Organizers of the Maryland Cycling Classic, the only UCI Pro Series event in North America and the only UCI one-day race in the United States, have announced the nine teams that will compete in the September 4 race.

Maryland-based Human Powered Health is the only pro continental team, while Los Angeles-based L39ON and Hagens Berman Axiom have been invited as continental teams.

Colombia's Team Medellin-EPM, with former Grand Tour contender Oscar Sevilla, 45, will be at the start with Canadian team Yoeleo Test Team p/b 4MIND, Italian team Corratec, and Irish team EvoPro Racing will be at the start of the race. Eight more teams will be announced at a later date. [Maryland Cycling Classic chairman John Kelly said, "As the season progresses, we will continue to build our initial team roster at all levels, adding to the illustrious international field of 17 teams for the inaugural event."

The Maryland Cycling Classic was originally scheduled to debut in 2020, but was postponed for the second consecutive year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The race will start in the Baltimore suburb of Sparks, Maryland and finish in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

It is one of only three remaining UCI road events in the United States, along with the 2.2-place Joe Martin Stage Race and the Tour of the Gila. Over the past decade, it has lost the Tour of Utah, Tour of California, Colorado Classic, Philadelphia Classic, and Reading 120.

The Maryland Cycling Classic, held the Sunday before Grand Prix du Quebec and Grand Prix de Montréal, gives the men's teams an extra reason to take a transatlantic flight. Like the Canadian World Tour, there is no women's race in Maryland.

"The goal for the inaugural event is to attract an international field of outstanding sprinters and one-day classic riders and provide an opportunity for teams from the Americas to compete with the big European teams," Kelly said.

Trek Segafredo has riders with those characteristics, including America Quinn Simmons. General manager Luca Guercilena stressed the importance of sending a team to the only UCI major race held in the country of the title sponsor.

"We had to wait a long time to participate in the Maryland Classic, but finally this year we have the chance to race in the US again," Guercilena said.

"As the leading men's road race in the U.S., it is really important for me to be on the starting line and I am looking forward to putting on a show for the local fans.

One of the teams putting on a big show in the US is L39ON of Los Angeles, which is dominating the criterium circuit. Team founder Justin Williams said the race is "an incredibly exciting stop" on their calendar.

"As a black-owned team, competing in a predominantly black city, this weekend is an even more important moment for us and we look forward to revitalizing the team within the community," Williams said.