FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KFSM) — Fayetteville has been selected to host the 2020 Pan-American Cyclocross Championship this year.
The two-day annual event will be held Nov. 7-8 at Centennial Park at Millsap Mountain in Fayetteville, which also will host the 2022 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Cyclocross World Championships Jan. 29-30, 2022.
“FayetteCross 2020” will feature races each day for riders of all abilities, from beginner to expert. The event combines recreational racing with top-level spectating opportunities. Final race schedule and registration information will be available early this summer.
The selection was made by Pan-American Cycling Confederation (COPACI). The organization encompasses 43 nations from North America, South America and the Caribbean, spanning from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego.
The “Pan-Ams” offer championship titles for elite racers and masters athletes (35 years and older).
The event will provide an opportunity for both elite and amateur racers to compete for the Pan-Am Champion jersey that is awarded to winners of each category. Also, UCI points are awarded for the Pan-American Championships that are valuable for international ranking and start position at races.
“Continental championships are exciting and the pinnacle of midseason racing,” said Race Director Brook Watts, president of Parkven Productions. “We’re thrilled to be able to host this important weekend of racing and showcase this very special, bike-friendly region.”
Fayetteville 2022, the group behind the 2022 UCI World Championships, is partnering with Experience Fayetteville, the convention and visitors bureau for Fayetteville, to host FayetteCross 2020.
Experience Fayetteville CEO Molly Rawn said, “COPACI’s selection of Fayetteville for the Pan-American Championships confirms the preeminent position of Fayetteville and our region as a cycling center. We’re uniquely suited to host events of this scale, and the Pan-Ams will be a great way for both visitors and residents to get excited for the 2022 World Championships.”
FayetteCross 2020 will offer more than Pan-Am Championships racing action. The event will feature food and beverages, plus activities for kids, all in the outdoor setting of Fayetteville’s newest park, which is currently undergoing renovations by Fayetteville Parks and Recreation.
In addition to the amateur and elite racing titles, new in 2020 for the event will be two relay races in which co-ed teams of five racers can compete.
Watts explained, “On Saturday, we’ll offer both a fun relay race and a pro relay race. It’s a great way to gather your friends or training buddies and see how you match up against others. And, racers for the Pan-Am categories on Sunday now have a way to preview the course under race conditions on Saturday.”
Complete race details, including hotel information, can be found at FayetteCross.com.