America’s longest-running road race has recently been put in jeopardy after its title sponsor, Bend Memorial Clinic (BMC), publicly dropped its funding Thursday.
For nine years now, BMC provided financial support to the multi-day Oregon stage race, which takes place in mid-July. The 2014 event was held June 14-20, and was won by Serghei Tvetcov (Jelly Belly), and Kristin McGrath (Exergy)
Race organizers have until October 15 to find a title sponsor in order to bring the race back next year.
“We are working with a couple companies who have interest, so I’m hopeful that we’ll find somebody in the next 30 days.” said Molly Kogswell-Kelly, the financial director of Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, the race’s organizers.
The race features NRC categories for men and women as well as a variety of USA Cycling fields. Past winners of the Cascade Cycling Classic include Francisco Mancebo, Rory Sutherland, Oscar Sevilla, Mike Creed, Lance Armstrong, Alexi Grewal, and Dale Stetina.