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The official race route for the 2025 Maryland Cycling Classic was released this week during a press conference in downtown Baltimore attended by many VIPs including Mayor Brandon M. Scott, key supporters, sponsors, and native Maryland cyclists Maize Wimbush and Scott McGill.
The 2022 and 2023 editions of the race were raced on predominantly rolling courses in rural Baltimore County and concluded with three laps around a 12km urban circuit of downtown Baltimore, but the 2025 edition introduces exciting new features and additions.
The Maryland Cycling Classic is currently the only UCI Pro Series one-day race in the United States. The 2022 edition was won by Sep Vanmarcke of Belgium in a thrilling sprint finish, while Mattias Skjelmose of Denmark claimed victory in 2023 with a dominant solo win.
The race was canceled in March 2024 due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. However, the vision, passion, patience, and determination of the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, civic leaders of Maryland and Baltimore, Medalist Sports, KOM Sports Marketing, and key sponsors have made another great event possible in 2025.
The most significant addition to the 2025 edition of the Maryland Cycling Classic is the inclusion of a women’s event for the first time. The women’s race will start at 8:30 AM on September 6th and will cover four laps of the 17.9-mile (28.5 km) circuit, totaling 71.6 miles (115.2 km), with an estimated finish time of 11:45 AM. The men’s race will begin at 12:30 PM, covering six laps of the same course for a total of 107.4 miles (172.8 km), with an estimated finish at 4:30 PM.
The event organizers have always aimed to include a women’s event at the Maryland Cycling Classic, and this year, that goal has finally become a reality. Competition manager Joanne Kiesanowski shared her thoughts on this milestone.
“The inclusion of a women’s race in this year’s Maryland Cycling Classic is about more than just one day of competition — it’s about establishing an important platform,” Kiesanowski said. “We’re committed to creating meaningful opportunities for women in cycling and contributing to the growth of the sport in North America. This inaugural edition lays the groundwork for what we hope will become a key event on the calendar for years to come.”
The 2025 course stands out from the previous two editions, featuring a technical urban circuit around the city of Baltimore. The responsibility of creating this unique course was undertaken by race director Jim Birrell of Medalist Sports, who shared his insights on the design process.
“Creating a race route through a metropolitan area such as Baltimore is a challenge,” Birrell said. “The most important thing we kept in mind were the people who live and work there. We had to balance the needs for a dynamic route for the cyclists with the least amount of interruption for the inhabitants. It’s a delicate dance — we want challenging technical sectors and climbs that will create exciting racing, but we also need to respect the daily rhythms of the neighborhoods we’re passing through.”
Shortly after the official start at Harbor Point Central Plaza, the riders will encounter a unique 500-meter cobblestone segment along the historic Thames Street/Fells Point area each lap. This section will undoubtedly be a great spot for spectators to watch the race and could be a strategic place to form a race winning move in the final laps.
The race continues along a mostly flat route around Patterson Park and through the feed zone before returning to the heart of the city. Riders will then pass the oldest Washington Monument in the USA, which includes another short but uphill cobblestone section.
The race then heads out of the city along Falls Road towards the highest point of the course and KOM sprint on Northern Parkway. KOM/QOM points will be awarded here in both categories each lap and could be another great location to watch the event. Although this climb isn’t too long or steep, it could serve as a springboard for riders aiming to arrive at the finish solo or in a smaller group to contend for victory.
The run-in back to the Inner Harbor is fast and somewhat technical, before swinging onto the familiar long straight used in past editions all the way to the finish line at E. Pratt and Market St. Sprint points will be awarded here after the first lap for both categories.
When asked about the uniqueness of the course, Birrell added, “it weaves together Baltimore’s incredible historical tapestry with legitimate racing challenges. We’ve got authentic 18th-century cobblestones, punchy climbs through historic neighborhoods, and a King of the Mountain stage at one of America’s most significant religious sites. The circuit creates multiple opportunities for attacks while showcasing centuries of American history. When you finish at the Inner Harbor waterfront, both riders and spectators have experienced something that’s authentically Baltimore and genuinely challenging.”
The festivities will begin on Friday, September 5, with the Opening Ceremony and Team Introductions, followed by a public concert from 5 PM to 9 PM at Harbor Point Central Plaza. Fifteen women’s teams and 15 men’s teams from around the world will be introduced on stage. This event will be a fantastic opportunity to take photos or even get autographs from the world’s top cyclists.
The chance to watch live professional cycling at this level is rare in the USA, so make sure to head down early to the Maryland Cycling Classic on September 6 and enjoy a full day of excitement. “Fan zones” will be set up at the start, the cobbled section, the feed zone, the KOM/QOM sprint line, and at the finish with big screen TVs, so there won’t be a bad seat in the house!
I hope to see you there!