Oregon Public Broadcasting

USA Cycling says it will bring its National Championships back to Bend for a third straight year. The group just signed a contract to bring the Masters Road National Championships to Bend in 2013.

David Nogueras / OPB

Doug LaPlaca is President and CEO of Visit Bend, the city’s tourism bureau.  He says last year’s race brought in more than a 1000 riders and attracted a crowd of nearly 3500 people.

“It’s a key event for us that comes to Bend during a key time frame for the tourism industry", he said. "That’s the second week of September -- post Labor Day -- and that’s typically a time when the tourism industry in Bend slows down substantially.”

But before it can get ready for 2013, Bend will first host this year’s Masters Road National Championships.  That event kicks off September 5.  Ten days later the city will play host to another USA Cycling event -- the Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships.