State and local leaders in northwest Arkansas on Thursday announced a new six-day, 336-mile cycling event, the Arkansas Graveler, that’s expected to boost tourism and showcase the state’s outdoor amenities beginning next year.
The event, founded by the Ozark Foundation, will begin at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville on June 23 and take cyclists through cities including Jasper, Mountain View and Cave City before ending at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. The rides will take participants through mountains, forests and along scenic rivers. Daily distances vary depending on the terrain, which organizers said will be challenging.
“Arkansas Graveler will showcase and celebrate the best of Arkansas — its natural beauty and culture — in a most unique and magnificent way,” Michael Spivey, executive director of the Ozark Foundation, said in a news release. “What’s more is that the route will present an incredibly epic challenge for cyclists from around the world.”
About 400 touring and recreational cyclists from across the country are expected to participate, providing an economic boost at each stop along the route. Spivey said that by the fifth year of the event, the economic impact will have increased exponentially for restaurants, retailers and hotels in the host communities.
Arkansas has about 69,000 miles of unpaved roads, according to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, which makes the state well-positioned to become a leading destination in one of cycling’s fastest-growing sectors.
“Cycling, especially on unpaved surfaces, presents an outstanding way to grow the tourism and outdoor economy in some of Arkansas’ more rural counties,” Shea Lewis, director secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, said in the release. “Our hope is that participants in the Arkansas Graveler event will grow to share our affinity for Arkansas and return to explore unpaved cycling options in other parts of our state and enjoy other recreational and cultural offerings.”
Elizabeth “Scotti” Lechuga, a former professional cyclist and co-founder of Leborne Coaching of Bentonville, is the Arkansas Graveler’s event director.
“The event ties together many of the rural communities I’ve ridden through and love,” she said. “I’m excited to reveal how amazing our gravel is, but more so, the homegrown hospitality of Arkansas as we showcase our unique locally sourced cuisine, outdoor recreation and entertainment.”
Registration for the event is set to begin on Jan. 1.
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