A Tour of Arkansas is within the works for May 2026 as an internationally sanctioned stage race within the US. All Sports Productions will lead efforts to “reimagine” a UCI-sanctioned stage race for women and men, much like the long-standing however financially-challenged Joe Martin Stage Race that ended a four-decade run two years in the past.
Early plans for the Tour of Arkansas will deal with the occasion to be held in northwest Arkansas, the place Joe Martin Stage Race was based mostly as an newbie occasion after which a UCI 2.2 occasion for 46 editions. All Sports Productions has owned and produced the Joe Martin Stage Race for the final 25 years and can oversee all operations for the Tour of Arkansas.
Based on complete market analysis carried out throughout the biking trade final yr by All Sports Productions, Dunn determined that new branding was wanted to reinvigorate assist for a UCI-sanctioned stage race for women and men within the area, and he already has optimistic suggestions to make the occasion occur.
“The information is right here, we simply want the cash. It merely goes right down to elevating cash,” Dunn instructed Cyclingnews. “Tour of Arkansas says one thing. It resonates outdoors the biking neighborhood. We have early conversations with potential sponsors.”
Dunn mentioned that the brand new stage race would replicate the format of the Joe Martin Stage Race by together with a time trial, criterium and highway phases, although it was not specified what number of days could be a part of the inaugural version. Lauren Stephens, who received the Pan-American highway race championships, received the ladies’s GC within the ultimate version in 2023, whereas Riley Sheehan, now with Israel-Premier Tech, received the boys’s GC.
“The most important facet of bringing the Tour of Arkansas from the strategy planning stage to actuality is discovering sponsorship companions who perceive the complexity and inherent prices of staging the sort of worldwide occasion. Fortunately, Arkansas is residence to many profitable Fortune 500 corporations, tourism organizations and main client bundle good distributors who’re invested in driving the state’s popularity and choices for out of doors recreation, in addition to people who’re captivated with biking,” he famous.
After 41 years of stage racing, began for amateurs because the Fayetteville Spring Classic, the Joe Martin Stage Race was postponed for the primary time in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic. The race resumed for 3 extra years however was cancelled in each 2023 and 2024 on account of a shortfall in funding.
“We shall be working diligently within the months forward to faucet into the state’s sources to deliver a brand new marquee biking occasion to life. In the previous decade, Arkansas has grow to be a real biking vacation spot with assist from state, regional and native tourism organizations to not point out companies and people who need to see the state proceed to develop and develop its biking credentials.”
He mentioned that whereas the identify of the occasion will not be related to the primary race director, Joe Martin, who died of most cancers in 1989, the household was nonetheless supportive.
“I’m your greatest fan, and no matter you determine to do long run, we assist.
“The identify Joe Martin Stage Race doesn’t imply at present what it did earlier than, particularly outdoors the endemic biking world. Nancy, Joe’s spouse, at all times mentioned, ‘I’m your greatest fan, I’m your greatest supporter.’ She mentioned no matter we determine to do long run did not want a blessing for change,” Dunn shared on sustaining a connection to the roots of the occasion.
The early years of the race have been at all times managed by a neighborhood biking membership, and Dunn was a part of that organising committee. When he based All Sports Productions in 2003, he took possession of the race itself after which moved the occasion that yr from a regional race to the US racing nationwide calendar. Ten years later, the Joe Martin was upgraded to the UCI calendar.
All Sports Productions additionally operates the Highlands Gravel Classic based mostly in Goshin, Arkansas. The second-year occasion takes place on April 6 this yr and is the primary of two US races which might be a part of the UCI Gravel World Series.
Dunn hopes {that a} revival for stage racing within the US will happen in Arkansas, with classes for women and men. Earlier this month, Infinity Events Group within the UK introduced plans to hunt funding to deliver a males’s UCI stage race to Colorado in September 2026.
“For 46 years, we produced the Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas and have become a fixture on each the North American and worldwide racing calendars. There are many people within the trade who can produce nice bike races, it’s actually one factor – cash,” acknowledged Dunn.
