a year without cyclocross

Dear Reader,

My name is Marc Vettori. I love to race cyclocross. I think about it all year. I dream about it. I serve on the MAC Board. I have helped promote races, and taught clinics. I am a recruiter for the sport. I travel to different regions every year to race cross. Cyclocross is one of my passions. I am a cross evangelist.

For me, 2013 may be a year without cyclocross.

Anyone who rides a bike and is connected at some level to social media has no doubt become aware that USAC  and UCI have taken an aggressive position on rule 1.2.019. The rule basically says that anyone holding a UCI license is forbidden from riding in races not sanctioned by USAC or UCI. The intent of the rule is to make sure that professional cyclists, cyclists earning contracts and their living on a bike, don’t poach local/grass roots events. The current application of the USAC is nothing more than an imperialistic move to assimilate all road, mtb, cross racing into their organization. I can’t contribute to that machine.

This enforcement of this rule is nothing more than a cash grab on the part of USAC.

I find this offensive on two primary levels.

First, I note the number of  riders (many friends)  that currently hold UCI licenses because while not contract holding professionals, they have grown to the level that UCI races are their appropriate cyclocross class. Also in this group are the UCI masters racers, who raced UCI worlds last January who now risk fine and or suspension for participating in non USAC races.  The Mid Atlantic, as much of the country, is heavy in non-sanctioned races in the mountain bike discipline.  Non USAC races are often the meat of the calendar for regional  mountainbikers. We aren’t talking about professionals trying to earn a living, but passionate bike racers that just want to race their bikes and go home to their families and their day jobs at the end of the weekend. The very riders who support USAC, pay the bills and really take very little back from the organization are potentially going to be fined and suspended? It’s sickening.

These bread and butter locals and masters who raced UCI worlds in January risk fine and/or suspension for racing  events like Marysville relay, baker’s dozen, Patapsco 100, any of the Michaux races, the trans epic  or the 12 Hours of GRANOGUE! The 12 hours of Granogue! The current application of the rule in no way fosters the growth, or develops mountain bike or cross racing. This is about cashing in for USAC and gaining assimilation.

I can’t contribute to that machine…

Which brings me to my second point.

Our promotion team had promoted a UCI/USAC cross race for years. We were UCI/USAC because it brought value to our riders. It was a benefit to them and in the long run raised the level of our cross race.  At the same time we have and continue to promote a non-federation mountain bike race. Initially the mountainbike race was a cross county event, and now is an endurance race. Our choice to be non-USAC is because USAC brought no additional value to our ridership. Our promotion team,  Velo Amis, is a 501 C3 nonprofit. Our goal each year is to cover our  race budget- have enough in the bank to promote the race the next year, and give away everything else. We have donated to Delaware Special Olympics, the Hera Foundation, and The Livestrong Foundation. We have given money to numerous individuals in the mid atlantic that qualified for worlds/Euro Camp including Laura Van Gilder, Kerry Warner, Gunnar Bergey, Harlan Price and Sam O’Keefe.  So when I read this response from USAC on cyclingnews :

“Some of the mountain bike events that haven't been sanctioned by USA Cycling in the past are boasting significant prize lists, so the USA Cycling permit fee does not seem to be a financial burden for those events. “

Who the hell are you to tell us what’s good for our ridership, or how we should direct our finances?  Answer the question that my regional rep has not been able to, and tell me the value add for my riders? Additionally, is our money better served going into your pocket or to the charities we choose to support? USAC can only see money they want in their pocket.

USAC continues to say

“The only reasons not to sanction an event with USA Cycling are if the organizer is: 1) under-insuring the volunteers and/or participants, 2) avoiding the requirement to have USA Cycling licensed officials at the event and the athlete protection policies they enforce or 3) avoiding the USA Cycling RaceClean program.”

A quick look at their points:

1.     The point about officials is pretty valid. I like our USAC officials- good people. I always appreciated their feedback. That said we’ve been doing mtb races for over 10 years with no issues without a USAC official on site.

2.     No one is promoting a race w/o insurance. It has been my experience that we work closely with our brokers to make sure they understand the scope of our events, and  the proper level of insurance is acquired.

3.     And this is where I lose my shit a little : is USAC really going to tout their brand new ride clean program? Fucking Seriously!!?? Because USAC has shown such success catching dopers, that supporting this brand new for 2013 program is reason enough to affiliate with USAC.  You have to be kidding me. It’s disgusting.

.      

I just can’t support that machine.

My team director, was one of many who was attending the UCI promoters conference at Colorado Springs when the clarification regarding UCI Reg 1.2.019 was released. He has assured our team the kind folks at USAC are working to provide a tenable compromise for everyone. I certainly hope that they do. I am after all a pretty positive guy. That said, the quotes from above are from 4/9- after the conference.

Cross in our region is an all USAC/UCI affair, and while I love it, I am so frustrated right now as a promoter, a racer, and a fan that I just can’t support that machine. As much as I love racing cross, I’m just not sure I can fork over another $60 for a license to an organization that’s actions only reinforce they don’t really care about this sport as much as our wallets. Prove me wrong USAC. Prove me wrong.

Who knows, maybe once nationals are out of the mid atlantic, our promotion team  starts up the Fatmarc.com MTB Series… of course– a Non-USAC series.

Wonder if I could get any traction there? What about in 2014?

As much as it saddens me, I can potentially see 2013 as a year without cyclocross for me.

Thanks for reading.

respect

Marc Vettori