Brendan Quirk elected USA Cycling board chairman

Colorado-based USA Cycling, the national governing body for the sport, announced the election Thursday (Oct. 14) of cycling industry veteran Brendan Quirk as the organization’s board chairman.

Quirk, previously board vice chairman of USA Cycling, lives in Little Rock and is a consultant to Runway Group, the Bentonville group led by brothers Tom and Steuart Walton that’s been instrumental in turning Northwest Arkansas into a global cycling destination.

Quirk was previously cycling program director for Runway Group. Before that he was the interim CEO of Allied Cycle Works in Bentonville. He also served as president of North America for London-based cycling company Rapha, executive vice president of customer experience with Backcountry.com and CEO and co-founder of Competitive Cyclist in Little Rock for 12 years.

Backcountry.com acquired Competitive Cyclist in 2011.

“We’re living in a time like no other in the cycling industry,” Quirk said in a statement. “We have the opportunity to welcome new and returning riders as they are looking for guidance and community. USA Cycling is well poised to lead these cyclists through their cycling journey, and I look forward to being a part of it.”

Quirk replaces Bob Stapleton, who stepped down from the position he had held since 2014.

“As lucky as we are to have had Bob along with us, we are equally fortunate to welcome Brendan into his former position,” USA Cycling CEO Rob DeMartini said in a statement. “Brendan has been a visionary and an entrepreneur who is always ahead of the curve and trends in the market. That kind of leadership is critical at a moment like this and we look forward to the rich possibilities ahead for all of cycling.”