Baltimore will "host a major international cycling race for three years" beginning in '20, after a Maryland bid was accepted by the Int'l Cycling Union (UCI), according to Phil Davis of the BALTIMORE SUN. The race, to be called the Maryland Cycling Classic, will take place on Sept. 6. Maryland Sports Commission Exec Dir Terry Hasseltine said that the 110- to 125-mile race would "ideally start and end in the city, but travel into surrounding counties." He added that the route still "needs to be chosen and the event's budget and cost remain up in the air." Georgia-based Medalist will "manage the event and has experience running large bike races, including the Tour of Utah and the Colorado Classic." Hasseltine said that while the Baltimore region is the "focus of the event and organizers have preliminary support from city officials, if talks were to break down, the event would remain in the state and could be run outside the city." But given Visit Baltimore's support, he said that this is "unlikely to happen" (BALTIMORE SUN, 10/10).
