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Bend adds road nats to ‘cross champs

by VeloNews.com

• February 04, 2009
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Bend, Oregon, will be the cycling capital of the United States for the next two years — USA Cycling announced Wednesday that it had awarded the town the 2009-10 junior, under-23 and elite road championships.

Six weeks ago USA Cycling announced that Bend would host the next two editions of the cyclocross national championships.

Slated to run from July 28 through August 2 — right after Bend’s Cascade Cycling Classic, July 22-26 — the six-day road championships will see a thousand racers battling for national titles in the individual time trial, road race and criterium.

It’s the first time that nationals have come to the Pacific Northwest since the junior, U-23 and elite fields were combined into one national championship event in 2005.

“Bend is a destination for both recreational and competitive cycling, and we’re excited to bring another national championship to Oregon,” said USA Cycling chief executive officer Steve Johnson.

“Bend’s long tradition of community-wide support and passion for cycling convinced us to award them two national championships in the same year.”

Chad Sperry, longtime race director for the Cascade Cycling Classic, the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and the Tour of Utah, will serve as race director for the national championships.

Drew Mahalic, executive director of the Oregon Sports Authority, said the nationals would provide “a significant economic boost to the community.”

“Bringing events like this to Oregon is a great example of how tourism through sports can be used as an outstanding form of economic development during challenging times,” he added.