Charlotte Amalie on the island of Saint Thomas is the capital of the US Virgin Islands. Finding a city named after a Danish Queen, married to King Christian V, on a US territory in the Caribbean might seem weird, but St. Thomas was under Danish control from around 1672 and all the way up to 1917 when Denmark sold the Island, along with the rest of the Danish West Indies, to the United States. When the city was founded it was c...
Read moreCharlotte Amalie on the island of Saint Thomas is the capital of the US Virgin Islands. Finding a city named after a Danish Queen, married to King Christian V, on a US territory in the Caribbean might seem weird, but St. Thomas was under Danish control from around 1672 and all the way up to 1917 when Denmark sold the Island, along with the rest of the Danish West Indies, to the United States. When the city was founded it was called Taphus(Beer House) but it was renamed in 1691.
The riders set off for their 39km effort from the water front in Charlotte Amalie, and then follow the coast on big mostly flat roads. After about 17km the course changes character and the riders will get a taste of why St. Thomas is nicknamed “Rock City,” and it has nothing to do with music. St. Thomas is basically just a big rock and whenever you turn away from the coast you will find a hill.
The last half of this time trial is now on hilly terrain, up and down, the sort of course where it is hard to find a rhythm. The riders will pass by the highest point on the island, the Crown Mountain, before heading back down to Charlotte Amalie via a high speed descent. Once they get down, they will finish by the water front, almost exactly where they started. The riders can then enjoy a beer looking out over the ocean to celebrate the true spirit of Taphus.
