Momentum Bike Park puts Joplin on the global cycling map
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Less than a year after opening, Joplin’s Momentum Bike Park has landed one of the world’s top pump track cycling events, putting the city on the international cycling map.
Patrick Tuttle, director of the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the city will host one of just four U.S. qualifying events for the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Pump Track World Championships on Aug. 14-15.
The qualifier will feature elite riders competing for a spot in the world championships while also offering open divisions for riders of all ages and skill levels.
One of the event’s biggest draws will be a nighttime qualifying session under the lights.
Tuttle said only two of the 23 UCI qualifying events worldwide will include a night competition.
Momentum Bike Park was designed by American Ramp Company’s Velosolutions division, whose internationally recognized pump track design helped the facility meet UCI standards.
Tuttle said securing the event during the park’s inaugural year exceeded expectations and reflected confidence in both the facility and the partnerships that helped bring it to life, including Joplin Parks and Recreation, American Ramp Company and Visit Joplin.
The park has already attracted an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 visitors since opening.
He said those visitors have translated into increased spending at local businesses while introducing travelers from cities such as Wichita and Omaha to Joplin.
Rather than competing with the mountain biking destinations of Northwest Arkansas, Tuttle said Momentum Bike Park complements them by offering a different riding experience centered on shorter, repeatable runs that appeal to beginners and experienced cyclists alike.
Regional marketing efforts, including partnerships with bloggers and YouTubers, have also helped raise the park’s profile throughout the cycling community.
Beyond tourism, Tuttle said the park is helping build a long-term cycling culture in southwest Missouri.
He pointed to growing participation in youth cycling programs, including the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), and noted that Missouri high schools now recognize cycling as an official sport.
Tuttle said the facility could eventually help develop future competitive cyclists while also encouraging new cycling-related businesses to open in the area.
“It’s open to all ages,” Tuttle said. “Whether you want to try qualifying or just learn the sport, it’s a unique opportunity.”
Registration information for the Aug. 14-15 event is available through Momentum Bike Park’s Facebook page and Visit Joplin. Event organizers expect to release a final schedule once registration numbers are finalized.
Joplin’s cycling calendar will continue later this summer when the Bike Across Missouri (BAM) Route 66 Centennial ride begins in the city Sept. 4-5, adding another major cycling event to the region’s growing tourism lineup.
