Two Arizona men who were injured last year while competing in the 1,000 Warriors Bicycle Race in American Fork Canyon have sued the event's organizer and two drivers.

The suit says David Collins and J. Steven Beck, both members of the Mesa-based Red Mountain Brumbys amateur cycling club, participated in the August race, which is held a few hours before the professional Tour of Utah race.

As Collins was leading Beck and three other bicyclists down the canyon on State Road 92, a man driving a SUV ahead of them slammed on his brakes when a vehicle coming in the opposite direction swerved into his lane to pass a bicyclist, according to the lawsuit. It says Collins and Beck collided with the vehicle and suffered critical injuries.

The men claim USA Cycling Inc., the Colorado Springs nonprofit that organized the race, misrepresented that the Alpine Loop section of the course was to be closed and did not ensure that a proper distance between participants and vehicles would be maintained. In addition, they say both drivers were reckless.

Their suit, which originally was filed in the state's 3rd District Court and transferred Wednesday to U.S. District Court, seeks unspecified monetary damages.

USA Cycling and the driver going in the opposite direction have denied the suit's allegations. The other driver has not yet responded to the suit.

Pamela Manson