Augusta to host USA Road Cycling National Championships

USA Cycling, the national governing body for bicycle racing in the United States, has selected Augusta, Georgia to host the 2011 and 2012 USA Cycling Elite/U23/Juniors Road National Championships and Paralympic Road National Championships.  The 2011 event is scheduled for June 21-26, 2011. The 2012 races will take place the week of June 18 – 24.

Over 700 men and women athletes are expected for the weeklong championship event.  National titles will be awarded in each category for the road race, criterium, and individual time trial competitions. Bend, Oregon hosted the championships this year and in 2009.  This is the second time Augusta has hosted national cycling championships.  In 1994 the city hosted the Masters National Championships.   The 2011 event will mark the first major bike races in Augusta since hosting a stage-finish for Tour de Georgia in 2008. 

The selection of Augusta to host the cycling national championships marks the second year in a row the area has been chosen to host a major bicycling event.  Last summer the International Mountain Bike Association chose Augusta to host its 2010 IMBA World Summit. The mountain biking industry and advocacy conference was held here this past may.

“We’re truly honored to have been selected by USA Cycling to host the 2011 and 2012 cycling championships”, stated Tammy Stout, the Sports Council’s executive director.   “We strive to secure at least one high profile championship event a year and this certainly falls within that mission.”  In addition to the great public relations value the USA Cycling Elite/U23/Juniors Road National Championships and Paralympic Road National Championships will bring to the area, the economic impact should be pretty significant as well. According to an economic impact study commissioned by the University of Oregon, the national championships in Bend, Oregon generated nearly $2 million for their local economy.