U.S. Pro Cup mountain bike races take off in Fayetteville

Why it matters: Professional-level bike events bring international attention to NWA as a cycling destination. It also allows Fayetteville to get maximum use out of Centennial Park, a $3.3 million project built for cyclo-cross and mountain bike racing.

State of play: More than 1,300 cyclists are registered to participate this year, Ty Kady, director of the event told Axios in an email.

• Competitors from 11 countries, including Japan, Germany, Honduras and Estonia, will participate.

Flashback: In 2021, about 1,300 competitors attended over two weekends.

• The economic impact from that weekend was estimated to be more than $500,000.

What's next: For your calendar, here's a handful of upcoming NWA cycling events:

• April 30 — NWA Spring Classic road races
• May 1 — Kicks off National Bike Month
• May 1 — Start of the National Bike Challenge; NWA's sign-up page
• May 19 — National Bike to Work Day
• May 18-21 — Walmart Joe Martin Stage Race
• May 25-28 — Bentonville Bike Fest
• May 31 — Natural State Criterium Series (also June 28 and July 26)
• June 24 — Highlands Gravel Classic, a Union Cycliste Internationale gravel world series event

Go deeper: Photos from last year's event