BENTONVILLE, Ark., Oct. 2, 2024 – Bentonville and USA Cycling are set to host a celebration honoring Team USA’s Mountain Bike Olympians from October 13 to 20, 2024, in Bentonville, Arkansas. This week-long event marks a pivotal moment in American cycling history following the team’s unprecedented success at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Bentonville, known as the Mountain Biking Capital of the World,™ welcomes back the athletes who trained on its world-class trails before achieving Olympic glory. The star-studded lineup includes:
- Haley Batten – Olympic Silver Medalist, 2024 Team Relay World Champion
- Riley Amos – Best-Ever US Men’s Olympic Mountain Bike Finisher, 2024 Short Track World Champion
- Christopher Blevins – Two-Time Olympian, 2021 Short Track World Champion, 2024 Team Relay World Champion
- Savilia Blunk – One-Time Olympian, 2023 Cross-Country and Short Track National Champion
Also joining are Mountain Bike National Champions Kelsey Urban, Brayden Johnson, Sofia Waite, and Maddie Munro.
Event Highlights*
- October 13: Life Time Little Sugar MTB race featuring Olympic athletes
- October 14: Team USA Parade and Celebration down Main Street
- October 15:Thunder Dome Thriller: Dual Slalom at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve
- October 16: THE RISE FORUM: EMPOWERING WOMEN LEADERS by Women of Oz and partners
- October 20: Life Time Big Sugar Gravel race
* Athletes attending select events, inquire for a final list.
“Since training here in Bentonville, Team USA has achieved unprecedented success on the world stage,” said Kalene Griffith, CEO of Visit Bentonville. USA Cycling relocated its Mountain Bike team to Bentonville in 2022 and held training camps in Bentonville throughout 2023 and 2024. “We are honored to welcome them back and celebrate their incredible achievements as a community. This is a moment of immense pride that goes beyond showcasing our world-class biking trails—it’s an opportunity to demonstrate the heart of Bentonville and inspire future generations.”
“Basing USA Cycling’s mountain bike operations in Bentonville has enabled this program to achieve our next level of growth,” said Alec Pasqualina, Director of Mountain Bike with USA Cycling. “For three years we have taken full advantage of the trails and infrastructure that makes Bentonville the incredible place that it is. Our success at the Olympics and World Championships this year is a true testament to the value of this partnership and the caliber of Bentonville’s trails.”
For more information, visit visitbentonville.com.
