On a weekend when the US is deciding its cyclo-cross national champions for 2008, USA Cycling...
Newly crowned national champion Gary Thacker (Chipotle/Titus) models his new jersey at Cyclo-cross Nationals in Kansas (Image credit: Mitch Clinton)
On a weekend when the US is deciding its cyclo-cross national champions for 2008, USA Cycling announced dates and locations for a majority of its 17 National Championship events for 2009. The governing body plans to award more than 480 titles in junior, U23, collegiate, master, elite and professional ranks in road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross.
The BMX National Championships will kick off the action on March 21 at Metroplex BMX in Desoto, Texas. Two months later, student athletes from many of the nearly 300 collegiate cycling teams around the country will converge in Fort Collins, Colorado, for the second consecutive year to contest the division one and two Collegiate Road National Championships on May 15-17.
In one of the largest gatherings of the year, more than 1,000 racers are expected at the Masters Road National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky on June 28 – July 4. Amateur cyclists between 30 and 85+ will compete for titles at the second-year venue in individual time trial, criterium and road race events.
With six nationals, July will be the busiest month. Next up will be the Junior Track National Championships in Carson, California from July 2-5. At about the same time, on July 4, off-road ultra-endurance cyclists will celebrate the holiday at the Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships in Breckenridge, Colorado. The event is held in conjunction with the Firecracker 50. More track action in the form of Tandem Sprint National Championships will happen on July 10 at the "Tandemonium" event at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania.
After two years on the East Coast, the Mountain Bike National Championships will head to the Rocky Mountains as Sol Vista Basin in Granby, Colorado, plays host July 16-19. Cross country, downhill, short track, four cross, singlespeed and super D will keep fat tire enthusiasts busy racing.
Once again, Downers Grove, Illinois, will welcome the fastest riders in America to the Elite & Professional Criterium Championships on August 15-16. After two days of racing, three national champions will be crowned in the elite men's and women's categories, as well as a pro men's champion.
Amateur riders aged 30 and up will head to Indianapolis where the Major Taylor Velodrome will host the USA Cycling Master Track National Championships, August 18-23, and finally at the end of the month, Greenville, South Carolina, will host the fourth consecutive Professional Road & Time Trial National Championships on August 29-30.
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The ADT Event Center will host its second national championship event of the year when it welcomes the nation's best track riders to the Elite Track National Championships on September 30 – October 4.
Still to be decided are the Junior, U23 & Elite Road National Championships tentatively scheduled for July 8-12 (bids accepted through January 15); the Collegiate Track National Championships, tentatively for September; and the 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championships in Payson, Arizona in mid-late September. The Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships will again take place during its traditional late-October time slot, however exact dates and locations are undetermined.
With the ominium competition at the UCI Track World Championships gain in popularity, a multi-race event will be introduced into the National Championships in 2009. An invitation-only competition for men and women will be held at a date and location yet to be determined and serve as the first International Omnium National Championships.
Finally, the Cyclo-cross National Championships will happen December 11-14 at a location still to be decided although the bid process has closed.
2009 USA Cycling National Championship Dates & Locations March 21: USA Cycling BMX National Championships, Desoto, Texas May 15-17: USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships, Fort Collins, Colorado June 28 – July 4: USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships, Louisville, Kentucky July 2-5: USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships, Carson, California July 4: USA Cycling Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships, Breckenridge, Colorado July 8-12: USA Cycling Junior, U23 & Elite Road National Championships, Location TBD July 10: USA Cycling Tandem Sprint Championships, Trexlertown, Pennsylvania July 16-19: USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships, Granby, Colorado August 15-16: USA Cycling Elite & Professional Criterium National Championships, Downers Grove, Illinois August 18-23: USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships, Indianapolis, Indiana August 29-30: USA Cycling Professional Road & Time Trial National Championships, Greenville, South Carolina September 30 – Oct. 4: USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships, Carson, California December 11-14: USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships, Location TBD Date TBD: USA Cycling Collegiate Track National Championships, Location TBD Date TBD: USA Cycling 24 Hour Mountain Bike National Championships, Payson, Arizona Date TBD: USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships, Location TBD Date TBD: USA Cycling International Omnium National Championships, Location TBD
