Walmart Joe Martin Stage Race Returns to Fayetteville with Amateur Criterium

February 23, 2023

New Bike City Fondo offers all cyclists chance to join weekend festivities

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Feb. 23, 2023) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Registration opens today for two cycling events taking place in Fayetteville on the weekend of the professional and elite Walmart Joe Martin Stage Race. The first event will be the all-new Bike City Fondo presented by Experience Fayetteville to be held on Saturday, May 20. The second event is the Experience Fayetteville Criteriums open to amateurs of all levels to be held in downtown Fayetteville on Sunday, May 21.

All three events – the professional and elite stage race, amateur criteriums, and a recreational fondo – being held at the same time in Fayetteville, Arkansas offers a unique opportunity for cyclists of all levels to experience a full weekend of cycling activities.

Organizers are excited that moving the Joe Martin amateur racing from a two-day, three-stage event to a one-day slate of criteriums on the same course as the professional peloton will make the event more attractive and attainable for more amateurs.

Amateur and recreational cyclists will also have the opportunity to participate in Saturday’s Bike City Fondo, presented by Experience Fayetteville, that will include chip-timing and competitive timed sections along the routes. The Fondo will have multiple ride distances including 30-, 65- and 105-mile road routes as well as two gravel distances. There will also be a paved-trail option which is family friendly.

Both the amateur criterium races on Sunday and the Bike City Fondo will take place on the weekend of the 4-day professional and elite Walmart Joe Martin Stage Race – the oldest stage race in the U.S. and one of only two UCI-sanctioned multi-day stage races in the country on the UCI Americas Tour calendar for both men and women.

Bruce Dunn, CEO of All Sports Productions said: “We are excited to offer new opportunities for amateur cyclists as a part of the Walmat Joe Martin Stage Race weekend this year with the introduction of the Bike City Fondo on Saturday that will include options for every level of rider and offer road, paved paths, and gravel courses, as well as amateur criterium racing on Sunday morning. With the professional/elite Walmart Joe Martin Stage Race being competed Thursday through Sunday, the opportunities for spectating, riding, and racing in Fayetteville, Arkansas are unmatched in the region. We believe that this new approach and schedule will truly make this a cycling weekend to remember.”

Brannon Pack, director of cycling tourism for Experience Fayetteville, the city’s destination marketing organization, said: “Fayetteville, Arkansas is a global destination for many of the biggest cycling events in North America and we are proud to sponsor the Bike City Fondo to encourage cyclists across the country to come experience our world-class courses and events. Whether they are participating in the Bike City Fondo on Saturday, the Experience Fayetteville criterium on Sunday, coming as a spectator to watch the world’s best professionals, or all three, we’re excited to welcome them to our beautiful city.”

Registration for the Bike City Fondo, presented by Experience Fayetteville opens today, Thursday, February. 23 at 8 a.m. CST. Registration links and complete details can be found at www.bikecityfondo.com.

Registration for the Experience Fayetteville Criterium, part of the Walmart Joe Martin Stage Race, also opens today. Registration links and complete details can be found at www.joemartinstagerace.com.

The event is produced by All Sports Productions, a Fayetteville, Arkansas based event production company. Information on all the events being produced by All Sports Productions in 2023 is available at: www.allsportsproductionsinc.com

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Contact:

Bruce Dunn

Chief Executive Officer

All Sports Productions, Inc.

bruce@allsportsproductionsinc.com