The nation’s top cycling authority made an unprecedented move Wednesday when it awarded Bend a second major bike-racing championship.
USA Cycling has named Bend the host city for the 2009 and 2010 Junior, U23 & Elite Road National Championships. Dates for this year’s event are July 28-Aug. 2.
Six weeks ago Bend was selected by USA Cycling to host the Cyclocross National Championships, also a two-year deal. The 2009 cyclocross championships are scheduled for Dec. 10-13.
After combing the record books, USA Cycling officials stated in a news release that this is the first time in recent history that two of its national championships will be held in the same city in the same year. Walla Walla, Wash., and a group of three Seattle suburbs also bid to host the road championships.
“Bend is a top destination for both recreational and competitive cycling, and USA Cycling is excited to be bringing another national championship race to Oregon,” said Steve Johnson, CEO for USA Cycling, in a news release. “Bend’s long tradition of communitywide support and passion for cycling convinced us to award them two national championships in the same year.”
According to organizers, road nationals typically attract approximately 1,000 racers as well as 2,000 additional visitors, including family members, support staff, media and racing officials. Doug LaPlaca, president and CEO of Visit Bend who helped to bring the event to Bend, said he expects that the combined cyclocross and road national championships will generate $3.5 million in revenue for the community each year.
“We’re ecstatic … we’re thrilled,” LaPlaca said Wednesday. “Even during normal economic times, landing two national championship races in the same year would be incredible news. Considering the economic climate that surrounds us, winning these bids is even more important.”
Veteran race director Chad Sperry, who also runs the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic in Hood River, the Tour of Utah and Central Oregon’s Cascade Cycling Classic, will serve as race director for the six-day road championships in Bend.
The Junior, U23 & Elite Road National Championships crown national champions in three road cycling disciplines: criterium, time trial and road racing. Eligible to compete are elite-level men and women ages 23 and older, elite-level men and women ages 19 to 22, and boys and girls in four junior age divisions (10-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18).
Yet to be announced are race courses for the time trial, criterium and road race events, though Sperry said that start and finish lines would be no farther than a 15-minute drive from downtown Bend.
The road championships will begin just two days following the conclusion of the Cascade Cycling Classic, a high-profile stop on USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar, and organizers project that many competitors and spectators will remain in Central Oregon for both events.
Bend cyclist Chrissy Ruiter, third-place finisher in the elite women’s time trial at last year’s road championships in Anaheim, Calif., said she believes running the Classic and the road nationals back to back will draw more participants — particularly those who may be operating on a tight travel budget.
“It’s actually great for women’s cycling,” said Ruiter, who races for the ValueAct Professional Women’s Cycling Team. “I think it’ll be great timing. If the time trial is on a Wednesday or Thursday, that would be enough time to be ready to go again. It’ll be super attractive for all the teams.”
Ruiter noted that competing at the road national championship was already on her 2009 racing schedule, but she added: “I would focus on this event more knowing that it’s here (in Bend).”
Sperry said Wednesday’s announcement confirms that Bend has emerged as the bike-racing capital of the U.S.
“It put the icing on the cake,” Sperry said. “There’s no other city out there that has the cycling draw and interest and clout. I’m really excited about the event, but also about showcasing the community itself.
“I call Bend the new Boulder (Colo.),” the race director continued. “For this decade, it’s the new hotbed for competitive cyclists ... for living and for racing and for training.”
Heather Clark can be reached at bulletinheather@gmail.com.
+5!
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