BALTIMORE, MD—The first-ever Maryland Cycling Classic, supported by UnitedHealthcare, takes place during Labor Day weekend 2022, and fans throughout Baltimore County and the city of Baltimore can enjoy the action course-side, while fans worldwide can watch through various live broadcast and livestream options.
The Maryland Cycling Classic is the top-ranked one-day professional cycling race in America and will feature 16 teams of world class professional athletes from over 20 countries. The course is a diverse 120-mile (194 kilometer) route that takes riders from the rolling pastoral countryside of Baltimore County to the urban landscape and waterfront of central Baltimore. It is a free, world-class event and will feature recent Tour de France stage winners, Olympians, and national champions.
Two-time Super Bowl Champion, former Baltimore Ravens linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Ray Lewis, will join Maryland Cycling Classic ambassadors for various events.
Notably, Lewis will ride parts of the professional course alongside participants of the Bridges of Hope ride on Saturday, September 3, the official charity ride of the event which begins in Sparks at the Kelly Benefits headquarters and benefits the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation.
“The Maryland Cycling Classic combines two of my passions – Baltimore and cycling,” said Lewis. “I can’t wait to ride parts of the course on Saturday during the Bridges of Hope ride, which benefits a great cause, and to be a part of the whole weekend of events capped off by the best professional road racing in America. We will see you on Labor Day weekend!”
Schedule of Events:
THURSDAY | September 1, 2022 | Community Enrichment Day
- School Visits and Youth Activity Booklet
- Community ambassadors and professional cyclists will visit local elementary schools in the city of Baltimore and Baltimore County to educate children on bike and helmet safety
- The Maryland Cycling Classic will also provide a Youth Activity Booklet including detailed curriculum on cycling-related activities using math, geography, and science to 21st Century Schools in Baltimore along with Hero Cards
- The Youth Activity Booklet is also being distributed to summer programs and will be available online
- “Bike Jam” Community bike ride @Patterson Park: 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm (Pulaski Monument)
- A community bike ride for children, families and cyclists of all ages will take place around Patterson Park on Thursday afternoon
- Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Olympic athletes and ambassadors will participate
- The Bike Jam will include bike maintenance stations, bike helmet, and safety clinics and bike course teaching “Rules of the Road”, and a 1.5-mile “Slow Ride” with Olympians
- Local food vendors will be on-site, and a DJ will provide entertainment during the ride
FRIDAY | September 2, 2022
- Team Introduction: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm / Stage Presentations: 6:45pm – 7:15pm
- Lancaster St. between Exeter St. and S. Central Ave (HarborEast)
- Fans will be introduced to the cyclists from 16 teams and more than 25 countries around the world, including Tour de France participants, Olympians, and World Champions
- Exhibitors, including a beer lounge, will be available
SATURDAY | September 3, 2022
- UHCCF Bridges of Hope Ride p/b Kelly Benefits: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Start and finish: 1 Kelly Way, Sparks, MD 21152
- The official charity ride for Maryland Cycling Classic will take riders through parts of the professional course and benefits the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation
- To register, visit marylandcyclingclassic.us
SUNDAY | September 4, 2022
- Maryland Cycling Classic supported by UnitedHealthcare: 1:30 pm – 6:00 pm
- Start: Sparks, MD (Kelly Benefits Headquarters)
- Finish: Inner Harbor at Pratt St & Market Pl.
- Activities at Finish Line: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
- Fan Festival: 1:00 – 6:30 pm
- Cross Streets of E. Pratt and Market Streets (Inner Harbor Area, next to Columbus Center)
- Awards Ceremony at the Finish Line: Est. 15 Minutes After Race
BROADCAST – Where to Watch
- Global Cycling Network+ (live stream, worldwide) 1:30 pm to 6:15 pm, Eastern Standard Time (EST)
- Tour Tracker (download free mobile app, live stream, U.S.): 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm, EST
- MarylandCyclingClassic.us (Tour Tracker live stream, U.S./Canada): 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm, EST
- WNUV – CW (Baltimore, local/regional, Live Over the Air): 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm, EST
- Maryland Public TV (Md., Washington DC, parts of Pa., Va., W.Va., and Del.): Sept. 5, 11 – 11:30 pm EST
- Video on Demand: Global Cycling Network (CGN and YouTube Channels), EuroSport+
COURSE – Watch Points | Race Start & Baltimore County
- START LINE: The race starts at 1:30pm at Kelly Benefits in Sparks, Md. | Address: 1 Kelly Way, Sparks, MD
- Why You Should Go: Athletes and teams will arrive, set-up and prepare for the race about 60 to 90 minutes before the start. Fans can observe the preparation, state-of-the-art bikes and potentially talk to riders and/or get autographs. Cyclists must “sign-in” on the main stage where they often answer announcer questions and talk to the crowd about the upcoming race.
- How to Get There: From the North – I-83 to exit on E. Quaker Bottom Rd. east, right on York Rd. in Sparks to Sparks Valley Rd.; From the South – I-83 to exit Shawan Rd., left of York Rd., to Sparks Valley Rd.
- Where to Park: Spectators may park at 100 and 120 Sparks Valley Road (up to 150 parking spots) and walk. Overflow parking at U.S. Lacrosse at Loveton Circle off York Rd. (approximately .7 miles away from start). Loveton Circle will serve as event parking for the entire 1 mile and signs will be posted noting available on-street parking. See map here.
- BALTIMORE COUNTY (along the course): see Maps and estimated times of arrival at highlighted locations (gold star); suggestion is to drive at least 60 minutes in advance of the ETAs in designated areas.
COURSE – Watch Points | Race Finish & City of Baltimore Circuits
- FINISH LINE: The race will finish at the cross streets of E. Pratt and Market Streets, with four (4) laps of a 7.4-mile (12km) circuit of Central Baltimore. The circuit has 19 turns, short climbs, and features various districts from HarborEast, Fells Point, N. Broadway, Washington Hill, Old Town, Mount Vernon, and Downtown Districts. The flat run-in on E. Pratt past Light Street and the Aquarium will be one of the best places to watch the action.
- Why You Should Go: The finish will feature four (4) passages and the excitement of the color and speed of the cyclists at more than 35 mph, coupled with the accompanying motorcade, presents one of the most unique energies in all of sport. Near the finish will be an exhibitor area as well as two big screens broadcasting live race coverage. The Power Plant Live District and its bars will be the unofficial fans zones and an ideal place to hang out while the cyclists are racing in the county. Live coverage on the race’s Mobile App “Tour Tracker” integrates video and GPS tracking of the race. Baltimore’s CW channel will also be airing the race live.
- How to Get There: From North – I-83 South to exit on to President Street (note road will be closed at Lombard St.); From South – I-95, exit Russell Street toward Inner Harbor past MTT Bank Stadium and Camden Yards, right on W. Conway Street (note E. Pratt will be closed at Light Street beginning at 5:00 am ET).
- Where to Park: there are several parking locations within the Inner Harbor, see map here.
- CIRCUIT: see Maps and estimated times of arrival at starred locations; suggestion is to drive at least 30 min. to one hour in advance of the ETAs in areas designated.
Finish Line Notes
- Finish line activities on East Pratt St. at Market Pl. will commence at 3:00pm EST
- Awards ceremony will take place directly following the race finish, estimated at 6:15 pm EST
This event is a rolling closure, meaning parts of the course (4-6 miles at a time) will be temporarily delayed while the pro cyclists and support vehicle pass by, similar to a Presidential motorcade. The world-class course was designed with input from state, county, and city officials in collaboration with Medalist Sports, integrating the objectives of safety, competition and accessibility.
For the most up-to-date information or to volunteer, visit https://www.marylandcyclingclassic.us.
The full Maryland Cycling Classic map and route can be viewed below.
Photo via Pixabay
