Maryland Cycling Classic Postponed for 2024

The Maryland Sports Commission and the Sport & Entertainment Corporation Of Maryland have announced that the Maryland Cycling Classic will be postponing the third edition of the event with a full return in 2025.

After consultation with the SECMD Board of Directors, local government officials and stakeholders including USA Cycling and Union Cycliste Internationale, the decision to pause the 2024 event was made with multiple factors at play.

The decision to pause the event reflects a conscientious effort to respect the capacities of both Baltimore City and Baltimore County resources and personnel due to the tragedy of the Key Bridge collapse, compounded by the Labor Day holiday weekend when the Cycling Classic normally takes place and in turn, the likely need to make changes to the race course as a result.

Also factoring into the postponement is the upcoming Paris Summer Olympics and the significant international competition schedule changes and team logistics that it presents in the cycling world. The Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal that is traditionally held the week after the race in Maryland is taking place two weeks after the date of the Maryland Cycling Classic this year, which could impact the number of teams who will come to North America this summer to race.

“This brief pause in 2024 will allow the event to return in 2025 with even more vigor and momentum,” said Terry Hasseltine, executive director of the Maryland Sports Commission and president of the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland. “The Maryland Cycling Classic is a premier cycling event on a global stage. We have delivered a product that continues to grow and are excited about the path forward.”

In the coming weeks, there will be additional information released on 2024 events throughout Baltimore along with 2025 race updates. Recognized as America’s top-ranked road cycling race, the Maryland Cycling Classic in 2023 had an estimated 80,000 on-site spectators and nearly 800,000 livestream viewers, an increase of 200% from 2022. The regional over-the-air broadcast was bolstered through a partnership with Maryland Public Television, which aired six hours of live coverage.

“I’m sad about the 2024 postponement, but understand the decision especially given the circumstances,” said John Kelly, president of Kelly Benefits Strategies and Volunteer Executive Chairman of the MCC.