Colorado Springs, Colo.- USA Cycling and U.S. Paralympics Cycling announced today the locations for the Para-cycling Road Race, Time Trial and Track National Championships. The events will be held in conjunction with USA Cycling’s Pro Road and Elite Track National Championships taking place in June and July in Knoxville, Tenn. and at the VELO Sports Center in Carson, Calif,. For the second year in a row, the Para-cycling Criterium National Championships will be held in conjunction with the Tour of America’s Dairyland in Grafton, Wis.
“We are happy to partner with U.S. Paralympics Cycling to incorporate Para-cycling events into our National Championships,” said Chuck Hodge, Chief of Racing and Events for USA Cycling, “Para-cyclists are an important part of our community and we hope to continue to use events such as our National Championships to give their programs greater visibility while working together to grow the sport of cycling at all levels and abilities.”
“We’re very excited to continue our collaboration with USA Cycling and we appreciate every ounce of work USA Cycling puts in to make incredible events for athletes,” said Ian Lawless, director of U.S. Paralympics Cycling. “We truly believe the integration of able-bodied athletes and athletes with disabilities at high-profile USA Cycling events is important for the growth of Para-cycling in the U.S.”
The Para-cycling Time Trial will be held Thursday, June 27, 2019 on the same course as the 2018 U.S. Pro Time Trial in Oak Ridge, Tenn. on a 6.9-mile circuit along the banks of Melton Lake in Oak Ridge, just 30 minutes west of downtown Knoxville. Para athletes will complete 1, 2, or 3 laps of the course depending on their classification. The professional men and women will compete on a modified version of the same course, but with an additional 100+ feet of elevation thrown in for extra challenge and a few daring downhills.
The Para-cycling Road Race will be held Saturday, June 29, 2019 through the heart of Knoxville. Racers will use the same section of the James White Parkway that pro cyclists will use during Sunday’s USA Pro Road Championships. Merging onto the James White from Riverside Drive, racers will loop the parkway from Riverside to Sevierville Pike multiple times before rocketing back down to Riverside Drive and a fast technical finish at Gov. Ned McWherter Park.
“We are thrilled to welcome these Para athletes to East Tennessee,” said Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville. “This is our third consecutive year to host the USA Cycling Time Trial, Criterium and Pro Road Championships. The ability to include additional Championships with U.S. Paralympics Cycling creates an incredible fan experience in downtown Knoxville. We can’t wait to see it all come together.”
Para-cycling Track National Championships will be held in tandem with USA Cycling Elite and Junior Track Nationals at the VELO Sports Center in Carson, Calif. on their indoor wooden 250 meter track. Para-cyclists will compete on Sunday, July 7 racing in conjunction with Junior and Elite events, while Monday will only feature Para-cycling events.
For the Para-cycling Road National Championships schedule and course maps, go here. For eligibility and qualification requirements, go here. To register, visit: https://legacy.usacycling.org/register/2019-28.
For the Para-cycling Track Nationals schedule go here. To register, visit: https://www.usacycling.org/events/national-championships/2019-para-track
For more information the Para-cycling Criterium National Championships visit: http://www.tourofamericasdairyland.com/
Visit USACycling.org for more information on the athletes, events and membership programs, and follow @USACycling across all channels for the latest on Team USA.
