In a victory for local athletics and tourism alike, Colorado State University has been awarded the 2008 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships.

The announcement by the competition's national governing body means that the May 9-11 race will take place in Fort Collins and attract nearly 500 student athletes from around the country. Those cyclists will compete for one of the 18 national titles that will be awarded during the road cycling race.

"USA Cycling is extremely pleased to award the 2008 Collegiate Road National Championships to CSU Rams Cycling, the Fort Collins Cycling Festival and the Fort Collins Convention and Visitors Bureau," said Daniel Matheny, USA Cycling's national collegiate cycling manager, in a press release. "Collectively, they've put together a solid bid that exemplifies what a USA Cycling National Championship event is all about -- challenging and safe courses, top-notch organization and promotion and an inherent passion for providing our athletes with a championship-caliber racing experience."

The several stages of the competition will take place around northern Colorado.

-- Fort Collins Now staff reports