – Friday, September 25: The Garden will have extended hours with live music, dining, beer and wine. Included with Garden admission.

The mission of the nonprofit Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is education and its passion is bringing people and plants together to improve communities. Learn more at www.lewisginter.org.

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