Owen Cup 21st edition
Schedule
Sat Feb 14 2026 at 10:00 am to 04:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
Bollo's Cafe & Bakery | Blacksburg, VA
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Owen CupThe Virginia Tech cycling team started a tradition in 2006, when they created an event to test their road-racing skills and endurance. This test was named the Owen Cup. The Owen Cup is held each year the weekend before the first collegiate road race of the season.
The Route mapped on Strava Cycling
https://www.strava.com/routes/1389627
The Owen Cup trophy is once again up for grabs in the ultimate pre-season cycling event.
Owen Cup Format
A: USA Cycling categories: Pro, 1, 2, 3, women, and equivalents would do 3 laps.
B: USA Cycling categories: 3, 4, (women 1, 2), and equivalents would do 2 laps.
C: USA Cycling categories: 4, 5 (women 3, 4), and equivalents would do 1 lap.
The event will start in a handicap format to keep the start group from being too big. The slowest cyclist starts first, and the fastest starts last, making the end of the race close. An ideal handicap race is one in which all participants finish around the same time. Don’t forget to work together to outrun the chasing groups.
Categories: Pro, 1, 2, 3 and equivalents would give everyone else a 5min head start.
Handicap Race:
A handicap race is a style of racing practiced at Blacksburg’s Wednesday Worlds. This style of race benefits newer riders. They can gain more riding experience in a larger group and get a chance to see the more experienced guys in action.
If you are or were a professional, ex-national champion, Category 1 or 2, and think you should also get a head start, you can apply by sending a 500-word essay explaining why you need a head start to the VT cycling list serve. On Saturday morning, there will be a vote on the starting position of the riders who applied for a head start.
Handicap starting
15-minute head start for the
5min head start for the Men B-C-D and women A-B-C
A men chase
The ride out of town will be parade style. No attacking or riding fast. The parade session will stop at the stop signs on Mt Tabor Rd and continue to the top of the hill, where the church is located. We will stop in the church parking lot for instructions and the handicap start.
Parade route is:
Bollo's Cafe & Bakery 206 Draper Rd NW, Blacksburg, VA 24060
1.Head southeast on Draper Rd NW toward Jackson St NW go 0.1 mi total 0.1 mi
2.Turn left onto W Roanoke St go 0.5 mi total 0.6 mi
3.Slight left onto Owens St go 0.1 mi total 0.7 mi
4.Turn right onto Harding Ave go 0.3 mi total 1.0 mi
5.Turn left onto Patrick Henry Dr go 0.6 mi total 1.6 mi
6.Turn right onto Giles Rd go 0.5 mi total 2.1 mi
7.Turn right onto N Main St go 0.5 mi total 2.5 mi
8.Turn right onto Mt Tabor Rd go 1.3 mi total 3.8 mi
9.Turn right Destination will be on the right go 157 ft total 3.9 mi
Slusser's Chapel
Important things to keep in mind:
1. The road is open. Keep your head up and eyes open.
2. Do not cross or crowd the yellow line.
3. Be careful at all turns and at the one stop sign on Mt. Tabor.
4. This is intended to be fun. Make it so.
Print the turn list to have turn directions during the ride.
Route: Owen Cup C
Start Slusser's Chapel Church
Distance to travel on road Total distance traveled
Mt. Tabor Road 12.7 miles 12.7 miles
Right Sandy Ridge 1.5 miles 14.2 miles
Right Blacksburg Road 12.3 miles 26.5 miles
200 M Harding Rd. at Green “Blacksburg Corporate Limit” sign. 200 Meters to the finish line
Finish Corner of Harding Rd and Ascot Lane, pavement change
Route: Owen Cup B
Start Slusser's Chapel Church
Distance to travel on road Total distance traveled
Mt. Tabor Road 12.7 miles 12.7 miles
Right Sandy Ridge Road 1.5 miles 14.2 miles
Right Blacksburg Road 11.5 miles 25.7 miles
Right Happy Hollow Road 1.8 miles 27.5 miles
Right Mt. Tabor Road 13.3 miles 40.8 miles
Right Sandy Ridge 1.5 miles 42.3 miles
Right Blacksburg Road 12.3 miles 54.6 miles
200 M Harding Rd. at Green “Blacksburg Corporate Limit” sign. 200 Meters to the finish line
Finish Corner of Harding Rd and Ascot Lane, pavement change
Route: Owen Cup A
Start Slusser's Chapel Church
Distance to travel on road Total distance traveled
Mt. Tabor Road 12.7 miles 12.7 miles
Right Sandy Ridge 1.5 miles 14.2 miles
Right Blacksburg Road 11.5 miles 25.7 miles
Right Happy Hollow Road 1.8 miles 27.5 miles
Right Mt. Tabor Road 13.3 miles 40.8 miles
Right Sandy Ridge 1.5 miles 42.3 miles
Right Blacksburg Road 11.5 miles 53.8 miles
Right Happy Hollow Road 1.8 miles 55.6 miles
Right Mt. Tabor Road 13.3 miles 68.9 miles
Right Sandy Ridge 1.5 miles 70.4 miles
Right Blacksburg Road 12.3 miles 82.7 miles
200 M Harding Rd. at Green “Blacksburg Corporate Limit” sign. 200 Meters to finish line
Finish Corner of Harding Rd and Ascot Lane, pavement change
Complete as many laps as you wish.
The finish is the top of Harding Ave.
Continuing straight on Harding Road and not making the right turn onto Happy Hollow.
The main event
The "A" category is 3 laps
The "B" category is 2 laps
The "C" category is 1 lap.
Only the A race has a chance to put their name on the trophy.
If you have any questions, feel free to email [email protected].
Champions
2006 Mark Hardman
2007 Aaron Snyder
2008 Ben King
2009 Steven Gordon
2010 Owen Nielsen
2011 Ricky Gargiulo
2012 John DeLong
2013 Marcos Lazzarotto
2014 Marcos Lazzarotto
2015 Marcos Lazzarotto
2016 Sean Gardner
2017 Clayton Travis
2018 Clayton Travis
2019 Kevin Picard
2020 Clayton Travis
2021 Neil Singh
2022 Kevin Picard
2023 Christian James
2024 Blake Fairbanks
2025 Justin Miller
Woman’s Champions
2012 Nina Laughlin *3 laps almost complete
2013 Leanna House * 2 laps completed
2014 Leanna House * 2 laps completed
2015 -
2016 -
2017 -
2018 -
2019 Cortney Martin * 2 laps completed
2020 -
2021 -
2022 Catie George *3 laps complete
2023 Mary VanSteenberghe * 2 laps completed
2024 Mary VanSteenberghe * 2 laps completed
2025 -
2025 Photos: by Mary Van Steenberghe https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1055495179928739&type=3
2025 Photos: by Clayton Travis https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1055492989928958&type=3
2024 Photos: by Neil Singh, John Delong, and Mary Van Steenberghe
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.982908417187416&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.982911813853743&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.982913863853538&type=3
2023 Photos: by Mary Van Steenberghe and Clayton Travis
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.592430629568532&type=3
2022 Photos: by John DeLong and Mary VanSteenberghe
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4841267019292025&type=3
2021 Photos: by Kevin Picard
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4494529953965735&type=3
2020 Photos: by John DeLong
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2744312188987529&type=3
2019 Photos: by John DeLong
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2125397670878987&type=3
2018 Photos: by: Amy Heaton and John DeLong
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1620460764706016.1073741986.135456576539783&type=1&l=bc6abb1929
2017 Photos: by: John DeLong
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1260372340714862.1073741955.135456576539783&type=1&l=3318631a0c
2016 Time-lapse: by John DeLong
2015 Photos: by Matt Moeller
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001862490373&sk=photos&collection_token=100001862490373%3A2305272732%3A69&set=a.817664084972334.1073741826.100001862490373&type=1&pnref=story
2015 Photos: by John DeLong
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10103221020900153.1073741888.6228845&type=1&l=dc21e8cb10
2014 Video: by John DeLong
2013 8th Owen Cup video: camera work - Jacob Aber; commentary - Scotland Leman; edited - John DeLong
2013 8th Owen Cup last 7 miles video with power numbers SufferVission: camera work -Jacob Aber; commentary - Scotland Leman; edited - John DeLong
http://suffervision.appspot.com/v/1424001?t=gZ1BoqWH
2013 8th Owen Cup photos: by John DeLong Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10102070386690333.1073741852.6228845&type=1&l=b3b7f5065c
2012 Photos: by John DeLong
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100747982623683.2797103.6228845&type=1&l=8160528627
2008 3rd Owen Cup: by John DeLong Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.557743610233.2211391.6228845&type=1&l=d4eeb2cd0a
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Where is it happening?
Bollo's Cafe & Bakery, 153 College Ave, Blacksburg, VA 24060-7401, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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