EF Education-EasyPost, Trek-Segafredo and Human Powered Health Headline Initial Teams Slated for September’s Maryland Cycling Classic

April 5, 2023

L39ION of Los Angeles, Hagens Berman Axeon, Team Novo Nordisk and international teams Toronto Hustle and Team Medellin-EPM also to join September’s field

BALTIMORE, Maryland  /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Maryland Cycling Classic, presented by UnitedHealthcare, America’s top cycling race and highest-ranked UCI event, announced the first eight teams that will compete at the second annual event, scheduled for September 3, 2023.

WorldTour teams Trek-Segafredo and EF Education EasyPost are set to return and will be joined by America’s top ProTour series team Human Powered Health and Novo Nordisk, as well as U.S. Pro Continental teams L39ION of Los Angeles and Hagens Berman Axeon along with international squads Toronto Hustle (CAN) and Team Medellin-EPM (COL) , the second highest-ranked Continental team in the world as of April 1. A total of 16 to 17 teams will compete with additional teams named in the coming months.

“I’m already looking forward to being back in Maryland. As an American, we don’t get many chances to race at the elite level in the U.S., and even though Maryland is quite far from home (in Colorado) for me, it’s as close to a home race as I’ll get,” said American Quinn Simmons of Team Trek-Segafredo, who won the King of the Mountains jersey at last year’s race. “It’s a great event for me and I return with high motivation. I’m not satisfied with the result from last year, so hopefully we’ll be back in the fight for the top step of the podium this year.”

Simmons is part of a new crop of elite Americans making waves on the international stage of cycling. The team of Neilson Powless, who placed 3rd in last year’s Maryland Cycling Classic, will return. EF-Education-EasyPost placed three finishers in the Top 6 of last year’s race, an astonishing result for the American squad which has been ripping it up early this season, led by Powless, who has two wins already this season and a podium in the semi-classic Dwars deer Vlaanderen in Belgium.

Human Powered Health almost won the inaugural Maryland Cycling Classic behind the legs of Canadian Nickolas Zakowsky. The American team has had several changes to its roster for 2023 but will come in with extra motivation.

“The Maryland Cycling Classic, presented by UnitedHealthcare was one of the highlights of our 2022 season and a race that we looked forward to for a very long time,” said Human Powered Health Managing Director Charles Aaron. “With our abundance of history in Stateside racing, it was a special feeling to see the roads lined with supporters cheering on the athletes as well as engaging in local community events. I’m expecting the crowds to once again show up in their droves. Our mission to empower people of all ages, cultures, abilities and backgrounds to embrace healthier lifestyles, aligns perfectly with the message from the race and so we are once again thrilled to return to Baltimore and showcase the very best of American racing.”

American Robin Carpenter, a native of Philadelphia, transferred teams from Human Powered Health to L39ion of Los Angeles and has the race circled on his 2023 race calendar.

“On behalf of U.S. bike racers and bike racing fans in this country, I can say I’m utterly pleased that the Maryland Cycling Classic is coming back for a second year in 2023,” said Carpenter, who finished 12th overall at the inaugural Maryland Cycling Classic in 2022. “This race represents a reversal of the latest trend of disappearing U.S. road events, which I know is greeted with pleasure and hope by the overall community. Last year’s course delivered a surprisingly difficult and dynamic race that caught many racers by surprise and led to an exciting finale throughout the packed streets of downtown Baltimore. I’m looking forward to seeing even more spectators out on course and more racers targeting the event as a goal.”

The Sport and Entertainment Corp. of Maryland, led by Terry Hasseltine, are the owners and producers of the event and have partnered with experienced, US-based cycling promoters Medalist Sports and KOM Sports to publicize and manage the event. Hasseltine said the weekend schedule of events and route details will be announced at a press conference, May 2 at 11:30 a.m. ET, at the Baltimore Visitor’s Center.

For more details and the latest updates, please visit marylandcyclingclassic.us. For race day images from the 2022 Maryland Cycling Classic, click here. All photos courtesy of Maryland Cycling Classic. To be added to the distribution list for future announcements, contact info@komsports.com. For sponsorship/partner information: info@marylandclassic.us or info@komsports.com.

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Media Contact:

Katrina Younce, KOM Sports

+1 310-995-3619 | katrina@komsports.com

Host Committee Contact:

Terry Hasseltine, President, Sport and Entertainment Corp. of Maryland

+1 410-207-8814 | terry@sportcorpmaryland.us

About Maryland Cycling Classic presented by UnitedHealthcare

The second annual Maryland Cycling Classic presented by UnitedHealthcare, America’s top one-day international pro cycling race sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and USA Cycling, is taking place September 3, 2023 in Baltimore, Md. The race features some of the world’s best cyclists including Tour de France participants, National Champions, World Champions, and Olympians from over 20 countries. The Maryland Cycling Classic presented by UnitedHealthcare is part of a four-day weekend community celebration of health and wellness featuring participatory events, an interactive festival, local food and drinks, along with other family-friendly activities. The race is endorsed by Maryland and Baltimore Civic Leaders, while owned and operated by Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland. The event is managed and marketed by industry leaders Medalist Sports and KOM Sports Marketing. Learn more about the Maryland Cycling Classic supported by UnitedHealthcare at www.marylandcyclingclassic.us.