Exclusive: America’s biggest road race is on the brink

January 22, 2026

the Maryland Cycling Classic—America’s biggest and highest-ranked professional road race on the UCI calendar—is facing a severe existential crisis. Launched in 2020, delayed by COVID until its 2022 debut, the race became the top U.S. event after the cancellation of major races like the Tour of California and Tour of Utah. It holds UCI ProTour status and was set to expand to a three-day format in 2026.

However, the parent organization, the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland (Sport Corp)—a state-backed non-profit overseeing multiple sporting events—has hit major financial trouble. In December 2025, all employees were laid off without receiving final paychecks, and there are outstanding unpaid invoices from the 2025 race. This has put the Maryland Cycling Classic’s future in serious doubt. escape collective