FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — All Sports Productions announced Monday its plans to launch a reimagined international professional cycling stage race, the Tour of Arkansas, in May 2026.
“For 46 years, we produced the Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and became a fixture on both the North American and international racing calendars,” said Bruce Dunn, owner of All Sports Productions. “Now we are ready to expand our focus and our footprint with the Tour of Arkansas beginning in 2026.”
Initial plans for the event call for road racing, a time trial and a criterium concentrated in Northwest Arkansas. Organizers hope the race could eventually expand to include stages across other regions of the state, evolving into a weeklong event akin to the Tour de France and drawing elite cycling teams from around the world.
“In the past decade, Arkansas has become a true cycling destination with support from state, regional and local tourism organizations—not to mention businesses and individuals who want to see the state continue to develop and grow its cycling credentials,” Dunn said. “We will be working diligently in the months ahead to tap into the state’s resources to bring a new marquee cycling event to life.”
According to Dunn, securing sponsorships will be key to bringing the Tour of Arkansas from concept to reality.
“The most crucial aspect of bringing the Tour of Arkansas from the planning stage to reality is finding sponsorship partners who understand the complexity and inherent costs of staging this type of international event,” he said. “Fortunately, Arkansas is home to many successful Fortune 500 companies, tourism organizations and major consumer package good vendors who are invested in driving the state’s reputation and offerings for outdoor recreation, as well as individuals who are passionate about cycling. We are and will be engaging with these major stakeholders to share our vision for a new, world-class professional road race in Arkansas.”
All Sports Productions, founded in 2003, is an event management company that produces a range of outdoor sports events. In addition to the Joe Martin Stage Race, its portfolio includes the Big Dam Bridge 100, Fayetteville Half Marathon, Highlands Gravel Classic, Ozark Valley Triathlon and DeGray Lake Triathlon, among others.
The company’s mission is to deliver nationally recognized, high-quality events with a festival-like atmosphere that promotes a healthy, multisport lifestyle.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens—thank you for supporting our work!
