The second annual Rock the Quarry race will take place on Sunday, August 21 at the Chenango Greenway Conservancy’s Stone Quarry starting at 9 a.m. (Submitted Photo)

NORWICH – The second annual Rock the Quarry mountain bike race will be taking to the hill west of the city of Norwich on Sunday, August 21.

The Rock the Quarry race is the seventh of eight races in the New York State Mountain Bike series. The Rock the Quarry race will see cyclists from beginners to pros racing over a seven-mile cross country race course starting and ending in a meadow off the Upper Ravine Road here in the town of Norwich – about a half mile further up the road from where the first Rock the Quarry race started and ended.

The race is supported by NBT Bank this year and will feature a course that has exquisite scenery. From the creek crossings to challenging climbs and fast downhills, even to pines, hardwoods, and ferns, the course sets up a great view of the city of Norwich from the Chenango Greenway Conservancy’s Stone Quarry.

The racers will ride in and out of the infield area three times per lap, promising some great spectator views of the racers.

Last year, there were 125 racers for the first race. This year the group is expecting to surpass that number and is in hopes of around 200 racers visiting Norwich. A lot of riders will be arriving Saturday to pre-ride the course, as well as early Sunday.

On Sunday, the races begin at 9 a.m. and the racers would love the support from the public to come up and cheer them on. Spectators can be anywhere they want on the course as the trails will not be closed off, but are asked to be mindful of the racers.

The races will kick off with beginners at 9 a.m., followed by intermediate racers around 10 a.m. and pros and experts at noon. Beginners race one lap, intermediate racers race two laps with the pro/expert racers having to complete a challenging three laps.

- Information provided by Rob Baker, the Head Coach of the Galena Growlers Composite Mountain Bike Team