The Mt. Hood Cycling Classic will go on (Image credit: Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews)
The brand new 500-mile, seven-day Oregon Pro Cycling Classic is the latest casualty of the global economic downturn. Instead of debuting in 2009, the race has been postponed until 2010 because organizers were unable to solidify a title sponsor and the necessary funding for 2009. The event was slated as the highest category ranking on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar.
"We are very disappointed to have to delay the debut of the Oregon Pro Cycling Classic, but given the current economic crisis the country is facing, funding has rapidly disappeared," said Chad Sperry, executive director for the event.
"We have such a great opportunity in this state to host an amazing race on some of the most spectacular and challenging roads in the country," said Sperry. "It is our hope that next year, this event will blow both riders and fans away."
Although the Oregon Pro Cycling Classic is postponed, its predecessor, the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, will continue in 2009 for its seventh edition.
"While we are disappointed that we are unable to be on the NRC and UCI calendars this year, we feel fortunate that, due to our local sponsors and community support, we will still have a top-notch event in 2009 with the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic. We remain optimistic and will strive to be back on the NRC in 2010," said Sperry.
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Peter Cossins has written about professional cycling since 1993 and is a contributing editor to Procycling. He is the author of The Monuments: The Grit and the Glory of Cycling's Greatest One-Day Races (Bloomsbury, March 2014) and has translated Christophe Bassons' autobiography, A Clean Break (Bloomsbury, July 2014).
