The 2025 Maryland Cycling Classic will feature both men’s and women’s professional races on the same day for the first time in the event’s three-year history.
The races are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6, on a newly designed 17.9-mile circuit course entirely within Baltimore City.
The event, billed as the top professional road cycling race in the United States, will include technical terrain with 28 turns, 550 yards of cobblestones, two major climbs, and a flat 1,000-yard finishing stretch along East Pratt Street.
“You are going to see on the streets of Baltimore world-class athletes — Tour de France riders, Olympic medalists, national champions, the best of the best in cycling right here in Baltimore,” said Terry Hasseltine, president of the event’s owners, Sport and Entertainment Corp. of Maryland, at a news conference Wednesday.
The women’s race will begin at 8:30 a.m. and span four laps, totaling 71.6 miles. The men’s race, starting at 12:30 p.m., will run six laps for a total of 107.4 miles. Both races will begin at Harbor Point’s Central Plaza and finish near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, where past editions of the men’s race have drawn tens of thousands of spectators.
The men’s course includes 5,682 feet of elevation gain, while the women’s course features 3,868 feet. Riders will compete for points during intermediate sprints and at the finish line, as well as at designated King/Queen of the Mountain segments on Northern Parkway each lap.
The race was postponed in 2024 because of the Key Bridge collapse, changes to the course and the Summer Olympics in Paris.
“It’s great to celebrate the return of the Maryland Cycling Classic,” Mayor Brandon Scott said. “It’s one of the most exciting events that we get to host here in Baltimore. We are anticipating 100,000 spectators citywide.”
Organizers announced that several Fan Zones will be positioned throughout the course, offering spectators access to live race coverage on large screens and free promotional items such as cowbells and thundersticks. Viewing locations will include Harbor Point, Thames Street, Patterson Park, Mount Vernon and the finish area on East Pratt Street.
The circuit route will take riders through a range of Baltimore neighborhoods and landmarks:
- In the opening mile, riders will cross Fells Point’s historic cobblestones, providing an early challenge.
- The course will then move through Canton and Patterson Park at mile 2, the latter including an uphill section on East Baltimore Street that could influence team tactics.
- At mile 5, riders will pass the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon and continue through the Hampden neighborhood by mile 8.
- The course’s most significant climb will occur near St. Mary’s Seminary on Northern Parkway, which serves as the King/Queen of the Mountain stage point each lap and marks the course’s highest elevation with a 1,000-yard ascent.
- The final portion of the race features a downhill return to the Inner Harbor, ending with a flat and fast sprint on East Pratt Street, the same finish line used in 2022 and 2023. According to race organizers, those past editions attracted crowds estimated at 20,000 spectators.
“Creating a race route through metropolitan area certainly comes with its challenges,” Maryland Cycling Classic Race Director Jim Birrell said. “One of the most important things that we take into consideration is that we know that people live and work here, and so we want to be very mindful of their daily activities. But at the same time, you know, developing a dynamic route that will challenge these athletes throughout the city of Baltimore. It’s a really delicate dance.”
The race will be broadcast internationally.
Organizers said that the addition of a women’s race and a city-centered course format is intended to expand the race’s appeal and accessibility for fans and partners.
“This race means a lot to me, not just because it brings world-class cycling to our city, but because it’s making real progress in the sport, especially this year,” said Maize Wimbush, a Clinton native who is a 2021 Junior National Road Champion and community ambassador for the Maryland Cycling Classic. “One of the most exciting developments in 2025 is the inclusion of the women’s Maryland Cycling Classic. For the first time ever, this is a new race on the schedule, and it’s a milestone for equity in sports.
“Women riders will now have the opportunity to race on American soil at the highest level.”
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