The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced that the 2022 Cyclo-Cross World Championships will be held in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jan. 29-30, 2022.  This will be only the second time that the championships have been held in the United States. Local nonprofit BikeNWA will lead a coalition of community partners, including Experience Fayetteville, in organizing the World Championships.  

The World Championships will be held at Millsap Mountain, one of the newest additions to the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation system. The park, which is close to the downtown entertainment district and the University of Arkansas campus, will be developed with state of the art cyclo-cross and mountain bike features. The development of Millsap Mountain is a part of a larger strategic plan of connectivity to the town's 42 miles of established natural-surface trails as well as to a larger, regional trail network that will total more than 400 miles by 2022.

Cyclo-Cross is a fall and winter cycling sport that has grown in the last decade, especially in the United States. Competitors race on a spectator-friendly course approximately 1.75 miles (3 km), in length that includes short steep hills and obstacles that may require dismounting and running with the bike.  Races take place ‘rain or shine,’ making cyclo-cross riders some of the toughest across disciplines.

The World Championship weekend will be part of a multi-day festival for both new fans and die-hard cyclo-cross spectators.  The race will be the pinnacle of a weekend filled with activities and events that showcase all that Northwest Arkansas has to offer.

Champions will be crowned in six categories during the two days of racing: Elite Men, Elite Women, Under-23 Men, Under-23 Women, Junior Men, and Junior Women. Competitors from approximately 30 nations will be racing while spectators are expected to travel from across the globe.

For more information and to stay updated on all World Championship news, visit cyclocrossfayettevillear2022.com.