Pulaski County Sports and Entertainment has announced that Cynisca Cycling, one of the world’s top women’s road cycling teams, will train in the Virginia destination for a training camp from August 31 to September 4, 2025.

“We are excited to welcome Cynisca Cycling to Pulaski County,” said Tim Miller, executive director of Pulaski County Sports and Entertainment. “Hosting a team of this caliber is a great way to showcase all the county has to offer and is the first step in a much larger cycling tourism strategy.”

The team will be preparing for the Maryland Cycling Classic, which will be staged in downtown Baltimore on September 7. The event includes both a men’s and women’s race, and will feature a mix of international and domestic teams with some of the best male and female racers in the world.

The three-year-old Cynisca Cycling team has been in existence since 2023, founded by Indiana native Chris Gutowsky, who also has ties to Southwest Virginia. Gutowsky was part of the staff, along with Miller, that produced the former Tour DuPont, an international men’s stage race that visited the region back in the 1990s with finishes in Roanoke, Salem, and Blacksburg, as well as starts in Wytheville and Bristol.

Cynisca has several former and current national champions on its roster. Riders attending the training camp and planning to compete in Baltimore include:

• Chloe Patrick (USA), winner of the individual time trial at the U.S. National Championships in 2025
• Caoimhe O’Brien (IRL), who finished second in the road race at the Irish National Championships in 2025
• Heide Franz (USA), who won a stage of the Vuelta a Portugal Feminina and finished third overall in 2025
• Natalie Quinn (USA), who won the Heusden Koers Dames in Belgium in 2025
• Allison Mrugal (USA), who logged numerous top-10 finishes for the team over the last two years.
• Katja Verkerk (CAN), who logged numerous top-10 finishes for the team in 2025

“Over the past three years, Cynisca Cycling has been dedicated to creating pathways for women cyclists to compete at the highest levels of racing both domestically and internationally, resulting in wins and podium finishes alongside some of the best cyclists in the world”, said Robin Farina, general manager of Cynisca Cycling. “We are grateful to Pulaski County for welcoming us, for providing an exceptional opportunity to train as a team, and for their support of our mission to elevate women’s cycling. It’s supporters like Pulaski County that make our success possible, and why we’ll head into Baltimore ready to compete for another victory.”

Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway, Utah, will host a UCI Mountain Bike World Series event in 2026 with XCC and XCO races as part of the North American stop on the series.

The venue hosted the 2024 Pan American Mountain Bike Championships and is also set to feature in the 2034 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, in collaboration with the Union Cycliste Internationale and Warner Bros. Discovery made the announcement.

“Hosting the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will cement Utah’s reputation as a world-class mountain bike destination, and perfectly complement what Soldier Hollow offers in cross country skiing and biathlon,” said Luke Bodensteiner, chief of sport development at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center. “We anticipate this will be the most attended event to take place at Soldier Hollow since the 2002 Games, and we’re excited for how it will develop our venue and the positive impacts it will make on Utah and its incredible mountain bike community.”

Soldier Hollow is one of two venues that have been announced as 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Series hosts, along with the Olympic venue MONA YongPyong in PyeongChang, South Korea. The dates for the UCI World Cup events will be announced as part of the full calendar in the coming weeks.

“Today marks an exciting step in the continued development of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series with iconic new venues set to join the calendar from next season, signifying our commitment to growing the sport while delivering the best possible race experiences for riders, teams and fans alike,” said Chris Ball, vice president of cycling events at Warner Bros. Discovery Europe. “Additionally, bringing on board one of the world’s premier cross-country destinations in Utah reinforces our commitment to delivering the sport at its highest level.”

Cycling BC, the governing body for cycling in British Columbia, and BMX Canada, the Canadian affiliate of the American Bicycle Association, have announced a partnership aimed at strengthening the sport in British Columbia at the start of a new Olympic cycle, with BMX set to be featured at the 2028 Olympic Summer Games — 20 years after the sport made its debut at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Through the partnership, Cycling BC has become a provincial licensee of the USA BMX Instructor Education Program, an on-demand resource that will support instructors and coaches at BMX tracks across the province.

“When BMX Canada approached Cycling BC to harmonize the BMX community and explore ways to bring more athletes and clubs together, our team was excited about the potential,” said Ben Chaddock, affiliation lead at Cycling BC. “We are thrilled to announce this innovative partnership and look forward to further developing our collaboration in the build-up to the 2028 Olympic Games.”

Additionally, Cycling BC is offering BMX Canada members the opportunity to compete in the UCI Challenge categories at the Cycling BC Provincial Championships using a single-event license, which typically isn’t permitted at provincial championship events. The exemption aims to make the events more accessible for BMX racers in British Columbia.

Affiliation and membership with Cycling BC provides tracks with benefits, including access to funding opportunities and grants from viaSport BC and KidSport, as well as various coaching and athlete development programs. At the track level, BMX Canada offers competitive local, provincial and national programming, event management tools and subsidized programs for athletes and coaches.

“This collaboration brings together two great organizations, joining forces to provide enhanced support and guidance that will significantly benefit riders and clubs,” said Kevin O’Brien, director of sport development for BMX Canada. “Through this new partnership, we are setting BC up for success by building a strong foundation at the grassroots level while elevating our future stars.”

The 2025 Life Time Leadville Race Series starts June 28 with five weekends throughout the summer months for runners and cyclists from around the globe to compete on the trails and terrain of Leadville, Colorado.

The Leadville Race Series began in 1983 with 45 runners and a 100-mile trek through the Rocky Mountains. It is since become a world-renowned event series and this year, nearly 8,000 athletes plus spectators, support crews and media will experience Leadville.

The series starts June 28 with the Leadville Trail Marathon and Heavy Half, which takes runners to the highest point of any Leadville Race Series event: Mosquito Pass at 13,185 feet at its highest point, with an elevation gain of more than 6,000 feet. Reaching the same high point, the Heavy Half is 15.4 miles, with an elevation gain of nearly 3,500 feet. The Leadville Trail Marathon serves as a qualifier for the Leadville Trail 100 Run.

On July 12–13, the Silver Rush 50 Run and Leadville Silver Rush 50 MTB will take place with running on the first day before cycling. With 8,000 feet of elevation gain, the 50-mile run and MTB races both act as qualifying events for the Leadville Trail 100s. Participating in both 50-mile Silver Rush events gives athletes the opportunity to claim the title of Silver King and Silver Queen. In addition to the 50-mile races, the weekend boasts a 15-mile run and MTB races, as well as a 5K juniors run.

The Leadville Stage Race will be July 25–27 with a 100-mile race qualifier for the Leadville Trail 100 MTB, broken up over three days of racing. The stages include 40 miles, 22 miles and 41 miles, each with more than 4,000 feet of elevation gain.

The third stop for the Life Time Grand Prix, the August 9–10 Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB features steep and technical ascents and descents, including the Columbine and Powerline sections, and an elevation gain of over 12,000 feet. Following one of the longest events, the weekend rounds out with the shortest race of the Series, the Life Time Leadville Trail 10K.

The Leadville Trail 100 Run on August 16 is one of the oldest and most iconic endurance running events in the world, and the event that started the Leadville Race Series. The ultramarathon features the climbs of Powerline, high-altitude passes like Hope Pass and technical terrain on the Colorado Trail, all amounting to over 15,000 feet of elevation gain, most of which is experienced at an altitude of over 10,000 feet.

This year, 120 athletes will line up for five of the Series’ events – the Leadville Trail Marathon, a Silver Rush 50 event, the Leadville Trail 100 MTB, the Leadville 10K and the Leadville Trail 100 Run – in hopes of finishing and claiming the title of Lead Challenge finisher covering 282.4 miles.

Following the celebration of Olympic & Paralympic Day, USA Cycling and the United States Olympic & Paralympic have announced that the U.S. Paralympics Cycling program will officially become part of USA Cycling beginning on July 1.

USA Cycling will welcome the U.S. Paralympic National Team into its high-performance programs, creating unified athlete support through all stages of athletic development and preparing them for international competition. Up to now, USA Cycling and U.S. Paralympics Cycling were operating as two separate entities, collaborating on initiatives while independently pursuing World, Olympic, and Paralympic medals.

“This is a historic milestone for cycling in the United States,” said Brendan Quirk, chief executive officer of USA Cycling. “By uniting our Olympic and Paralympic programs, we are building a stronger, more inclusive foundation, giving athletes the same world-class support and resources. We’ll be one team moving forward together towards our ambitions at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games.”

Three-time Olympian Sarah Hammer-Kroening and Jenny Ryan will continue to lead the charge in shaping the future of paracycling under the USA Cycling banner. Ryan will oversee paracycling operations and athlete pathways. Hammer-Kroening, once recognized as America’s most decorated track cyclist, transitioned into coaching after her retirement in 2017, and has since played a key role on the U.S. Paralympic Cycling staff through two Paralympic Games. A

“Paralympic cycling events have already been incorporated into a small number of USA Cycling competitions, but now, with the announcement of the full integration of USA Cycling, this marks a major step forward to make this sport of cycling truly inclusive as one team,” said 19-time Paralympic medalist Oksana Masters. “This move sets a new standard for the sport – one that embraces all athletes and truly reflects the spirit of unity and excellence.”

With an existing network of 1,500+ events and 1,000+ clubs, USA Cycling is looking forward to creating new opportunities for participation and advancement for para athletes across the country.

“Moving under USA Cycling feels like gaining an extended family you instantly love,” Paralympic gold medalist and world champion, Samantha Bosco said. “Being able to join our able-bodied counterparts is something I’ve always dreamed about. The USOPC has been amazing. Knowing the support we’ll have with USA Cycling makes me excited for the future of paracycling in the U.S. and what LA28 could look like for U.S. cycling as a whole.”

The Maryland Cycling Classic has announced the Davis Phinney Foundation as the official national charity of the international cycling event that includes 110 cyclists from 25 countries.

The 2025 Maryland Cycling Classic will be held in Baltimore on September 6, featuring both men’s and women’s races for the first time.

Davis Phinney, co-founder of the Davis Phinney Foundation, is one of the most decorated cyclists in American history with 328 career victories. In 1986, he became the first American to win a road stage in the Tour de France. He added another stage win in 1987 and placed second in the points classification in 1988, becoming the second American to finish in the top three of that competition.

“Davis is widely recognized as one of the most celebrated and decorated professional cyclists in American history, so this partnership makes sense for many reasons,” said Steve Brunner, executive director, Maryland Cycling Classic. “Through the vision of Davis and his wife Connie Carpenter Phinney, the Davis Phinney Foundation continues to raise the bar on Parkinson’s awareness and research. Our pledge is to help them carry that torch through all available channels forged around America’s biggest professional bike race.”

The Davis Phinney Foundation is a resource for programs, events and tools that offer support to help people living with Parkinson’s. Each year, the Foundation reaches more than six million individuals and families through its online resources, events, and community programs.

“We’re honored to partner with the Maryland Cycling Classic as their official national charity,” said Polly Dawkins, executive director of the Davis Phinney Foundation. “This partnership brings Davis’s cycling legacy full circle in a city that played an important role in his career and connects that legacy to the impact he’s making in the Parkinson’s community. We’re excited to return in a way that highlights how the power of the bike can improve lives, foster connection, and support people living with Parkinson’s every day.”

The Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, which produces the Maryland Cycling Classic, is pledging a donation and marketing support for the promotion and fundraising efforts of the foundation. The organizations also are developing a Pedaling for Parkinson’s event to be staged online during the winter.

In 1989, Phinney placed fifth overall in the Tour de Trump and won stages 8 and 9, the latter held in Baltimore. He also won several stages of the Tour DuPont which raced through Maryland in the 1990s. In 2000, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 40. Carpenter Phinney, who co-founded the Foundation with Davis in 2004, competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics as a speed skater and won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympic Road Race in Los Angeles.

The Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance will have competitive cycling action in downtown State College on July 26 with the inaugural Happy Valley Cycling State College Criterium, a USA Cycling sanctioned event that will serve as the Pennsylvania State Criterium Elite and Masters Division Championships.

“The criterium promises to be a fun, family friendly day,” HVSEA Executive Director Eric Engelbarts said. “The Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance especially wants to thank State College Borough for approving the downtown course.”

A children’s fun race for grades K-6 will take place at 2:45 p.m. prior to the elite division, giving youngsters in the community a chance to be part of the action. There will be a shorter route for K-2 and a slightly longer route for grades 3-6.  The course opens at 8 a.m. for preview by early racers, with racing action beginning at 9 a.m.

“We want to provide an unforgettable experience for racers and spectators alike,” Engelbarts said. “We invite people who live along the route and others to join us for an exciting day of elite competition and community celebration.”

The Everett Performance Omnium will return to the streets of Everett, Washington, July 12–13, bringing together the region’s strongest racers and inviting national-level athletes to join the action.

The multiple race cycling event will draw riders from all over the region, including British Columbia and Alberta, as well as California and Montana, battling for prize payouts.

“We look forward to welcoming the racers and spectators to Everett and Snohomish County,” said Tammy Dunn, Snohomish County Sports Commission executive director. “The race courses have spectacular views of the Salish Sea and Cascade Mountains.”

The omnium will feature multiple race categories, with points earned for finishing places across two days of racing with the overall winners being crowned on Sunday. The event will allow riders of all abilities to find a competitive field.

“Our goal is to create an electrifying race atmosphere that attracts the strongest riders and provides an unforgettable experience for the racers, but also for the community,” said Ryan Spivey, race director. “As an Everett resident and local racer, I wanted to help build an event for both communities that we can all be proud of.”

Events DC will sponsor the Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic, a Pro/Am cycling event taking place May 31 and June 1 in Washington, D.C.

The event features a showcase for top-tier professional and amateur cycling races, while also producing the non-competitive Challenge Ride into the heart of the nation’s capital. In addition to the featured events, the Capitol Cup Races will include two amateur races and a free kids’ race.

“Washington, D.C. is a premier cycling city and we are proud to continue supporting the Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic and its positive impact in our community,” said Angie Gates, Events DC president and chief executive officer. “We are also excited to elevate events that enhance how people experience the nation’s capital. From competitive races to family-friendly rides, the Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic will have something for everyone to enjoy.”

Both the Challenge Ride and Pro/Am races will share the same start/finish location between the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol building along 3rd Street. The Challenge Ride will include a 13-mile route free of cars for the recreational cyclists.

Saturday’s Capitol Cup race schedule will feature the women’s and men’s pro categories. Those fields will also participate in day two of the two-day Omnium in Arlington, Virginia, on June 1 for the 27th edition of the Clarendon Cup.

The UCI, cycling’s international federation, has reassigned its 2025 Gravel World Championships to the Zuid-Limburg region of the Netherlands in October instead of Nice, France, the scheduled host.

The event will be held October 11–12.  The province of Limburg, of which the Zuid (South)-Limburg region is a part, has hosted a number of major UCI events, including the 2018 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships and five editions of the UCI Road World Championships, most recently in 2012.

“I’m delighted that the South-Limburg region, in the province of Limburg, will be involved in the organisation of the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships and would like to thank them for submitting their bid after the city of Nice withdrew,” said UCI President David Lappartient. “The province of Limburg has further enhanced its standing as a leading cycling region at international level, while contributing to the development of gravel, a discipline that is still quite new and has considerable potential for growth.”

The event is open to both professionals (separate race) and amateurs. Amateurs qualify for the event through the UCI Gravel World Series and race by age group, while professionals are selected by their respective National Federations.  Qualifying events for this year’s world championships began in 2024, with another 30-plus events scheduled to take place before October.

“We’re absolutely delighted that the UCI Gravel World Championships can still go ahead and will now take place in the Netherlands,” said Maurice Leeser, president and director of the Dutch Cycling Federation. “This presents a unique opportunity to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Limburg landscape, while at the same time offering an exciting and challenging World Championships for both men and women riders.”

The 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships will be the fourth staging of the event after Veneto (2022) and Treviso-Veneto (2023) in Italy followed by last year’s event in Flanders, Belgium.