USA Cycling introduces the USA Cycling Pro Tour, announces key dates for 2016

On Feb. 12, USA Cycling announced the USA Cycling Pro Road Tour, a combination of two competitive calendars: the National Racing Calendar and the National Criterium Calendar. Additionally, a new point structure will be part of the tour.

The cross-America tour will combine stage races, road races, omniums and criteriums, during a period from April to September.

“We are proud to unveil the new USA Cycling Pro Road Tour,” said Micah Rice, USA Cycling’s vice president of national events, “which will showcase the top American teams and riders on the road starting in 2016. Thank you to our team of race directors and U.S-based teams for giving valuable input in implementing this exciting new change in the American road cycling team.”

For everything it means to American squads, though, events under the Tour’s previous incarnations have been notable triumphs for Canadian riders. At last year’s Silver City Tour of the Gila in May 2015—one of the most high-profile events of the USA Cycling Pro Tour calendar—Canada’s Rob Britton, riding for Team SmartStop, took the overall title just 24 seconds behind leader Rafael Montiel. Now competing in the colours of Rally Cycling, it’s a competition that may well see the Canadian athlete returning to defend that hard-fought, dramatically-won title.

At the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic, meanwhile, Michael Woods came in second to winner Carlos Barbero of Caja Rural, just a second behind his winning time of 3:54:11. Leah Kirchmann also ranked in the top 10 of the Philly World Cup, six seconds behind winner Lizzie Armistead. Canadian riders took the mountains classifications of both races.

The USA Cycling Pro Road Tour kicks off on April 2 with the Sunny King Criterium in Anniston, Alabama, and concludes on September 17 with the TD Bank Mayor’s Cup in Boston. A full list of events, complete with dates and locations, can be viewed at usacycling.org/prt.