The Joe Martin Stage Race, one of the top professional and amateur road cycling stage races in the nation, returns to Fayetteville on May 19-22, 2022.
Celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2022, the Joe Martin Stage Race features 4 days of professional and elite amateur men and women road cycling teams that assemble in Fayetteville for a series of race stages that include time trials, road races, and criteriums. With the Ozark Mountains as a canvas, an expansive road network of quality pavement, diverse topography, and rolling scenery defines each stage. The energy culminates for the final stage – the spectator-friendly Experience Fayetteville Criterium on the historic streets of Downtown Fayetteville.
On Sunday, May 22 an expected field of 750 cyclists - representing all 50 states and 27 different countries – will speed through the streets of downtown Fayetteville for one of the toughest criterium races in the United States. While this sounds fascinating, the best part about the Experience Fayetteville Criterium might be the atmosphere. Spectators new to the sport will find a family-friendly environment where decorated race fans (affectionally dubbed “the crazies”) line the streets and there’s no shortage of flavorful food trucks.
The Joe Martin Stage Race is consistently ranked as one of the top stage races on both the USA Cycling Pro Road Tour (PRT) and Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) America Tour calendars. 2022 will mark the 45th edition of the amateur races; 20th anniversary on the PRT, and 8th year on the UCI America Tour schedule.
Originally known as the Fayetteville Spring Classic, the race was renamed in memory of long-time race director Joe Martin after his passing in 1989. Today, the Joe Martin Stage Race is one of the longest-running annual events in Northwest Arkansas and was a deciding factor when the UCI awarded Fayetteville the Bike City label – the first city in the United States to receive the international designation.
For more information on the Joe Martin Stage Race and the Experience Fayetteville Criterium, visit www.joemartinstagerace.com.
The Joe Martin Stage Race is produced by All Sports Productions. Visit www.allsportsproductionsinc.com for a variety of events and races held in the Fayetteville area each year.
