Huntsville, Houston Awarded International Cycling Events
Hunstville to host 2026 Para-Cycling world championships and Houston the 2028 BMX world championships
Posted On: August 7, 2023 By :Huntsville, Alabama, and Houston will host international cycling events with Huntsville awarded the 2026 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships and Houston awarded the 2028 UCI BMX Racing World Championships, it was announced during the recent 192nd Congress of the Union Cycliste Internationale.
The 2026 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships will take place from September 4-7, 2026, in Cummings Research Park. The competition is divided into time trial, road race and mixed team relay events, and athletes compete in the divisions of cycle, handbike, tricycle and tandem. It will be the first time the event is in the United States since 2014 in Greenville, South Carolina.
“We are extremely excited that the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships will once again be held here in the United States,” said Ian Lawless, director of U.S. Paralympics Cycling. “Huntsville, Alabama, has successfully hosted numerous Para-Cycling events and proven itself to be one of the most sought-after venues in the world for the sport and we cannot wait to return to the supportive community.”
Huntsville previous hosted the 2021 U.S. Paralympics Cycling Open, the 2022 U.S. Paralympics Cycling Open and the 2023 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup, the first World Cup held in the United States.
“Our athletes have said over and over how much they felt the support of this community every time they return to Huntsville, and it means the world to them,” said Julie Dussliere, chief of Paralympics and internally managed sports at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. “We are so excited to return here in 2026 to put on an even bigger and better show for this community and nations from around the world.”
The 2028 UCI BMX Racing World Championships will be at Rockstar Energy Bike Park in North Houston, part of an extreme sports complex funded and developed by the N. Houston Development Corp. The bike park was built in Houston in 2019, adjacent to the North Houston Skate Park, and is over 870,000 square feet, making it one of the world’s largest, consisting of a BMX track, dirt jumps, concrete bowls, and more.
“We are thrilled to be bringing the 2028 UCI BMX Racing World Championships to the region,” said Janis Burke, chief executive officer of the Harris County–Houston Sports Authority. “With a world-class facility and a passion for BMX within the local community, Houston is the perfect stage for this extraordinary event. We look forward to creating an unforgettable experience for participants and spectators alike.”
The UCI BMX World Championships are held annually. The event is expected to bring 3,000 amateur participants and 300 professional athletes from over 40 countries.
“USA Cycling is honored to bring another World Championship to the United States, especially to a facility like the Rockstar Energy Bike Park. As an organization, we have been fully focused on our home Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This will be the perfect preparation and Olympic qualifying opportunity for our team in 2028,” said USA Cycling President and Chief Executive Officer Brendan Quirk.
“2028 is shaping up to be the most significant year in history for the sport of BMX here in the United States, with the 2028 Olympic Games and now the 2028 UCI BMX Racing World Championships being held right here in the United States,” said BA Anderson, chief executive officer of USA BMX. “We are thrilled to join our friends at the Harris County–Houston Sports Authority in welcoming BMX fans around the world to this vibrant city and specifically to the Rockstar Energy Bike Park.”
The UCI awarded several other international events during its congress including the following;
- 2024 UCI Indoor Cycling World Championships: Bremen, Germany
- 2025 and 2026 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- 2025 and 2026 UCI Masters Cyclo-cross World Championships: Varese, Italy
- 2026 UCI Junior Track World Championships: Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
- 2026 and 2027 UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships: Nevados de Chillán, Chile
- 2028 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships: Cape Town
- 2028 UCI Gravel World Championships: Alula
- 2028 UCI Road World Championships: Abu Dhabi
- 2029 UCI Track World Championships: Abu Dhabi