VeloNews Race & Ride Guide Features Oregon Events

Oregon continues to grow its reputation as a bicycle racing mecca, with the folks at VeloNews recently adding to the legend. No less than three Oregon events earned mention in the 2009 VeloNews Race & Ride Guide, a compilation of the nation's best races that hit subscribers' mailboxes last week.

The section covering the nation's best amateur stage races features both the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and the freshly minted Cascade Stage Race. And, not surprisingly, the Southern Oregon Time Trial Series gets a nod among the nation's best hillcimbs and time trials.

The reviews are glowing. Here's a little taste of what they had to say about the stage races:

Mt. Hood Cycling Classic:
Considered among the toughest road stage races in the U.S., this climbers' delight has gained a cult following in the amateur cycling world. ... Don't get too upset if you get dropped. The consolation prize for slower riders is a leisurely spin in one of the country's most beautiful places.

Cascade Stage Race:
After years of being joined with the Cascade Cycling Classic, this long-running amateur event will separate from the national Racing Calendar race in 2009. But don't fret, you'll still be riding the same roads as the pros. On the menu is a three-day, four-stage race (TT, crit, and two road races) covering 175 miles and 10,000 feet of climbing.