The Maryland Cycling Classic is a one-day road cycling race in the state of Maryland. The inaugural race was September 4, 2022. The category 1.Pro race is a part of the UCI America Tour and the UCI ProSeries calendars.[1]
History
The race was originally scheduled for September 6, 2020.[2] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was first postponed to 2021[3] and then again to 2022.[4]
The 194 km/120.4 mile route starts in northern Baltimore County at the headquarters of Kelly Benefits, and ends in downtown Baltimore.[5] The race begins with riders navigating the rolling terrain of rural northern Baltimore County while the final, flatter laps loop through Baltimore City, ending at the Inner Harbor.[6]
The race is the only one-day race in the United States part of the UCI ProSeries and with the UCI World TourTour of California going on hiatus in 2020, it is the highest stature one-day race in the country.[7][8] This makes the Maryland Cycling Classic the highest level road cycling race in the United States (highest level one-day and tied with overall highest level with the Tour of Utah.[9])
The cycling race is part of a four-day weekend community celebration of healthy lifestyle and living with participatory events, festival with interactive exhibits, local foods and drinks along with other fun activities. The event is endorsed by Maryland and Baltimore Civic Leaders while owned and operated by Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland (Sport Corp). The event is managed and marketed by industry leaders Medalist Sports and KOM Sports Marketing.
The Maryland Cycling Classic also includes the charity Bridges of Hope Ride Presented by Kelly Benefits,[12] which provides the opportunity for cycling enthusiasts to ride sections of the Maryland Cycling Classic (MCC) course the day before the pro-cycling event, while raising funds for the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF).
According to race director Terry Hasseltine, the plan for the Maryland Cycling Classic "is to convince the UCI to allow the Maryland Cycling Classic to add a women’s race next year [2023] and then another day of racing to the 2024 version."[10]
