Nation’s national cycling governing body moves “mountain bike” headquarters to Bentonville
December 26 - January 1, 2023
By The Daily Record
The nation’s national cycling governing body on Dec. 15 announced plans to move its mountain bike headquarters to northwest Arkansas.
USA Cycling, which oversees the disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, cyclocross and BMX in the U.S., announced on Dec. 15 that Bentonville will become the official “Home of the U.S. National Mountain Bike Team,” as U.S. athletes set their sights on success leading into 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“Our long-term goal is for Team USA to win the gold at the 2028 Olympic Games,” said Brendan Quirk, CEO of USA Cycling. “This investment gives us access to the infrastructure and resources we need to support our under-23 and junior riders. Developing these up-and-coming riders is a top priority for USA Cycling, now and in the future.”
According to USA Cycling officials, the U.S. National Mountain Bike Team will utilize Bentonville and northwest Arkansas’ network of trails and gravel for endurance fitness camps as well as skills-development camps leading into the World Cup racing season. In addition to national team camps, USA Cycling will also host mountain bike and road junior talent identification and skill camps in Bentonville, which is known as the “Mountain Biking Capital of the World” and headquarters OZ Trails a world-class network of shared-use trails throughout northwest Arkansas.
Containing more than 300 miles of soft-surface trails, this innovative OZ Trails network is accessible to mountain bikers, gravel riders, runners, and outdoor adventurers of all ages and skill levels. In April 2021, Centennial Park at Millsap Mountain in Fayetteville hosted the OZ Trails US Pro Cup as part of the U.S. Cup Mountain Bike Series.
That event included competitors training to make their way to the Olympic Games in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed until the summer of 2021. The OZ Trails US Pro Cup also offered UCI points for junior boys and girls – helping qualify select juniors for racing in Europe and to represent Team USA at the 2021 World Championships.
The USA Cycling camps are made possible through a philanthropic investment by the Walton Family Foundation at the direction of Steuart Walton and Tom Walton, the Rob and Melani Walton Foundation, and the Penner Family Foundation.
“Having training and support facilities based in Bentonville will provide our riders with an ideal launching pad to succeed on the world stage,” said Jim Miller, Chief of Sports Performance at USA Cycling.
In addition to serving as the center for its mountain bike operations, Bentonville will also become the national base for its collegiate cycling operations and other functions related to the growth of grassroots bike racing across the country.
“Northwest Arkansas’ incredible network of single-track trails and gravel roads is the perfect training ground for the National Team,” Quirk said. “Our riders love racing and training in Northwest Arkansas. By deepening our presence here, we’ll make it easier for riders at all levels to get access to our racing development pathway and pursue their athletic goals.”
Steuart Walton, Tom Walton, Greg Penner and Rob Walton, all heirs of the Walmart founders Sam and Helen and Bud Walton, are themselves avid cyclists and passionate competitors.
“Northwest Arkansas, which we affectionately call OZ, is becoming a cornerstone of the U.S. mountain bike racing scene,” said Steuart Walton. “When you add in world cyclo-cross events and epic gravel riding, you can see how the region is becoming more than a tourism destination. Our hometown is quickly becoming a global hub for both professional cyclists and emerging talent to develop to their fullest potential in the Mountain Biking Capital of the World.”
“Investing in collegiate cycling is a priority for this effort,” said Tom Walton. “We believe Bentonville is a natural host for this program and are confident this will elevate USA Cycling on the global stage.”
USA Cycling’s corporate headquarters is in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It also has a European logistics base and rider housing in Sittard, Netherlands. The Bentonville satellite office will further accelerate the growth of elite American mountain bike athletes and will provide workspace for the mountain bike coaching and support staff.
With a mission to develop the sport of cycling in the U.S. and achieve sustained international racing success, USA Cycling also supports cyclists at all levels, from brand-new racers to seasoned professionals. Today, the national governing body for cycling has a membership of 80,000, sanctions over 2,000 events annually, and is a proud member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and U.S. States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
Separately, the state Department of Transportation (ARDOT) announced the state’s first nationally recognized bicycle route on Dec. 9. The United States Bike Route (USBR) 80 through Arkansas will begin in Little Rock, where the Big Dam Bridge crosses the Arkansas River. It will end in West Memphis on the Mississippi River at the Tennessee border. Along the way, it passes through rural areas and historical downtowns of the Arkansas Delta.
“The designation of USBR 80 from North Little Rock to the Tennessee state line is the first USBR designation in Arkansas and the first segment of USBR 80 designated in the country,” said ARDOT Deputy Director Rex Vines, who is also a member of the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering. “The establishment of a statewide bikeway network, including USBR corridors, is part of the implementation effort for the Arkansas State Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan.”
The USBR System is a project to create publicly accessible bicycle travel routes across the country with the goal of building broad support for bicycling and bicycle travel in communities nationwide. Experts have planned a 50,000-mile network of bicycle routes following urban streets, county roads, greenways, trail systems, and state highways for the purpose of long-distance (interstate) bicycle travel. Since American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved the USBR National Corridor Plan in 2008, the system has grown to nearly 19,000 total miles.
