We do disagree. Among other things, the UCI sponsoring races brings more than money to the sport, and has the potential to bring new riders to non-UCI events as well. A rising tide lifts all boats.
Yup.
Leadville is a big mass participation MTB race despite MTB being a UCI discipline.
From SBT GRVL co-founder + owner:
â Amy here from SBT GRVL. I hope youâre enjoying cooler temperatures and fun fall rides! Since you last heard from us weâve been hard at work evaluating this yearâs event, planning improvements, and plotting what we think will make your experience even better. Stay tunedâthereâs much in store!
For now I wanted to address the UCIâs recent announcement about the organizationâs entry into gravel and how it pertains to SBT GRVL. Is this a good thing? Bad thing? I believe it really depends on the perspective of the rider. For example, racers and those keen to chase a rainbow jersey are likely excited by this news.
Others, who ride gravel for the spirit of fun and adventure, might not find this particularly enticing. From comments and feedback, this is the case for the majority of you, who are drawn to SBT GRVL for the overall experience and intentional lack of rules or rigid structure.
While variety is good and allows the rider to get what they want from a particular event, rest assured the UCIâs entry into gravel is not germain to us. Weâre a gravel event with a race element, not a pro gravel race. And we have no interest in turning into one. Our focus is on the âeverydayâ riders who made gravel what it is today, and especially communities that have not felt welcome or interested in organized bike races.
Thank you for being part of and supporting SBT GRVL specifically, and gravel generally. It takes a village of graveleurs to make this the most fun on dirt! Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at amy@sbtgrvl.comwith any comments or questions.â
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The fact remains that we have no idea how this will play out. The UCI hasnât released any details. It could be mass start gravel races for elites or it could be fondo style racing (speculated in the Velonews article). We donât know.
If a real rainbow jersey is up for grabs and any pro/elite is allowed to race, I think we might see some of the big names show up as long as it fits in with their schedules.
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For those arguing UCI involvement is good. How has UCI involvement helped the US road scene? 20 years ago there was a pretty lively road scene in the US. Now? Nada pretty much.
Please point me to one spot where the UCI has grown the sport of cycling? Advocacy? Womenâs cycling? At least in the US, the UCI is nonexistent as a force for good. Basically nonexistent period.
And where is the UCI going to hold their worlds? The US, which is pretty much the only country currently with a flourishing gravel racing scene? Or Europe? My bet is Europe.
They have said it will likely be in the US.
You guys are getting pretty wound up about something that is hugely unlikely to affect the races you are already doing.
Just look at how many XC Mountain Bike races exist that have zero relationship with the UCI. Thereâs no reason to expect that the large events you know and love would change whatsoever.
It only provides some form of credibility to a National or World Championships by having clear pathways. If one of the major events were to align themselves permanently Iâd be surprised. They are money making machines, they arenât in the business of creating fair and equitable race opportunities.
Itâs more like Ironman and ITU than MTB and UCI.
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I donât understand the argument. The UCI doesnât run the US road scene. It is run by USA Cycling.
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Agreed. Some of the comments favorable to the UCI were that it would increase visibility/ bring more money to the gravel scene. I was asking for any evidence that to back this up, and used the fact that the UCIâs involvement in road cycling hasnât done anything to help grow it as a counter example
If the format is the traditional World Championship format then USA Cycling would need to get involved and figure out how to send a US team to the event.
We are talking past each other.
I was asking the more general question: if you (anyone) think this is a positive development, why, and provide examples of where UCI involvement has benefited a specific cycling discipline
One could make the case that the existence of a recognized World Championship in cycling has been good for American cycling. Lemond won junior worlds and then the 1983 Worlds. Armstrong won the worlds in 1993. Cycling booms followed the success of both riders.
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Aero bars in mass start events being a no-no, for example.
Didnât say or imply they did.
In the meantime, you seem to have completely missed the substance of my post since your response really didnât address it.
Which gets it authority from the UCI.
Definitely a valid questionâŚand as I noted earlier, there are reasonable questions to be raised with how the UCI managed the MTB World Cup series re: sponsorships, downsizing the series as a result, etc.
Does it?
AbsolutelyâŚthe UCI is the international governing / sanctioning body (as determined by the IOC). They then designate who the national governing bodies are.
Iâm going to show my age - for me, neither Lemondâs nor Armstrongâs world championship wins had any impact on me getting into cycling / getting excited about cycling. It was the 1984 Olympics in LA (I was living in LA) + Lemondâs Tour de France wins that got me into cycling. Even further, I didnât know about either world championship till years after the fact. It was pretty much a non-issue.
I would wager that if you asked the vast majority of cyclists, they wouldnât know that Lemond / Armstrong won the road world championship. They would think of their Tour wins.
ExactlyâŚit was their success in the TdF that spurred the growth in cycling, not their World Championships.
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The vast majority of US cyclists donât even know who won the TDF this year, last year, or the year before.
Iâm saying that being the officially designated World Champion was important in the careers of Lemond and Armstrong. In bicycle racing, itâs a big deal. Itâs huge even if the average American on the street doesnât know about it. Itâs going to get the cyclist a better contract, a better team, and ultimately more exposure.