This season, the Jo Martin Stage Race will be held May 19-22 with Wal-Mart as the new title sponsor, marking the eighth event on the UCI Americas Tour calendar.

The announcement follows Sunday's UCI Cyclocross World Championships (open in new tab) held in the same region of northwest Arkansas. Race organizers said they will offer higher prize money to the pro men and women and will pay out an equal amount, but the amount has not been disclosed. They also plan to offer some sort of live streaming for the race.

"We have brought the world to Arkansas for competitive road cycling for the past 20 years. And now, with Walmart's support, we can expand the race around the world through live streaming and innovative tracking technology," said Bruce Dunn, CEO of All Sports Productions, which promotes and directs the race. said at a media conference Wednesday in Arkansas.

"The ultimate goal is not only to make the Joe Martin Stage Race the largest competitive professional cycling race in North America, but it is my dream and hope to elevate road cycling in America to the same level as many other professional races in our sport."

Details of the four stages for each of the men and women were not revealed, except that the fourth and final day will be the Experience Fayetteville Criterium on May 22 in downtown Fayetteville. Traditionally, the other three days will feature two road stages and an uphill individual time trial at Devils Den State Park. According to Dunn, the time trial will be held at the same distance this year, although it may be extended in the future from the current 3 miles (8.5 km). He also said that details regarding live streaming and results will be announced at a later date.

"We can offer larger prize money for both men and women. At the international level, prize money is not equal, but at the Wal-Mart Joe Martin Stage Race it is. So that's another area where we can support the women's race," Dan added.

"And when you have two races, two rolling enclosures on the same day, you want to ensure equal assets and support.

Among the athletes who remotely participated in the media conference were defending champions Tyler Williams and Skylar Schneider of Los Angeles' L39LION, who won the overall Pro Division at the August race.

Combined with the five-day Tour of the Gila, which runs from April 27 to May 1, there are only two UCI stage races in the United States this year. Last season, health concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic led to both races being rescheduled for late summer, but ultimately the Tour of the Gila cancelled plans for the second year in a row.

"Jo Martin is a really important race for me, I wasn't old enough to run UCI stage races until 2016, and Jo Martin was my first UCI stage race, and being on the podium for the first time in a UCI race has opened a lot of doors for me and my career. It opened a lot of doors for me and my career," Schneider said.

"In August we (L39LION in Los Angeles) were able to join Jo Martin and that was my first UCI overall win. So this race had a huge impact on my career. And I am very inspired to hear that this race will focus on women's sport in particular. It would be very rewarding to play a role in inspiring more women to get on their bikes, whether it's recreationally or through racing."

The Joe Martin Stage Race began in 1978 as the Fayetteville Spring Classic and is now the oldest continuously held stage race for amateur riders in the United States, with hundreds of participants in the three-day amateur category It is the oldest continuously held stage race for amateur riders in the United States. Both amateur and professional events will continue in 2022.

"Road cycling is one of the cycling disciplines that has not grown as rapidly as mountain bike racing, gravel racing, BMX, or cyclocross. That's because it's really hard to put on a road race, and it's really hard to put on a stage race," USA Cycling CEO Brendan Quirk said in a recorded message at the event.

"Walmart's generosity allows this race to take place in Northwest Arkansas and continue to reign supreme on the racing scene not only in Arkansas, but across the United States."

Quirk, who was named to lead USA Cycling just two months ago, previously served on the board of BikeNWA, an advocacy and education nonprofit based in Bentonville, Arkansas. He also served as president of Rapha North America, headquartered in that city. In his racing days, Joe Martin was his "A race" in training.

"The Joe Martin Stage Race is an iconic race on the American bicycle racing calendar. It's incredible to think how many world-class professionals have competed in this race over the years," Quirk added. [The Fayetteville Spring Classic has not been renamed in the 33 years since race director Joe Martin died of cancer in 1989. The title sponsorship deal with Walmart was facilitated by the Ozark Outdoor Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to creating healthy and enriching outdoor experiences in Arkansas.

USA Cycling will support the America's Criterium Cup, a national criterium series that will host 10 events this year; it has not been announced whether the Pro Road Tour will return in 2022 along with other events.