Off to The Races

US Pro Cup offers an early-season look at Olympians.

By Brannon Pack | Photography By Kai Caddy

This spring Olympians, world champions, national champions and amateur athletes will return to Arkansas for five days of spirited mountain bike competition at the U.S. Pro Cup presented by the Ozark Foundation on April 3-7 — just months ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Established in 2009, the U.S. Pro Cup has been bringing spectator-friendly cross-country mountain bike racing to the United States for 15 years — expanding the series to Fayetteville in 2021. Since then, the Arkansas round has grown into the premier early-season race in North America, drawing professional and amateur competitors from a dozen different countries and more than 40 states to Fayetteville’s 228-acre Centennial Park.

Winding through the forested mountainside of Centennial, the park’s world-class mountain bike trails are a canvas for international competition. Centennial’s purpose-built racecourse complements the region’s diverse Ozark terrain with a series of serpentining singletrack climbs that lead to rock-filled descents down the mountain — creating what many have called the best cross-country course in America.

Designed with spectators in mind, the accessible venue allows family and fans to root on their favorites at various points along the course before congregating with a cheering crowd at the finish line — and what are often thrilling sprint finishes for the win. In between races, spectators can stroll through an industry-packed expo showcasing popular companies, organizations and individuals from the outdoor recreation industry, or grab breakfast, lunch or brunch from a variety of local food trucks.

Going for Gold
With a world-class race venue and international status, the U.S. Pro Cup provides Olympic hopefuls with quality competition that supports their goals for gold. Since cross-country mountain bike racing made its Olympic debut at the Summer Games in Atlanta in 1996, it has proven to be a popular addition to Olympic programming. And while Paris will mark the eighth consecutive appearance for both men’s and women’s Olympic Mountain Bike in the cycling program, athletes must first qualify for the competition by acquiring points at select events during a two-year qualification period — like the U.S. Pro Cup.

For the second time in two years, the U.S. Pro Cup remains the only cross-country mountain bike event in the states awarded HC status by the UCI, the international governing body of the sport of cycling. HC is short for the French phrase hors catégorie, which translates to “beyond categorization.” With this status, the U.S. Pro Cup in Fayetteville will offer more international points and prize money than most races this year — becoming a critical calendar stop for future Olympians and a last chance for fans to catch top athletes competing ahead of Paris.

For juniors ages 17 to 18, the U.S. Pro Cup marks one of only four stops in the country on the UCI’s XCO Junior Series calendar. With three junior races over four days and a substantial amount of ranking points on the line, youth development teams from around the country are expected to be in attendance.

For the second time in two years, the U.S. Pro Cup remains the only cross-country mountain bike event in the states awarded HC status by the UCI, the international governing body of the sport of cycling.

Short Tracks & Sizable Competition
Professional racing gets underway at the U.S. Pro Cup beginning Wednesday, April 3, with UCI Elite, U23, and Junior Men’s and Women’s Olympic-style cross-country mountain bike competitions. In often grueling displays of athleticism, professional races at Centennial Park are contested on the challenging “World Cup” race-course. Featuring five unique sections, the course capitalizes on the mountain’s steep northeast slope, consistently changing elevation and demanding black diamond singletrack. It creates an early-season springboard for professional athletes to fine-tune their fitness before the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup calendar, World Championships and the Olympics.

Complementing the professional contest is a supportive platform for youth development and a variety of welcoming race categories for all ages and abilities. The unique opportunity for amateur athletes to compete over the same weekend as current Olympians and former world champions like Christopher Blevins or Kate Courtney sets the U.S. Pro Cup apart from other events. Throughout the week, juniors and amateur athletes have an almost equal opportunity to take to the trails at Centennial Park, with a balanced schedule that includes both short track and traditional cross-country competitions.

In addition to Olympic-style and amateur cross country, the U.S. Pro Cup offers a full day of fan-friendly short track racing on Friday, April 5 — with professional and amateur categories available. Featuring waves of fast-paced racing on a shortened course, it’s 20 minutes of tight-quarter competition as riders constantly jockey for position from start to finish. With little time for athletes to establish a winning breakaway, fans are almost always assured captivating racing ahead of a likely bunch sprint down Centennial Park’s storied finishing stretch.

The international contest continues into Saturday, culminating with the Elite Olympic-style cross-country mountain bike races and what will have been a memorable three days of competition. For amateurs and juniors under 17, the show moves to Sunday, April 7, for a dedicated day of category racing for all skill levels. Rolling up to the same start line shared by elite athletes the day before, amateurs can race loops through Centennial Park — often in sight of family and friends.

When a weekend of racing isn’t enough, Northwest Arkansas offers over 560 miles of world-class singletrack accessible from several city centers across the region. Collectively known as the OZ Trails network, downtown Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville and Bella Vista boast access to diverse trail experiences plus all the trailside shops, patios, and pubs you’d expect to find in an award-winning, bicycle-friendly community.

From chasing Olympic gold to racing for personal glory, professional and amateur athletes are invited to toe the line at the U.S. Pro Cup presented by the Ozark Foundation this spring. For additional information or to register to race visit www.uscupmtb.com. The best part though, fans at Centennial Park get in free.