What to Know

Mark your calendars, cycling fans! The iconic Cascade Cycling Classic Criterium returns to Bend on June 21, 2026! This classic bicycle race provides a front-row seat to racing with support from community volunteers and the Horner Cycling Foundation. Get ready for a day of exhilarating crit racing for all ages and skill levels, all while supporting the development of junior road cycling in Central Oregon. Don’t miss out on this fantastic event! Keep reading below to learn more.

Event: Cascade Cycling Classic Criterium
Date: June 21, 2026
Location: Downtown Bend
Course: A .7-mile loop using Wall, Bond, Oregon, Minnesota, Lava and Franklin streets
Race types: Junior, masters, professional and community races
Extras: One-mile run and kiddie bike race
Beneficiary: Horner Cycling Foundation’s youth cycling mission

What is Exciting about the Criterium in Bend

The crowd gathered early, anticipation building as they stood three rows deep to watch for the first cyclists to round the corner. An announcer called out the names of those leading the peloton as they streaked past in a blur of colors. Cheers of encouragement mingled with clanging bells as the athletes vanished for another circuit. Fans look forward to the excitement each year as the fast-paced Cascade Cycling Classic’s Criterium returns to downtown Bend.

A Historic Race, Reimagined for Today

Started by former professional riders and Bend residents Megan and Chris Horner, the Horner Cycling Foundation has resurrected the most popular stage of the Cascade Cycling Classic. Spanning from the late 1970s to 2019, the event was one of the longest-running stage races in North America, drawing both professional and amateur cyclists to sprint across the scenic roads and streets of Central Oregon for multiple races across successive days. The foundation opted to condense the race from five days to a more manageable single-day race, also known as a criterium.

Why the Race Changed

Molly Cogswell-Kelley, race director and executive director of the Horner Cycling Foundation, explained that the multiday stage race had reached its natural conclusion before the pandemic hit. Additionally, Bend’s rapid growth posed logistical challenges for a summer race, contending with factors such as peak tourism season, ongoing road construction and the ever-present threat of wildfires.

“Bike racing has always been a big part of summers in Bend, especially with the Cascade Classic,” said Megan. “In recent years, bike racing has been missing in Bend, and I think Bend has been missing bike racing.”

“Being able to bring back at least one great stage of the Cascade Classic feels like a huge step.” She added that the criterium was a personal favorite of both hers and Chris’s from their racing days. “We can’t wait to be there when the racing kicks off again.”

The Horners Behind the Return

Chris Horner rode professionally between 1996 and 2019, winning the Tour of Spain in 2013. He also competed in the Tour de France seven times and in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He has been a Tour de France commentator for NBC Sports and on his YouTube channel, The Butterfly Effect. Megan spent a decade bike racing in the U.S. and internationally. A former U.S. National Road Racing champion, she has been practicing law since 2011 and is the managing partner of Horner Law, LLP.

The mission of the Horner Foundation is to develop youth cycling in Central Oregon, create opportunities for kids to ride and race bikes, as well as develop a junior road cycling team that is both inclusive and socioeconomically accessible. With a focus on skill development and team building, the Horners hope to foster a life-long love of cycling.

Who Is Racing

The criterium includes multiple racing categories for a range of ages and skill levels.

Race categories include:

• Junior athletes
• Masters racers
• Professional men
• Professional women
• Community participants

The event will also serve as the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association’s Criterium State Championship for juniors, ages 10 to 17, and masters, ages 40 and up.

The Professional Cycling Races Downtown Bend

For the professionals, the day culminates with the much-anticipated men’s and women’s races. Riders will race as many laps as possible in a set time; race officials signify the last lap by ringing a loud bell. 

This year’s course still runs along downtown Bend’s two major streets, Wall and Bond. Organizers have also added segments on Oregon, Minnesota, Lava and Franklin streets, creating a .7-mile loop with more turns.

“The course from 2017 was a bit boring, so we added more turns which helps prevent bunching in the field,” Cogswell-Kelley said.

She said riders with strong technique will excel on the new course, especially in the elite races.

Why Spectators Should Go

The criterium is built for watching. Unlike longer road races, this downtown loop brings riders past spectators again and again, making it easy to follow the action even without deep cycling knowledge.

“People who remember the thrilling event know you don’t need to know anything about cycling to get the energy and rush of the event,” Cogswell-Kelley said. “You can’t describe the feeling when the peloton is going by at more than 40 miles per hour.”

The Bigger Mission

The Horner Cycling Foundation’s mission is to develop youth cycling in Central Oregon. The foundation works to create opportunities for kids to ride and race bikes, while building an inclusive and socioeconomically accessible junior road cycling team. Through skill development and team building, the Horners hope to foster a lifelong love of cycling.

Published July 2024

The crowd gathered early, anticipation building as they stood three rows deep to watch for the first cyclists to round the corner. An announcer called out the names of those leading the peloton as they streaked past in a blur of colors. Cheers of encouragement mingled with clanging bells as the athletes vanished for another circuit. Fans look forward to the excitement each year as the fast-paced Cascade Cycling Classic’s Criterium returns to downtown Bend.

Started by former professional riders and Bend residents Megan and Chris Horner, the Horner Cycling Foundation has resurrected the most popular stage of the Cascade Cycling Classic. Spanning from the late 1970s to 2019, the event was one of the longest-running stage races in North America, drawing both professional and amateur cyclists to sprint across the scenic roads and streets of Central Oregon for multiple races across successive days. The foundation opted to condense the race from five days to a more manageable single-day race, also known as a criterium.

Molly Cogswell-Kelley, race director and executive director of the Horner Cycling Foundation, explained that the multiday stage race had reached its natural conclusion before the pandemic hit. Additionally, Bend’s rapid growth posed logistical challenges for a summer race, contending with factors such as peak tourism season, ongoing road construction and the ever-present threat of wildfires.

“Bike racing has always been a big part of summers in Bend, especially with the Cascade Classic,” said Megan.

“In recent years, bike racing has been missing in Bend, and I think Bend has been missing bike racing.”

“Being able to bring back at least one great stage of the Cascade Classic feels like a huge step.” She added that the criterium was a personal favorite of both hers and Chris’s from their racing days. “We can’t wait to be there when the racing kicks off again.”

Chris rode professionally between 1996 and 2019, winning the Tour of Spain in 2013. He also competed in the Tour de France seven times and in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He has been a Tour de France commentator for NBC Sports and on his YouTube channel, The Butterfly Effect. Megan spent a decade bike racing in the U.S. and internationally. A former U.S. National Road Racing champion, she has been practicing law since 2011 and is the managing partner of Horner Law, LLP.

The mission of the Horner Foundation is to develop youth cycling in Central Oregon, create opportunities for kids to ride and race bikes, as well as develop a junior road cycling team that is both inclusive and socioeconomically accessible. With a focus on skill development and team building, the Horners hope to foster a life-long love of cycling.

The criterium offers multiple racing categories, from junior athletes to professionals. The event will serve as the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association’s Criterium State Championship for juniors (ages 10 to 17) and masters (ages 40 and up). Bonuses include a one-mile run and a kiddie bike race.

For the professionals, the day culminates with the much-anticipated men’s and women’s races. Riders will race as many laps as possible in a set time; race officials signify the last lap by ringing a loud bell. This year’s course still runs along downtown’s two major streets–Wall and Bond, but organizers added segments on Oregon, Minnesota, Lava and Franklin streets, making it a .7-mile loop.

“The course from 2017 was a bit boring, so we added more turns which helps prevent bunching in the field,” Cogswell-Kelley said. She noted that riders with good technique will excel on the new course, and spectators will have lots of opportunities to see their skills showcased, especially in the elite races.

“People who remember the thrilling event know you don’t need to know anything about cycling to get the energy and rush of the event,” said Cogswell-Kelley. “You can’t describe the feeling when the peloton is going by at more than 40 miles per hour.”