FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Centennial Park in Fayetteville hosted mountain bike riders from all over the country for stage two of the U.S. Pro Cup Mountain Bike Series on April 3.
"Fayetteville is mountain bike Mecca,” Franke Abreu, announcer for the race said. “I mean, it's fantastic, and Centennial Park is one of the premier mountain bike parks in the nation."
For the fourth consecutive year, Centennial Park has hosted this event. The world’s top athletes travel to the area to compete for valuable points.
"We have 14 countries represented this week and over 40 states all descending into this corner of west Northwest Arkansas,” US Pro Cup Race Director Ty Kady said. “ I think that's pretty impressive to bring that many people together, and in this town of Fayetteville."
According to race officials, the stakes are higher than normal this year.
Riders are looking to gain points to secure a spot in this summer’s Paris Olympic Games. According to Abreu, if the United States performs well, they may have a rare chance to qualify two racers.
“The U.S. right now has one spot available for mountain biking,” Abreu said. “With the U.C.I points that are available here, they have a chance to have a second position, another rider, to be able to go over to Paris, and that's a big opportunity."
Christopher Blevins is one of those riders looking to make his way back to the Olympics. He competed for Team U.S.A. in Tokyo in 2021. He says he participated in this race to help secure another spot in the Olympics for his team.
“We're still in the hunt for qualifying two spots,” Blevins said. Our goal is to get good points today and this weekend.”
The US Pro Cup Mountain Bike Series will be at Centennial Park until April 7. According to the event’s website, spectating for the races is free of charge.
According to the City of Fayetteville’s website, portions of Fayetteville's park trails will be closed until April 8.
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