Colorado Springs, Colo. (Aug. 10, 2011) - The 2012 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Cross-Country National Championships will be held from July 5-8, at the Sun Valley Resort in Ketchum, Idaho.

The 2011 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Cross-Country National Championships attracted more than one thousand unique riders in its first year in Ketchum. The 2012 event will feature updated courses and race schedule, both still in the planning phase and will be released once finalized.

"We are thrilled to come back to Sun Valley Resort," USA Cycling National Events Director, Kelli Lusk said. "The July Fourth weekend is a great time of year for riders and spectators to come out to Ketchum and watch world-class mountain bikers. While we were thrilled with our rider turnout and unparalleled community support in 2011, we expect to even be bigger and better in 2012."

Moved up two weeks from the previously announced date to better coincide with the second annual Ride Sun Valley Bike Festival, the national championship event will be the crown jewel of the 10-day celebration in the area. The Ride Sun Valley Bike Festival begins June 29 with the Wood River Cup Finals. The Galena Grinder, an event on the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Professional Ultra-Endurance (Pro UET) calendar, will take place on June 30. A road criterium will fill the streets of downtown Ketchum on July 4 before the national championship event begins on July 5.

"We are committed to putting the athletes first," said Sun Valley Chamber of Commerce General Manager Greg Randolph. "Ride Sun Valley strives to embrace everyone who makes the journey with a great experience and make it as easy as possible for everyone to get around, get out and ride, and of course have the performance of a lifetime. We are stoked to have another year with this great group of athletes and are hard at work to deliver an even better event next year."

Source: Dave Gaylinn, USA Cycling
www.usacycling.org