Cycling event draws large field

FAYETTEVILLE -- Now in its 39th year, the Joe Martin Stage Race has grown tremendously since 1978.

The race is now a national and international event with more than 750 riders from all 50 states and 23 countries expected to compete today through Sunday across Northwest Arkansas. Lucas Sebastian-Haedo of Argentina won last year's biggest men's race, the Pro Criterium, in downtown Fayetteville with a time of 1 hour, 23.01 seconds.

"Our competitors like to come here for the course, the area and the people," race director Bruce Dunn said. "Fourteen years ago before pro racing came here, a lot of people didn't know where Fayetteville was. Now, it's one of the top five races on the pro tour."

Starting as the Fayetteville Spring Classic in 1978, the Fayetteville bike race was renamed in honor of Joe Martin, a former race director who died of cancer in 1988. The four-day, four-stage event now includes men, women, pros, amateurs and seniors.

The Joe Martin Stage Race is part of both the USAC Pro Racing Tour (PRT) which is the pro and elite amateur cycling tour of USA Cycling and the UCI America Tour.

Today's racing starts with a Pro and Men's 1, 2 Time Trials at Devils Den State Park. Those planning to attend should enter from the south, coming from West Fork. The main entrance to the park will be on the course and will be mostly closed during any racing.

The long road race where the men's groups leave Walmart on MLK in Fayetteville and women start in Natural Dam will be held Friday. On Saturday, time trials continue at Devil's Den with a smaller loop road race starting in Prairie Grove and continuing around Hogeye, Strickler and the West Fork area along Arkansas 156, 170 and 265.

Much of the downtown square and Dickson Street in Fayetteville will be blocked off for the criterium races with the pro races beginning at 2 p.m.

Sports on 04/21/2016