More than 800 cyclists from across the globe will soon breeze through part of Polk County during the annual Assault on Mt. Mitchell and Assault on Marion cycling experiences.

Cyclists will leave from Spartanburg, S.C., at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, May 16, in an effort to complete the grueling rides. The Assault on Mt. Mitchell is a 102.7-mile ride from Spartanburg to the top of Mt. Mitchell, which is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. The Assault on Marion is a 74.2-mile ride from Spartanburg to Marion.

Polk County roads, in the Green Creek, Mill Spring, and Sunny View areas, will be a part of this large event, so motorists should be aware of cyclists’ presence. Cyclists should begin to appear in Polk County around 7:30 a.m. and, for the most part, be out of the county limits by 11:30 a.m.

Road impacted by this cycling event include, Highway 9, Coxe Road, Pea Ridge Road, NC-108, Big Level Road, and Rock Springs Road.

The event is held on a Monday due to the popularity of the Blue Ridge Parkway (where a large portion of the event takes place) and Mt. Mitchell State Park, and Monday is the only daily available for such a large event.

For more information about the event, please check The Assaults website.

If you’re interested in viewing cyclists, the main event webpage has a section that details good spots for spectators.

To view the complete map of where riders will be, please check out the event page on Ride With GPS.