National Championship Gravel Bike Race Scheduled for Gering – PANHANDLE
USA Cycling is pleased to announce that the inaugural Gravel National Championships will be held on September 9, 2023 in Gering, Nebraska with a purse of $60,000. The event will remain in Gering in 2024.
“Over the past five years, the explosive growth of gravel has spurred American cycling. Our engagement over the past 18 months has been primarily focused on supporting gravel event organizers by approving events such as the Grasshopper Adventure Series, Rule of Three and Rasputitsa. We are now proud to join the growing list of gravel events in the United States,” said USA Cycling CEO Brendan Quirk.
USA Cycling is offering a $60,000 purse for the elite races, with equal payout for men and women. This is the largest one-day cash prize in American gravel history.
“While this event is a benefit to our members and a long-awaited addition to the national championship calendar, we do not use a dime of membership dues to fund prize money, nor do we derive any funds from grassroots racing programs. 100 percent of the prizes are funded by entry fees and sponsorships,” said Quirk.
The best names in off-road racing will gather in Nebraska, including 2022 Grand Prix lifetime champion Keegan Swenson.
“I’m really looking forward to the USA Cycling Gravel National Championships,” said Swenson. “I think Schotter has quickly become one of the most competitive races in the US and I can’t wait to go all out in Gering, Nebraska in the fight for the first ever Schotter Stars and Stripes jersey.”
With the addition of the UCI Gravel World Championships, the Gravel National Championship will serve as a qualifier for the 2023 event, taking place October 7-8 in Veneto, Italy. The first three of the elite men’s and women’s events automatically qualify for the World Championships and are sponsored by USA Cycling. The final selection criteria for the World Championship Elite will be released in the coming weeks. Additionally, age group race winners will automatically qualify for their respective categories for the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships.
Last year Lauren De Crescenzo finished in the top 20 at the inaugural Gravel World Championship and is now looking forward to fighting for the national title.
Gravel racers from across the country are treated to countless miles of dirt roads in Nebraska’s Landmark Country, past iconic rock formations like Scotts Bluff National Monument and Chimney Rock, which once served as landmarks for Native Americans and settlers migrating west on the Oregon Trail. Racers will experience the beauty of the area as they compete on courses that are over 90% gravel, and they will continue to contribute to local history by competing in the inaugural Gravel National Championship.
“On behalf of the Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau and Scotts Bluff County, we welcome USA Cycling to Gering. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to host a first ever Gravel National Championship event is a dream come true for our vibrant western Nebraska community. We look forward to building a memorable race that will build strong relationships with athletes and stakeholders in our sports market. We look forward to working with USA Cycling in 2023-2024,” said Brenda Leisy, Director of the Scotts Bluff Region Visitors Bureau.
In addition to the support of Scotts Bluff County and the Visitors Bureau, Robidoux Rendezvous organizer Aaron Raines will help host another incredible gravel race in Landmark Country.
“The Gering Visitors Bureau and the City of Gering are excited to welcome the 2023 Gravel National Championships in Gering and Western Nebraska in partnership with USA Cycling. Gravel riders and guests will experience a welcoming city with an energetic vibe and rich historic cycling culture. Scenic beauty and historical landmarks provide the backdrop for the challenging gravel roads coming together in a community dedicated to hospitality and service to ensure USA Cycling’s inaugural event is an adventure and a memorable success,” said Karla Niedan -Streeks from the Low Visitors Bureau.
To learn more about eligibility and race details visit http://gravelnats.usacycling.org/.
Riders must be USA Cycling members with a national racing license to register. Registration opens on Friday, July 14thth at 10 a.m. CET.
