The National Cycling League (NCL), the first-ever professional cycling league, hosted a historical Press Conference on Thursday, March 23, outside W South Beach. Co-Founder of the National Cycling League, Paris Wallace, and Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, who Pro Cyclists accompanied, shared the news of the inaugural 2023 NCL Cup launching in Miami Beach on April 8 on iconic Ocean Drive at 11th Street.
This is an event with many firsts…
o First pro cycling league in the world
o First event of the NCL Cup – Moves to Atlanta, DC and Denver
o First majority-female and minority-owned league
o First league to ever have gender-equal teams competing on the scoreboard – when the winner is announced, it will be the first time a combined pro team will have won something
o Largest prize purse for cycling , One Million dollars
The NCL Cup is a series of 4 criterium races on the most iconic streets of the most classical cities in the country. Miami Beach is first, followed by Atlanta, Denver, and Washington D.C. where teams will compete for a series prize of over $1 million.
Aligning with its foundational values of equality, diversity, sustainability, and community the NCL is the first professional sports league that is majority-minority and female-owned including the likes of NBA star Bradley Beal, former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay, and the NFL’s Jalen Ramsey, Derwin James, and Casey Hayward to name a few.
The mixed-gender participating teams will feature athletes from around the world, including Olympic stars like Daniely Garcia, Paola Muñoz, Leah Kirchmann, Serghei Tvetcov Sergio Henao, and more.
Officially launching in Miami Beach, the NCL Cup Miami Beach Invitational will take place on Saturday, April 8 beginning at noon, featuring a full day of fun for the entire family. Miami visitors and locals can watch the race from the exclusive hospitality area VIP seats, or for free at one of Ocean Drive’s famed cafes. The community is encouraged to participate in charity group rides, kids’ races, and volunteer opportunities – and enjoy food served up by Smorgasburg Miami in the FanFest expo.
Beginning at 3:30 p.m., the professional women’s teams will be introduced ahead of their 4:15 p.m. start time. They will be followed by the professional men’s teams at 6:00 p.m. Each race is 30 laps of a 1-mile circuit where points are earned for the first three finishers of every lap. the male and female scores both contribute equally to the total team score and the team with the most total points wins the event.
Fans can watch races in person, for free, or stream live on any screen on the Global Cycling Network, GCN+. The interactive event reduces the knowledge barrier of becoming a fan by adding a scoreboard and creating a league structure that mimics most other professional sports, yet innovates foundationally, across structure, culture, and values.
RACE DAY (April 8) Line Up as Follows:
12:00 PM: FanFest Opens –TheFanFest will feature a selection of local food vendors and experiences for the whole family.
Location: Lummus Park
12:00 PM & 1:30 PM: BMX Freestyle Stunt Shows
Location: Ocean Drive between 11th and 12th Streets
1:00 PM: Kids’ Races – Open to youth ages 7-11 to compete in a 50-yard dash on bikes. *Children must bring their own bike and helmet.
Location: Ocean Drive between 9th and 11th Streets (Starting line at 9th)
2:30 PM: Roll Like A Pro: NCL Community Bike Ride hosted by Break The Cycle – Join Break the Cycle for a community ride on the racecourse.
*Riders must bring their own bike and helmet.
*Pre-registration required
Location: Start / Finish line (enter Ocean Drive at 8th Street)
3:30 PM: Race Kick-Off – Don’t miss the team and athlete introductions!
Location: Ocean Drive at 11th Street
4:15 PM: Pro Women’s Race
Location: Race Course (Ocean Drive at 11th Street)
6:00 PM: Pro Men’s Race
Location: Race Course (Ocean Drive at 11th Street)
7:30 PM: Awards Ceremony
Location: Start/Finish line at Ocean Drive at 11th
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
For more information, visit NCLRacing.com
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