#2BFayetteville

Chamber President Steve Clark, who with his wife enjoys recreational cycling on the Greenway, is in awe of Fayetteville's leap to cycling acclaim. "Toward the end of the 70s, the only people I knew that rode on bikes were either kids or college professors. There's been a sea change since then where cycling has become so much more inclusive – and Fayetteville is at the center." Fayetteville's cycling stardom owes a great deal to the Joe Martin Stage Race, "the longest continually held stage race in the country," says Bruce Dunn, owner and race director of All Sports Production which promotes the 44-year-old event. "We truly believe we've been contributing to the success of cycling in NWA for a very long time. It's pretty amazing to think we've had the world coming here for 19 years, ever since we got on the Professional Road Tour, and we've been on the international calendar for 8 years with the UCI. We had pros who had raced on European teams come here for the race and tell us how amazing Fayetteville is for the terrain, traffic density and the friendliness of the community. In totality, those cyclists have said Fayetteville has some of the best road riding in the world." Cycling here continued to evolve with the development of trails. "Fayetteville led the way in getting trails back in 2004 for both walking and cycling," Clark said. "Then came the Greenway, and everything really exploded six or seven years ago and has continued to evolve as Bentonville, Rogers and Springdale added trails. In every town we have 25 miles of trails. Part of it is absolute connection with the community in which you live." Fayetteville alone has 50 miles of paved multi-use trails, with plans underway to double the size over the next 10 years, ensuring convenient access to work, shopping, and health care, not to mention the benefits of cycling for pleasure. Clark pointed out that people here started riding bikes to be closer to nature and the changing seasons, and to be more connected to their fellow citizens – "families, parents and children, young adults, older adults, and it's like, these are the people I live with. You can't see that at 65 mph on the interstate Riders have their photograph taken Saturday, May 1, 2021, before setting out on the spring Square 2 Square ride at Walker Park in Fayetteville. The semi- annual event featured an in- person ride along the Razorback Greenway from Fayetteville to the Bentonville square held Saturday with an opportunity for virtual participation throughout the month of May. NWA Democrat-Gazette ANDY SHUPE Rob Reno (left) helps Elle Reno, 5, ride at Gregory Park in Fayetteville. NWA Democrat-Gazette CHARLIE KAIJO Riders in the Elite Men 1, 2 division take off Thursday, April 4, 2019, from Walker Park in Fayetteville to begin a road race as the annual Joe Martin Stage Race kicked off four days of racing in the area. The event culminated with a criterium Sunday in downtown Fayetteville. NWA Democrat-Gazette ANDY SHUPE 14

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