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Chicago 2016 announced two proposed venue locations near Madison, Wisconsin, for Olympic road cycling and mountain biking. If Chicago is chosen as the Host City, the competitions for these sports will be held at the Wisconsin Road Cycling Course and the Wisconsin Mountain Bike Circuit, respectively. To select the ideal venues, the bid committee worked collaboratively with cycling experts, Olympic athletes and the International Cycling Union (UCI) to identify courses that are technically challenging and conducive to elite sport competition.

“Chicago 2016 has consistently placed athletes at the center of our Games plan,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “Our constituents emphasized their desire for technical and challenging courses and we believe that the natural terrain found in Madison will exceed their expectations and make for an ideal competitive environment.”

The Wisconsin Road Cycling Course would begin on the campus of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, head east through downtown and feature several steep climbs near the finish line in Blue Mound State Park. The Wisconsin Mountain Bike Circuit would take place in Tyrol Basin, a popular ski and snowboard destination in the winter that makes for a technically challenging course that meets the needs of the athletes while allowing for a great spectator experience during the Games.

Madison, the Wisconsin state capital, has one of the most extensive bike trail systems in the United States. Wisconsin’s reputation as a major cycling destination accounts for its $800 million bicycle tourism industry. Specialty bike brand Trek is headquartered in the Madison area, along with Saris, the largest bicycle rack and parking system manufacturer in the U.S.

The University of Wisconsin at Madison is renowned for its sports teams and enthusiastic fans; sports make up a large part of its campus experience. In addition, Madison consistently ranks near the top of the annual lists of best places to live in the United States, including top honors in Money magazine in 1996. It was also named “healthiest city in America” in 2004 by Men’s Journal magazine.

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Dane County Executive Kathleen Faulk, along with leadership from the Village of Mount Horeb, Town of Vermont, Village of Blue Mounds Iowa County and the University of Wisconsin at Madison all met the plan with approval and enthusiasm.

“Not only is Madison a great place to live, it’s the nation’s premier area for bike riding,” said Governor Doyle. “I am pleased that the Chicago 2016 committee has chosen Madison to be its cycling hub and can’t wait for people from around the world to discover our beautiful region.”