GERING, Neb. – USA Cycling has announced the inaugural Gravel National Championships will take place on Sept. 9, 2023, in Gering, Neb. with a $60,000 prize purse. The event will remain in Gering for 2024 as well.
“Over the last five years, the explosive growth of gravel has energized American cycling. 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 and the Rule of Three. We’re now proud to join the list of ever-growing gravel events in the United States,” says USA Cycling CEO, Brendan Quirk.
USA Cycling is offering a $60,000 prize purse for the Elite races, with an equal payout for men and women. This marks the largest single-day cash prize in the history of American gravel cycling.
“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, nor are we diverting funds from grassroots racing programs. One hundred percent of the prizes will be funded by entry fees and sponsorship,” says Quirk.
The biggest names in off-road racing will be gathering in Nebraska, including 2022 LifeTime Grand Prix Champion Keegan Swenson.
“I am really looking forward to the USA Cycling Gravel National Championships,” says Swenson. “I think gravel has quickly become some of the most competitive racing in the U.S., and I cannot wait to give it my all in Gering, Neb., in the fight for the first gravel stars and stripes jersey.”
With the new addition of the UCI Gravel World Championships, the Gravel National Championship will classify as a qualifier for the 2023 event to be in Venetia, Italy on Oct. 7 and 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. Additionally, age group race winners will automatically qualify for their respective categories for the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships.
“On behalf of the Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau and Scotts Bluff County, we welcome USA Cycling to Gering. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to host an inaugural Gravel National Championship event is a dream come true for our vibrant western Nebraska community. We look forward to building a memorable race that will create strong relations with athletes and stakeholders in our sports market. We are eager to team up with USA Cycling in 2023 and 2024,” says Brenda Leisa, director of the Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau.
To learn more about eligibility and race details, visit gravelnats.usacycling.org
