Missoula, Montana, has been selected to host the Pan American Cyclocross Continental Championships for two years, November 4-5, 2023. The Pan American Cycling Federation (COPACI) also confirmed that Montana Cyclocross (MTCX) has been selected to host the 2023 and 2024 championships in the Northern Rockies.

The November race weekend will begin with competition for continental titles in the UCI men's and women's junior, U23, elite, and masters categories. The second day of racing will feature a UCI Category 2 race, details of which have yet to be announced. This will be the first time a UCI cyclocross race will be held in Montana.

"USA Cycling is honored to host the Continental Cyclocross Championships in the United States in November 2023 with our longtime partners COPACI and Missoula," said Brendan Quirk, president and CEO of USA Cycling. 'It's a great setting to host such an important event for junior, elite, and masters athletes in the Americas as we work with COPACI member nations to grow cycling racing.'

At last year's elite men's race in Falmouth, Massachusetts, Eric Brunner (Blue Competition Cycles p/b build) single-handedly won back-to-back titles, while Raylyn Nass (Steve Tilford Foundation) won the elite women's title in defended her title.

The Pan Am Continental Championship cross has been held in the United States for five of the past seven years. After being held in Kentucky for the first three years, the event moved to Midland, Ontario, Canada in 2018 and 2019. After being cancelled for a year due to a global pandemic, the event was held in Garland, Texas.

Last year, the Pan Am Cyclocross Race headed to Costa Rica and was scheduled to make its first appearance in Central America, but local organizers were unable to secure a venue and the race was cancelled. The truly rad Festival of Cyclocross added a third day of racing to the Falmouth event, allowing Pan-Am to be rescheduled for early November.

MTCX hosts a year-round event for cyclists and skiers, and the Missoula XC uses the mountain trails of Marshall Mountain. Other cycling events include the Montana Gravel Challenge in April, the Montana State Road Race Championships in May, and the Rolling Thunder Weekend Cyclocross in October.

"Missoula is a special outdoor recreation town. The community is built on cycling, running, river sports, and socializing," says Sean Radley, chief organizer of MTCX. 'We have a 25-year history of cyclocross in western Montana. It is a cyclocross community of inclusiveness, fun, and fair play. We can't wait to host the best riders on the continent."

More details on the event schedule, technical guide, and registration will be announced www.montanacyclocross.com.