Cyclists in the Women's Elite Criterium turn the corner onto Court Street at the start of the race during USA Cycling's Pro Road National Championships on May 23, 2025.
CHRIS DORST | Gazette-MailThe 2025 USA Pro Road Cycling Championships had an economic impact of $6.9 million, according to a news release from the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Convention & Visitors Bureau. Last year’s event had an impact of $4.6 million.
The event will take place in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä for three more years.
According to Tim Brady, president and CEO of the CVB, event attendance was up around 7,000 people from last year for a total of 20,000 people over the eight days. The CVB calculates economic impact through an online calculator that considers the type of event, the number of attendees, the number of hotel rooms sold and tax rates.
The calculator relies on national statistics on the spending for attendees of certain events to create the number. Spending by visitors was 14% higher than the average amount of money visitors spent the month prior to the event. During the event, visitor spending represented 13% of all spending in the city.
Kendall Ryan (left), of Ventura, Calif., is congratulated by former pro cyclist and national champion George Hincapie after Ryan won the Women’s Elite Criterium race Friday, May 23, 2025. She is a member of Team L39ION, based in Los Angeles.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Eventual winner Kendall Ryan (center), of Ventura, Calif., turns the corner from Summers Street onto Quarrier Street as she races in the middle of the pack during the Women’s Elite Criterium Friday, May 23, 2025. She is a member of Team L39ION, based in Los Angeles.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Race volunteer Karen Kish of Jackson County blows a whistle and shakes a cow bell as cyclists in the Women's Elite Criterium race along Quarrier Street during USA Cycling's Pro Road National Championships Friday, May 23, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
The winner of the Junior Women's Criterium raises her arms as she crosses the finish line on Kanawha Boulevard next to the second place finisher during USA Cycling's Pro Road National Championships Thursday, May 22, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Race headquarters in front of the Four Points Sheraton hotel is blurred as a cyclist riding east on Kanawha Boulevard East prepares, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 for the time trials on Wednesday during USA Cycling's Pro Road National Championships being held in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä this week.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Cyclists ride by the Four Points Sheraton hotel on Kanawha Boulevard as they prepare on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 for the time trials on Wednesday during USA Cycling's Pro Road National Championships being held in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä this week.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Haddad Riverfront Park is blurred in the background as a cyclist rides west on Kanawha Boulevard while preparing on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 for the time trials on Wednesday during USA Cycling's Pro Road National Championships being held in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä this week.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Mallory Bryan, 20, of Tampa, Florida, rides on Kanawha Boulevard next to Haddad Riverfront Park as she gets prepares, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 for the Women's Under-23 time trials on Wednesday during USA Cycling's Pro Road National Championships being held in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä this week. Bryan, who has been road racing for ten years, said, " I was a spectator last year and watched my boyfriend race. I thought I would give it a try this year." She said she really likes the time trial course and that the road race course is hilly and challenging.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Race headquarters in front of the Four Points Sheraton hotel is blurred to a cyclist going by on Kanawha Boulevard as he gets himself ready on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 for the time trials on Wednesday during USA Cycling's Pro Road National Championships being held in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä this week.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
According to the release, the event supported more than 1,000 jobs and generated $591,000 in local taxes.
A quarter of the visitors were from more than 50 miles away. Three-quarters of those visitors were from out of state. The top five visitor spots were:
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- Washington, D.C.
- Columbus, Ohio
- Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina
- State College/Altoona, Pennsylvania
There were 422 riders from 49 states who competed in 46 events.
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For comparison, the 2024 ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Sternwheel Regatta, which had an attendance of 235,000, had an economic impact of $38.8 million. Brady said the scope of the two events is “wildly different,†especially considering attendance, and that the spending at the Regatta is much higher because of alcohol sales.
Brady pointed out that three local nonprofits benefited from the cycling event.
- The CAMC Foundation hosted a bike ride along 4 miles of the Pro Road National Championship course. That event raised $1,600 for CAMC Neurosciences, according to a spokesperson with CAMC.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State hosted The Big Little Run 5k in conjunction with the bike races. That race raised more than $3,000 for the organization, said Allison Greene, director of development.
- Mountaineer Food Bank received $1,200 from an art auction and hosted a food drive.
“We also try to use the platform of the race to make our community a better place,†Brady said.
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