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(May 12, 2017) – USA Cycling has announced that the 2018 and 2019 Amateur Road National Championships will be held in Hagerstown and Washington County, Maryland.
Scheduled for July 26-29, 2018, the National Championships will be raced across the beautiful rolling terrain of Washington County in Western Maryland.
“We are excited to have our 2018 and 2019 Amateur Road National Championships in Hagerstown, within driving distance for many members of our road cycling community,” said Chuck Hodge, USA Cycling Vice President of Operations. “This picturesque part of Maryland should present our athletes with challenging courses worthy of the National Championships.”
USA Cycling’s decision to select Washington County was due, in part, to its central location in the mid-Atlantic and the close proximity to several of the largest markets in the U.S. Hagerstown is one-and-a-half hours from Washington D.C., three hours from Pittsburgh, and four hours from New York City, according USA Cycling’s press release.
“The cooperation of local cycling clubs, particularly the Antietam Velo Club; our city and county governments; and state agencies was needed to develop a successful bid package,” said Dan Spedden, President of the Hagerstown/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We will continue working to bring these kinds of high profile events to our area.”
“Visit Hagerstown submitted an extensive bid to host the event to be held in Washington County, Maryland in 2018 and 2019. The cycling event, which lasts several days, will have a positive economic impact on the city and county, according to Spedden. “Much commerce is generated and there is a certain level of excitement and community engagement associated with the Annual JFK 50 Mile Ultramarathon. If you can imagine that event lasting all week long you can imagine the positive social and economic impact of the USA Cycling National Amateur Championships in 2018 and 2019. This cycling event is expected to bring 700 riders and thousands of spectators to our community for four nights. Many will arrive earlier to practice the courses that are part of the event.”
“Because we have developed a significant culture of cycling in Hagerstown and Washington County Maryland we are now recognized nationally as a preferred destination for this sport,” said Spedden.
The bid to host this prestigious event was received through the Maryland Sports Commission, whose mission is to assist in bringing sporting events to Maryland. Terry Haseltine, Executive Director of Maryland Sports, said, “Maryland Sports and I look forward to making this event a huge success for Visit Hagerstown and the State of Maryland!”
About USA Cycling
Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including BMX, cyclocross, mountain bike, road and track. As a membership-based organization, USA Cycling comprises 60,000+ members; 2,500+ clubs and teams; and 34 local associations. The national governing body sanctions over 3,000 competitive and non-competitive events throughout the U.S. each year and is responsible for the identification, development, and support of American cyclists. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit www.usacycling.org. For more information, please contact Kelly Feilke, USA Cycling.
About Visit Hagerstown
Visit Hagerstown, the official destination marketing organization for Hagerstown and all of Washington County Maryland, is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help attract visitors to Hagerstown and Washington County. Visit Hagerstown, now in its 20th year, helps to create growth for the local economy by promoting, developing, and expanding the local visitor industry. For more information about the CVB, or to see events coming up throughout Washington County, go to www.visithagerstown.com.
For questions, contact:
Dan Spedden, President
301-791-3246 ext. 16
dan@visithagerstown.com
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