Para-Cycling World Cup Racing In North Alabama- Huge Event Memorial Day Weekend At Cummings Research Park
Para-cyclist at start of recent race in Elzach, Germany as part of the Para-Cycling World Cup. Many of these racers will race in Huntsville May 26-29 in the third leg of the World Cup. Photo- Casey Gibson, USOPC
FRONT PAGE FEATURED, Madison, Madison County Record, News, Sports, Z - News Main
 By  Bob Labbe Published 
4:18 pm Saturday, May 20, 2023

Para-Cycling World Cup Racing In North Alabama- Huge Event Memorial Day Weekend At Cummings Research Park

HUNTSVILLE- With age and experience comes growth and nothing is truer than the current status of the Tennessee Valley. After two successful Para-Cycling road events held here in 2021 and 2022, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has awarded the local community the Para-Cycling Road World Cup to be held over the Memorial Day weekend of May 26-29. The third race of its kind to be held in Huntsville is a much larger race with international prestige and teams of athletes from approximately 40 countries.

The upcoming event is the first international cycling competition to be held in the United States for the first time.

“On behalf of U.S. Paralympics Cycling and all of our athletes, we are incredibly excited about this historic opportunity to hold a World Cup in Huntsville,” said Ian Lawless, Director of U.S. Paralympics Cycling. “We can’t wait to welcome the world cup tour to the U.S. and to Huntsville for the first time.”

The races will be held Friday through Monday in Cummings Research Park with the various daily competition schedule to include time trials and road races with different types of cycles, including two-wheeled cycles, handcycles, two-person tandem teams and tricycles. To accommodate and in respect to the annual Cotton Row Run held in downtown Huntsville on Memorial Day morning, cycling races will begin later that morning.

For fans, the races are free as no tickets are needed to attend.

Approximately 300 athletes are expected to visit Huntsville to compete, along with their team support staff and family members. The Westin Hotel at Bridge Street will serve as the official Race Headquarters hotel. Medalist Sports will once again organize the races.

Sponsorships are still available for any local business or organization that would be interested in assisting the world class event.

The Huntsville races will be the third UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup of the season with the finale occurring here on Memorial Day weekend. Other races were held in Maniago, Italy in April and Ostend, Belgium the first week of May. Both races set records for the number of athletes to compete, and the expectation is the largest number of athletes will grow even more for the season finale. So far, 20 teams from Europe will participate. Other teams and locations include South America (7), Asia/Pacific/Africa (5) and North-Central America/Caribbean (7).

The race schedule is basically set up with Individual Times Trails, May 26-27, Road Races on May 28-29 and Handcycle Relay on May 29. The course is basically the circular Explorer Blvd. in Cummings Research Park (7.5 and 9.3 miles). The Handcycle Relay will utilize a course (2.575-miles) which is partly on Explorer Blvd., Moquin Dr., McMillian Way and Genome Way.

The races are comprised of Time Trails- Individual cyclists are sent out at intervals with a race against the clock as the athlete with the fastest time for the distance wins; Road Races- Athletes begin with a mass start and then they battle both the elements and each other. There will be packs of riders as the competition will be intense; Handcycle Relay- Each team has four athletes. Each racer will travel one loop of course before tagging their partner until all have completed the course.

Complete details on the event are available at www.huntsvilleparaworldcup.com.

Also on The Madison Record
Space Command relocation to Huntsville to bring area growth
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Staff Reports 
September 10, 2025
HUNTSVILLE — Officials expect at least 1,400 jobs to be directly added to the north Alabama area with the U.S. Space Command Headquarters permanently ...
Newly elected Madison mayor to depart US Chess role
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Ranae Bartlett was named US Chess Executive Director in 2024
By JOHN HARTMANN US Chess Press 
September 10, 2025
MADISON - It is said that no one can serve two masters. And so US Chess Executive Director Ranae Bartlett is trading Caïssa for the people of Madison,...
Triana Fire Department train for medical helicopter operation
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 10, 2025
TRIANA – Firefighters who work in Triana Fire Department recently accomplished a new milestone in their training to serve and protect their town. On-s...
Itty Bitty Bakers sweetens the community with classes
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By KADIE TAYLOR news@themadisonrecord.com 
September 10, 2025
MADISON - Sweeten your day, Itty Bitty Bakers offers baking classes for locals, from 18 months to adults. Itty Bitty Bakers owner Kayla Johnson has be...
Madison Visionary Partners to host Gather Madison, volunteers needed
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
EVENTS
Gregg Parker 
September 10, 2025
MADISON – In its premiere in 2025, the Gather Madison event will unite residents of all backgrounds at one long table for a free, shared meal in the s...
Kids to Love to go “Over the Edge” for children in foster care Sept. 19-20
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
Staff Reports 
September 10, 2025
MADISON - Bold, compassionate individuals will be going “Over the Edge” for Kids to Love during a thrilling two-day fundraiser where participants rapp...
The Madison Street Festival is less than a month away
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 10, 2025
MADISON – The first Saturday in October. That’s the day Madison residents turn out to visit with friends and neighbors, promote school groups, shop fo...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *