Hopeful yet sceptical seems to be the mindset of fervent cycling fans for the start of the National Cycling League on Saturday, April 8 in Miami Beach. The rubber hits the road under neon lights and palm trees for the first of four rounds of the criterium series, which is set to stop later in Atlanta, Georgia and Denver, Colorado, and culminate in Washington, D.C. to disperse all, or part of, $1 million in prize money among 10 teams.
Also hopeful is league co-founder Paris Wallace, part of a robust organisation that is focused on growing the sport of cycling with a zesty new take on racing on two wheels. The NCL is spicing up the criterium world in the US with new venues, new rules and new technology. It’s all about capturing a new audience.
Potential cycling fans are too many to count, especially with a pro criterium set to take place for the first time on famous Ocean Drive in Miami Beach just a week from now. Organisers are working to deliver safe races, earning opportunities for athletes, and big numbers for investors and partners. They embark on a purposeful path to grow the sport, looking to nab those potential fans and get them hooked on cycling.
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| April 8, 2023 | Miami Beach, Florida |
| May 14, 2023 | Atlanta, Georgia |
| August 13, 2023 | Denver, Colorado |
| September 17, 2023 | Washington, DC |
“We’ve captured people’s imagination, I think. Change is always exciting, but also confusing. And so I think once people have seen our first race and our first events on April 8, a lot more is going to be clear,” Wallace told Cyclingnews as he and his staff entered a final week of planning for the debut.
“We’re really focused on having a safe and incredible race in Miami. We think it’s going to be the biggest bike race in the US this year, in terms of viewership. We think it’s going to captivate a new generation of cycling fans,” Wallace told Cyclingnews.
“But I also think that we’re gonna get some things wrong and we’re gonna have some things to focus on to get better. We’re really focused on having an amazing season this year that give people the chance to say, ‘Yes, I’m into this’, or ‘No, I’m not into this’.”
Prizes and scoring
The NCL has boasted a $1 million prize purse and it has become one of the most-noticed differentiators for this entity among advocates, and critics. Well, it is true. While the initial thinking was a winner-take-all formula, organisers have created a system for all…
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