ROANOKE, Va. – June 15, 2026 – The Roanoke Region in Virginia’s Blue Ridge has been announced as the host destination for the 2027 USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships, to be held July 11-18, 2027; this will mark the region’s third year of hosting. The announcement was made during the official reveal of the 2026 courses, which were unveiled by Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, Roanoke County, and the City of Roanoke this Monday at Elmwood Park. The 2026 championship races will take place at Carvins Cove, Elmwood Park, and Explore Park from July 12–19, 2026.  

USA Cycling’s National Race Director Kyle Knott said, "We’re excited to bring our biggest National Championship back to Roanoke for another year and look forward to continued growth for this event. All three venues have exceeded our expectations. We’re so grateful for Roanoke’s commitment to the sport of cycling and its investment in supporting the USA Cycling National Championships. The expansion of the Roanoke River Greenway created new opportunities for course development, making our return in 2027 an obvious choice.”  

To support the local cycling community and sustainability efforts, USA Cycling is once again partnering with the Local Organizing Committee’s Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge Foundation to add a $10 trails fee to each participant’s registration. The money will directly support local trail building and maintenance efforts. In 2025, race registrations generated $22,400 for trail maintenance and development, which was evenly split between Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and City of Roanoke Parks and Recreation. 

Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge President Landon Howard said, “This world-class event would not be possible without the collaboration between the City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, and their fantastic parks and recreation teams. Last year, over 1,200 athletes and their families experienced world-class riding and the vibrant communities found within the Roanoke Region in Virginia’s Blue Ridge and we can’t wait to welcome them back again in 2026 and 2027. We also look forward to delivering enhanced spectator experiences for our local community, who make the region such a desirable place to race, visit, and live.”

USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships: July 12 – 19, 2026
July 12 - XCM National Championship - Carvins Cove/Hollins University
July 13 – 14 - Practice/Rest Days    
July 15 – 16 - XCC National Championships Presented by Carilion Clinic - Elmwood Park
July 17 – 19 - XCO National Championships Presented by Roanoke County - Explore Park

Abbreviation Key
XCM: Cross Country Marathon
XCC: Cross Country Short Track
XCO: Cross Country Olympic Style

Volunteer Sign-Up Link
From course setup and rider support to logistics and check-in, there are lots of ways the local community can sign up to volunteer to be part of this exciting event. 

About Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge (VBR)
Visit VBR is the official destination marketing organization for Virginia’s Blue Ridge which includes the Cities of Roanoke and Salem and the Counties of Botetourt, Franklin, and Roanoke. The region is easily accessible via the Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport (ROA), Interstate 81, and Amtrak’s northeast regional route. Virginia’s Blue Ridge (VBR) is nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and along the Blue Ridge Parkway, providing a metro mountain mix of exciting outdoor adventure with refined culture.  For more information, go to www.VisitVBR.com. 

ABOUT USA CYCLING (usacycling.org)
USA Cycling is the national governing body for the sport of cycling and oversees the disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, cyclocross, gravel, BMX, esports, and paracycling. USA Cycling’s mission is to grow participation and engagement in the sport of bicycle racing and to achieve sustained international success across all cycling disciplines. USA Cycling supports cyclists of all levels and abilities, from those just beginning in the sport to international-caliber athletes. The organization identifies, develops, and selects cyclists to represent the United States in international competition through support of youth and interscholastic programs, amateur and grassroots racing events, athlete development initiatives, and operational support for cycling clubs, racing teams, and event organizers. USA Cycling has a membership of 60,000, sanctions over 1,500 events annually, and is a member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). USA Cycling’s national headquarters is located in Olympic City USA, Colorado Springs, Colorado, with a regional office in Bentonville, Arkansas, home to the U.S. Mountain Bike National Team.