CYCLING Preview: Mexico hosts the Pan American Road Championships in Pachuca

Two-time World Time Trial champ Amber Neben (USA) (Photo: Claudio Martino via Wikimedia)

First organized in 1974, the Pan American Road Championships is scheduled for 1-5 at courses in and around Pachuca in the State of Hidalgo (MEX), with 23 countries expected to send riders for one or more of the six races:

1 May: Time Trials for Men (44 km), Women (22 km), U23 Men (33 km)
3 May: Women’s Road Race (88.2 km)
4 May: Men’s U23 Road Race (132.3 km)
5 May: Men’s Road Race (176.4 km)

The race awards points for quota places for the 2020 Tokyo road races. The biggest names in cycling are with the UCI World Tour, or the U.S. Cycling Pro Tour (with the Tour of the Gila starting Wednesday), but the top nations are still usually providing the winners.

The defending champions include:
Men/Road: Juan Sebastian Milano (COL)
Men/Time Trial: Walter Vargas (COL)

Women/Road: Arlennis Sierra (CUB), leading a 1-2-3-4-5 Cuban sweep!
Women/Time Trial: Amber Neben (USA)

The U.S. has done poorly at the men’s events for years, but had some success in the women’s program. In the road race, Skylar Schneider was the last medalist with a bronze in 2017 and Coryn Rivera won a silver in 2015. The last U.S. winner was Shelly Evans Olds in 2010.

In the women’s Time Trial, Neben led a 1-2 finish last year with Lauren Stephens and American women have won eight of the last 14 titles. Neben – a two-time World Time Trial Champion – has won in 2006-12-18, was second in 2010 and third in 2011 for five medals in the last 13 editions. The U.S. also went 1-2 in 2017 with Chloe Dygart and Tayler Wiles.

Look for results here.