![]() ![]() “If you do nats and worlds, what is that, eight weekends in a row of big races? It doesn’t have anything to do with boycotting USAC, it’s more ‘is it one too many race weekends?'” “It’s funny, two years ago, it was all ‘oh screw USAC,’ but now it’s more like, ‘we have Chequamegon the next weekend, then Durango Derby, then the RAD a week later, then October is insane,” he said. Payson McElveen waited until the last minute to decide whether or not to race gravel nationals, also for the sake of longevity. I feel like it would be too much racing for me.” “At the beginning of the year I really wanted to focus on the Grand Prix and although the prize money is really tempting I need to stay focused on those goals. “The calendar in September is so busy,” he said. The week after Chequamegon, USAC is hosting marathon MTB nationals is in Alabama.įor Cole Paton, who is prioritizing the Grand Prix but is also targeting the national marathon title, something had to give. Chequamegon, the fifth race in the Grand Prix, is the week after nationals - in northern Wisconsin. Nevertheless, difficulty in scheduling/race overload has proven to be the main reason that elite riders have either been on the fence about, or not signed up for, the national championships. Hopefully they can line up some more races that don’t conflict with others, that they realize that these other events are important to us.” ![]() “It’s cool to see USAC putting an effort into putting on an event that doesn’t conflict with any other gravel races,” said Keegan Swenson. He also knew that a conflict with a race like, say, Unbound or SBT GRVL, would spell instant failure. ![]() In other words, USAC knew better than to put gravel nats on a Grand Prix race weekend.Įarlier this year, USAC CEO Brendan Quirk said that finding a date that didn’t conflict with an existing gravel race was one of the more difficult tasks of getting the inaugural event off the ground. It led to a disappointing turnout at the beloved MTB event. In July, many of the pros who would have raced cross-country mountain bike nationals chose instead to compete at the Crusher in the Tushar, the third race in the prestigious Life Time Grand Prix series. Perhaps a more salient point than the ‘pro-ification’ of gravel however, is that elite gravel racers actually can race gravel nationals. “Gravel is a bunch of racers now who want to race,” added 元9ION of Los Angeles’ Lance Haidet. “The ‘pro-ification is complete,’ so having a championship isn’t an abnormal nor cringeworthy idea as it once was.” “Gravel racing has changed on the whole, and the front of these races are pretty unrecognizable from a few years ago,” said Pete Stetina. So, what made our most pro(tective) riders change their minds? More importantly, excitement for the national championship is building, which is a far cry from the outrage that both pro riders and gravel race organizers expressed just a few years ago when USAC hinted that it would be hosting gravel races in the future. Gravel nats Q & A with USAC CEO Brendan Quirk USAC Gravel National Championship elite start list Elite men and women will have their own separate races on the same 131-mile course, and USAC is putting up $60,000 in prize money for the top five in each race.Īdditionally, the top three men and women will qualify for a slot on Team USA for the upcoming UCI Gravel World Championships in Italy in early October. The inaugural event will take place in Gehring, Nebraska on September 9. USA Cycling is hosting the first ever gravel national championships in just under a week, and the elite races are shaping up to be a showdown. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! ![]()
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