Baltimore, Maryland, USA, will host a UCI Pro Series one-day race in 2020, the week before the Canadian World Tour races in Quebec City and Montreal.

The Maryland Cycling Classic will take place on September 6, the day before the U.S. Labor Day holiday, filling a spot on the UCI's newly designated Pro Series calendar. Organizers expect at least 10 WorldTour teams to compete in the event.

"We are excited to host the Maryland Cycling Classic in 2020 and showcase all that our great state has to offer to the international cycling community," Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said in a statement released by the event organizers.

Baltimore's relationship with modern professional cycling dates back to 1989 and 1990, when the Tour de Trump (a stage race named after the current US president) covered cities along the East Coast.

"Maryland has many communities with deep and rich traditions in cycling, and this event celebrates this history and marks a new era for the sport in our state," Hogan said.

Steve Brunner, president of KOM Sports Marketing, told Cycling News that organizers have been working with the state of Maryland, UCI, and USA Cycling since February, and all the necessary elements to make the race happen have recently come together.

"As you know, the moon really has to align to put something of this size and scope together," Brunner said.

In this case, the state of Maryland's desire to host a large televisable event that would draw large crowds and showcase the city to an international audience, the race organizers' desire for the sustainable financial model that one-day races provide, and the UCI's mandate to expand outside of Europe has to do with the coincidence of these months.

The good fortune of the calendar being set just before the WorldTour races in Quebec and Montreal also provided the necessary pieces for an international one-day race in the United States.

The race also has the support of newly appointed chair of the race organizing committee, John Kelly of Kelly Benefit Strategies, a prominent local business owner. Kelly previously sponsored the team that is now Rally UHC Cycling and has strong ties to both the cycling community and the Baltimore business community.

"It's huge for the state of Maryland, and especially the city of Baltimore, to secure this level of racing. It's a great opportunity to showcase the beauty and goodness of Maryland and Baltimore City to cycling fans and enthusiasts across the country and around the world."

Route details were not disclosed in today's announcement, but organizers expect a finish in downtown Baltimore. Medalist Sports, organizer of top U.S. cycling events such as the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, will manage and market the race for the Maryland Sports Commission, which owns the event.

Organizers did not release details of the 2020 women's race, but Cycling News understands from event officials that they are considering developing a women's race in the future after focusing on launching a men's event next year.

"We have many goals under this new model, including community involvement, impact activation, and sustainability," Brunner responded when asked about the possibility of a women's race.

"And when asked about the potential of a women's race, Brunner replied.

Terry Hasseltine, executive director of the Maryland Sports Commission, told Cycling News that race owners are open to any additions to the Maryland Cycling Classic.

"Obviously this starts with a one-day pro series event. We are evaluating and assessing other components that could be placed in and around the Pro Series, and without a doubt, the women's race is high on the list of events to consider."

"We are looking at what we can accomplish in the first year as opposed to the second or third year."[0 And without a doubt, women's racing is high on the list of events to consider."

"We will know what we can accomplish in year one, as opposed to year two or three, by the potential for sponsorship and the revenue we can generate through the event," he said.

Throughout the 2020 Labor Day weekend, the Maryland Sports Commission and race organizers will be working with pre-event activities such as a health and wellness festival, an expo area with exhibits, mass participation cycling and running events, and other community outreach programs. activities that are expected to draw large crowds.

The 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, Virginia, drew more than 300,000 spectators during a week of activities, according to race organizers, and organizers of the Maryland Cycling Classic are Both expect similar numbers to Richmond.

The Richmond World Championships is positioned as the largest one-day race in American cycling after the eventual demise of the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic, which ran through various incarnations from 1985 to 2016.

"This is a huge boost for American road cycling," said American professional athlete Ben King (Dimension Data). There are a lot of passionate fans on the U.S. East Coast. This will give them the opportunity to experience world-class cycling."

"There hasn't been a big one-day race in the U.S. in several years. The Worlds in Richmond proved that the East Coast is hungry for big-time pro cycling."