Riders at the start of a race at the 2022 USA Cycling Cyclocross Championships in Hartford. HARTFORD — Riverfront Park looks a little different this week.
Instead of a quiet recluse next to the Connecticut River, the park is hosting the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship through Sunday. The races feature more than 1,000 athletes from 42 states in several different classes and age divisions.
“If you love cycling, and you love beautiful riverfront parks, and you love a little bit of a mess and mud, this is the place to come," said Chuck Hodge, USA Cycling chief of racing and events. "It’s an amazing place to see some incredible athletes competing on a challenging course here in the capitol city, and we’re really grateful to USA cycling for bringing the cyclocross championships back to Hartford.” Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said the event will bring millions of dollars to the city, including hotel stays, restaurants and other events for the 1,000-plus athletes as well as their families and friends.
Cyclocross usually takes place in the fall and winter months and includes laps around a course with mud, hills and sometimes sharp inclines. The championships took place in 2017 in Hartford and included snow throughout the course, and officials said they wouldn’t mind some snow this weekend. The races got underway on Tuesday and run through the week, culminating with the elite championships on Sunday afternoon.
Hodge said the organization was eager to return to Hartford after the success of the 2017 event.
“This is […]
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