Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic Announces 2027 Dates and UCI Status for the Capitol Cup

WASHINGTON, DC — October 8, 2026 — The Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic, the region's premier cycling event and a cornerstone of the American racing calendar for more than 25 years, today announced that its Saturday Men's Pro/1 race has been approved as a Union Cycliste Internationale  (UCI) Category 1.2 road race and will join the UCI International Road Calendar in 2027. With the change, the race will move to a longer circuit: the same 20-kilometer course currently used for the non-competitive Challenge Ride.

UCI status places the race alongside other international-calendar events in the United States, including the Philly Cycling Classic and the Tour of the Gila. Organizers expect the designation to attract more UCI-registered teams from around the world, bringing greater media attention and giving fans a broader, deeper competitive field. The 1.2 level was chosen deliberately so the event can continue to invite many of the highly competitive U.S. domestic elite teams that race almost exclusively in the United States.

"This change reflects the vision we share with our partner Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) for the event's future," said Robert Laybourn, President of Arlington Sports, Inc, and the events Race Director. "Every major decision we make is guided by documented metrics and data. The event will continue to evolve and be refined as our budget and other constraints allow, pursuing changes that offer proven value to its growth, success and long-term sustainability."

Apart from the Saturday race, the weekend schedule, financial support both the Men’s and women’s teams and prize money will remain unchanged from 2026.

The 2027-Armed Forces Cycling Classic will take place Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6, 2027, in Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Va. (Clarendon).

The Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic weekend offers something for every rider and fan, from high-speed professional and elite races to the Challenge Ride, kids' races and free spectator experiences. The event aims to inspire everyone who wants to bring cycling into their lives, a vision shared by Arlington Sports and A.S.O.

For information on the Challenge Ride registration, volunteering, sponsorship or how to experience the fast-paced action of professional cycling in the National Capital Region, visit www.cyclingclassic.org.

Media Contact:
Maurisa Potts
maurisa@spottedmp.com

Arlington Sports, Inc. (ASI) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of professional and amateur bike racing.

Amaury Sports Organisation (A.S.O.) is a company that owns, designs and organizes top international sporting events. Specialized in the ‘non-stadia’ events, it has in-house knowledge of professions linked to organization, media and sales of sports events. A.S.O. organizes 300 days of competition per year, with more than 100 events in 37 countries. A.S.O. is involved in major sports including cycling with the Tour de France, morally raid with the Dakar, mass events with the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, l’Etape du Tour de France, and sailing with production and distribution of images for prestigious races. Amaury Sport Organisation is a subsidiary of the Amaury Group, media and sport group that owns the newspaper L’Equipe. 

Key figures

●      800 local authorities involved each year

●      500+ loyal commercial partners

●      100,000 guests living unforgettable experiences

●      400,000+ participants in our mass-participation events