Iowa City, Iowa and USA Cycling have announced that the 2020 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships will be moved from Illinois to Iowa in December.

The U.S. Championships were originally scheduled to be held in DuPage County, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, during the second week of December. Organized by the DuPage Sports Commission/DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau, the course began to be built at Cantigny Park in early March before it was closed due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

However, restrictions imposed by the State of Illinois related to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic forced USA Cycling to relocate the championship event. DuPage County officials called the move a postponement and have expressed interest in hosting the cyclocross championship in 2021.

"The State of Illinois made the decision to significantly restrict events as part of its reopening plan, resulting in the cancellation of events like the Chicago Cross Cup. Due to these restrictions, we will not be able to host the Cyclocross Nationals in DuPage County," USA Cycling National Events Director Tara McCarthy announced on the governing body's website on August 6. During this time, as in previous years, registration will not open until it is certain that the event will be held. We will continue to keep you informed as the situation develops."

Jingle Cross, which hosts the Jingle Cross Cycling Festival in Iowa City, Iowa, announced on August 6 that the 2020 event, scheduled for October 9-11, will be postponed until 2021. The Johnson County Fairgrounds, the same venue as the festival, will be used for the national competition.

The dates of the National Championships will remain the same, December 8-13, but the schedule will change slightly. Based on changes to the CX calendar in the US, USA Cycling will also change the qualification criteria for elite racers.

"Looking ahead to 2020, JingleCross will redirect its energy to help longtime partners USA Cycling and Iowa City host the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships. In a press release, Jingle Cross organizers said, "We want to bring the glitz and glamour of Jingle Cross to the National Championships."

The National Championships will be held in Iowa City, Iowa, and will be held in the same location as the USA Cycling National Championships.

USA Cycling added that the pandemic situation will be closely monitored by all parties, with close cooperation between event organizers, local and state health officials, and medical providers to ensure a December event at the new venue.

Other cancelled cycling events in the Great Lakes region include the Intelligencia Cup and the Tour of the Americas Dairyland presented by Kwik Trip.