40K lined the streets to watch the Maryland Cycling Classic, organizers say

BALTIMORE – An estimated 40,000 individuals got here into Baltimore On Sunday to observe among the greatest cyclists on the earth compete within the Maryland Biking Traditional.

A day later, organizers are saying the occasion was an enormous success for Baltimore Metropolis and Baltimore County.

“Coming off the weekend and the race, the riders are simply boasting about how nice the experience was,” mentioned Terry Hasseltine, govt director of the Maryland Sports activities Fee.

The Maryland Biking Traditional is the one American highway race this 12 months that’s sanctioned by the UCI, the biking world’s governing physique. Followers got here from all around the world to observe.

“Should you noticed the streets yesterday, they had been 4 or 5 deep in some areas,” mentioned Hasseltine. “The power was palpable and also you had been simply so excited when the riders got here round.”

Shifting ahead, the hope is for Maryland, and the Baltimore area, to be a premier host of this caliber of biking occasion. The plans for the longer term have already begun with UCI and USA Biking.

“We’re very lucky each had been on the town for this weekend’s race. We’re speaking about how can we develop, what can we do subsequent and What are among the different components we are able to add into the weekend?” mentioned Hasseltine. “Including a ladies’s race is a high precedence. After which someplace down the highway possibly including a day or two.”

Baltimore is actually changing into a world sports activities metropolis.

“You need to have occasions like Preakness. You need to have occasions just like the Biking Traditional and CIAA to proceed to indicate occasion homeowners and worldwide governing our bodies that we take these items significantly, and we ship once we do it,” mentioned Hasseltine.

who additionally loves when massive occasions come to city? Native companies. It is too early to know precise figures, however this weekend’s race was estimated to have $8-12 million {dollars} in financial influence.

Some companies which might be positioned close to the place Sunday’s race ended did see a lift on race day.

The overall supervisor of an ice cream store on Pratt Road informed me they noticed a couple of 3% improve in gross sales.