Bend lands 2015-16 USA Cycling trail races

The exact dates of the events will be announced as soon as possible in 2014.

In 2015 and 2016, the USA Cycling Cross-Country Mountain Bike and Enduro National Championships will be held on Mount Bachelor near Bend.

As a response to the feedback USA Cycling received from competitors and the mountain bike advisory committee, Enduro races will replace the Super D competition at these events.

Bend has proven time and again to be a spectacular venue for USA Cycling national championship events, USA Cycling officials said. The new trails at Mount Bachelor will provide exciting racing for competitors and spectators alike.

“Bend’s long-term partnership with USA Cycling has been extremely positive for our community,” said Doug LaPlaca, chief executive officer of Visit Bend. “Every USA Cycling event hosted in Bend introduces our city to new visitors who fall in love with the Bend lifestyle. We are honored to continue our work with the USA Cycling family.”

The 2015-16 USA Cycling Amateur & Para-cycling Road National Championships will be in North Lake Tahoe, Calif. This beautiful area of the country with challenging courses is sure to attract many competitors as USA Cycling returns to Northern California.

“We are pleased to be working closely with USA Cycling for the 2015 and 2016 USA Cycling Amateur & Para-cycling Road National Championships. Hosting this prestigious race at North Lake Tahoe will be a true win-win for everyone involved,” said Andy Chapman, chief marketing officer for the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/Convention and Visitors Bureau/Resort Association. “Renowned for its spectacular mountain vistas and crystal clear lake, Lake Tahoe’s pristine setting is the perfect environment for athletes to both push themselves and to relax and rejuvenate after they race. We’re looking forward to great events in 2015 and 2016.”

The 2015 and 2016 USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships are slated to be in Columbia County, Ga., just outside Augusta. The 2015 competition will mark the first time this stand-alone event will be held east of the Mississippi River. The great expanse of trails in Wildwood Park in Appling, Ga., will serve as the setting of one of the more grueling mountain bike national championships.

“The Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau is honored to have been selected to host the 2015 and 2016 USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships,” said Randy DuTeau, the executive director of the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The event will be based out of Wildwood Park in Appling, Georgia, and held in conjunction with the Wildwood Outdoor Festival along the shores of Clarks Hill Lake. Having hosted the IMBA World Summit in 2010, and being designated a bronze level IMBA Ride Center in 2012, our region has become a true destination for mountain biking. We are certain the national championship participants will appreciate our trails and warm southern hospitality when they visit Columbia County for the nationals.”

The 2015 and 2016 USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships will utilize the course used for the 1996 UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Championships at Mammoth Mountain in California. With its long and storied history of gravity mountain bike racing, Mammoth Mountain has proven to be an extremely popular stop on the USA Cycling Professional Gravity Tour (Pro GRT) .

“Mammoth’s long history with the sport dates to the 1980s, when the Kamikaze Downhill ignited mountain bike racing,” said Bill Cockroft, senior vice president, Mammoth Mountain and member of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. “Since then, our bike park has continued to evolve and is once again leading the sport’s progression. We have the history, experience, terrain and passion to put on great national championship events in 2015 and ’16.”

In 2015 and 2016, the USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships are slated to be at Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia. The trails at Snowshoe have served as the backdrop for top-tier mountain bike racing for nearly 25 years. It is certain to provide the right mix of terrain to suit collegiate competitors nationwide.

“Snowshoe Mountain is excited to host the country’s top collegiate riders here on our challenging terrain in October,” Dave Dekema, the director of marketing for Snowshoe Mountain, said. “Having witnessed the championship event several times before, I know firsthand it brings out the greatest displays of college team pride, character and competitiveness amongst a very talented group of student-athletes. There’s no question Snowshoe will be ready to match that with a best-in-class race venue across all disciplines.”

In 2015-16, USA Cycling returns to Greenville, S.C., for the USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championships. Greenville, which was the site of its professional road national championships from 2005-11, has a strong history of hosting professional national championships and is an extremely popular area for cyclists.

“Our award winning downtown is an ideal venue for the USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championships and we are honored to be the host city for this prestigious competition,” said Greenville Mayor Knox White. “We look forward to welcoming the field of elite athletes and making the 2015-2016 championships the most exciting yet.”

“Greenville, South Carolina’s emergence as a recognized and talked about cycling destination combined with proven category event experience and an incredibly passionate local cycling community makes for a standout championship for the athletes and the fans,” President of VisitGreenvilleSC Chris Stone said. “We look forward to sharing our enthusiasm for cycling and the great outdoors as we welcome and celebrate the 2015 and 2016 USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championships in Greenville, South Carolina.”