The inaugural Gravel National Championship will be held in September in Nebraska with a $60,000 prize purse for its Elite races, with equal payouts for men and women.
USA Cycling announced that the inaugural event will have the largest purse in gravel cycling history. The championship is Sept. 9 in Gerhing, Neb., and will return there in 2024.
“Over the last five years, the explosive growth of gravel has energized American cycling,” said USA Cycling CEO Brendan Quirk.” Our involvement in the past 18 months has mainly focused on the support of gravel event organizers through sanctioning events such as the Grasshopper Adventure Series, the Rule of Three, and Rasputitsa. We’re now proud to join the list of ever-growing gravel events in the United States.”
The $60,000 purse is the largest single-day cash prize in the history of American gravel.
“While this event is a benefit to our members and a long-awaited addition to the national championship calendar, we’re not using a cent of membership dues to fund the prize purse,” Quirk said. “Nor are we diverting funds from grassroots racing programs. 100% of the prizes will be funded by entry fees and sponsorship.”
The best names in off-road racing will be gathering in Nebraska, including Keegan Swenson, the 2022 LifeTime Grand Prix Champion.
“I am really looking forward to the USA Cycling Gravel National Championships,” Swenson said. “I think gravel has quickly become some of the most competitive racing in the U.S. I cannot wait to give it my all in Gering in the fight for the first gravel stars and stripes jersey.”
World Qualifier
The Gravel National Championship is a qualifier for the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships in Venetia, Italy Oct. 7-8.
The top three in the Elite Men’s and Women’s events will automatically qualify for the World Championships and will be supported by USA Cycling. The finalized World Championship Elite selection criteria will be published in 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 top 20 at the inaugural Gravel World Championship.
“There’s not much we can take credit for as Americans in the history of cycling. But gravel cycling has its roots deeply embedded here, and because of that, I see the USA Cycling Gravel National Championship as the natural progression in the development of our sport,” she said. “The course has equal distance and prize money, and represents what a true American gravel race should be. I would love to see an American win a World Championship, solidifying our place on the world stage, and in the process, grow our sport. A proper qualifier with USA Cycling backing is a huge step in making that happen.”
Nebraska Riding
Gravel racers from around the country will be treated to countless miles of dirt roads in Nebraska’s Landmark Country. They will pass famous rock formations such as Scotts Bluff National Monument and Chimney Rock. Both once served as landmarks for Native Americans and settlers traveling west on the Oregon Trail. Courses will offer more than 90 percent gravel.
Riders must be USA Cycling members with a domestic racing license to register. Registration will open July 14 at 10 a.m. MT.
Visit USACycling.org for more information about athletes, events and membership programs
