NARRATOR: A city steeped in history,
Richmond, Virginia is now one of the most vibrant,
eclectic, and livable cities in the world,
making it the perfect host for the 2015 UCI Road World
Championships.
For nine days in September, the world's best cyclists
will gather here.
They seek the title of World Champion,
but they'll discover so much more.
SUBJECT 1: Richmond is.
SUBJECT 2: Richmond is.
ANOUSHEH: Richmond is the perfect city.
TIM MULLINS: Richmond is progressing.
EVIN DOGU: Richmond is unexpected.
RONNIE LOGAN SR: Richmond is a wonderful place to live a life.
TAG CHRISTOF: I think Richmond is a real nexus point for what
America is becoming.
It's a good link between the South and the North.
MARLEIGH CULVER: Richmond is unique.
It's a easy answer, but it's true.
WILSON FLOHR: After the world championships,
we'll be able to showcase our region to the nation
and to the world.
Tell people that we're a great place to live, work, play,
and also conduct business.
LEE GREGORY: The fact that the world cycling championships are
coming here to town, it shows a lot for Richmond in the sense
that we're growing.
We're more adaptive and ready to move forward
in the future of the city.
JESSE LEADBETTER: Cycling in Richmond,
there's just a lot of things going on.
Bike paths, bike friendly roads, more trails
for mountain biking, and outreach programs for kids.
Richmond's really stepped it up as far as
like a cycling community.
EVRIM DOGU: Richmond has changed a lot,
but I have changed with it.
So sometimes, it's hard to tell the difference.
A lot of those who left, came back and started up
their own businesses, started connecting
with others in the community to make it happen.
JESSE LEADBETTER: It's just a fun environment.
All of the local business to support each other.
Definitely just a strong, independent scene here.
TIM MULLINS: I'm Tim Mullins.
JESSE LEADBETTER: I'm Jesse Leadbetter.
TIM MULLINS AND JESSE LEADBETTER:
We own Carytown Bikes.
TIM MULLINS: We all ride, we're all involved in the scene.
JESSE LEADBETTER: It's what you love, so it's not really a job.
You're just hanging out at the bike shop.
TIM MULLINS: I have gotten a chance to ride the course here
in town, and it seems a lot tighter than the other courses
that I've seen in Europe.
You can only take those turns so fast, and only so many guys can
fit through those turns.
I think that's where some of the differences
are going to be made.
TAG CHRISTOF: The bike championship
is going to be a real turning point for the city.
It will put it on the world stage
for a whole bunch of people who haven't looked at it before.
PETER KHOURY: Need Supply is a clothing and lifestyle company.
And we're based here in Richmond.
TAG CHRISTOF: We like handmade things.
We like brands that have a real story,
and brands that are connected.
A lot of times, the makers make them.
Our number one objective is not just to sell things.
Our number one objective is to make really nice things.
RONNIE LOGAN SR: This is Ronnie's Ribs,
in Richmond, Virginia.
We have my famous ribs, pulled pork barbecue,
tasty beef brisket, and smoked chicken wings.
When you get here, pull up a chair
and get your barbecue sandwich, and then
and walk 1/2 a block or so up and watch the bike race.
T LEGGETT: Roosevelt is a Southern inspired neighborhood
restaurant.
We call this one the Northbound Turnaround.
A rich demerara rum, a little bit
of a bittersweet Italian liquor, and some PX sherry.
LEE GREGORY: This year we got nominated for James Beard Best
Chef Mid-Atlantic, and that's the third year in a row.
More accolades than I could ever, ever imagine.
Especially when we sell french fries with gravy.
EVRIM DOGU: I founded Sub Rosa Bakery, operated
by myself and my sister.
The seed was, I really want to eat
good bread with the food I'm eating, and I can't find it.
So I started making it.
I was making so much bread that I started giving it away,
and people said, Oh, I would pay money for this bread.
And there an idea was born.
PETER KHOURY: Having such a creative class
here, whether it's restaurants, whether it's
the art scene, whether it's galleries, whether it's music.
LEE GREGORY: It's the place to be right now.
In truth, I mean we've got a lot of stuff going for us.
SUBJECT 3: When people come here, I'm like,
you need to go to the river.
And you need to eat everything.
SUBJECT 4: Having the world here in Richmond is exciting for me.
I mean, I enjoy the racing, for sure.
MONICA CALLAHAN: People are truly getting excited
that Richmond has this opportunity
to literally host the world.
SUBJECT 5: We're really excited to see what it's
going to mean for the city.
I think it's going to mean a lot of great things.