More About The UCI "Gravel Worlds" Made Clearer Recently

 A recent "Velo News" article (you can read it here), written by Betsy Welch, has made some details of the planned UCI World Tour for Gravel and the climatic event of the series, "Gravel Worlds" a bit clearer. 

In the article it is revealed that there will be gravel "qualifying events" in many countries and on most continents. "More than one" of the races will be in the USA, while Central Africa, Holland, Europe, Asia, and Mexico were also mentioned as places where events will occur. Apparently, all but a few are existing events. Particular to the US events, it is stated that these events will not be any of the "big ones" where thousands of riders attend. Apparently USAC has helped to vet out events which have somewhere around a thousand participants up to 1500 on a regular basis. 

Furthermore; it is being reported that USAC is being very careful to craft the look and feel of the events to be in line with "the spirit of gravel", although it also is reported that these events will be ones that have held a high level of production in the past. According to the language in the article linked, the three US based events have already been determined. 

An announcement regarding the series of 15-20 events and where the "Gravel Worlds" will be held will be forthcoming in "early February", according to the article. 

Comments: This will be interesting and almost answers the question of "How does the USA Cycling organization wheedle its way into the gravel scene?"

The answer, apparently, will be to grow a series of events to support the feeder to Gravel Worlds/UCI Pro Tour level gravel racing. (Sound familiar?) As I have said- It is the same-ol' tactics that worked to turn MTB and road racing in the US into what it is today- meaning a not very fun, not very profitable, not very inclusive form of cycling. Of course, I could be wrong, and I am sure that the USAC and UCI folks have good intentions. 

But already there is banter about "rules" and "bike regulations" and what constitutes a "gravel race". Initially this article would give one some hope that the UCI/USAC rule makers are trying to steer things in a direction that the mainstream of gravel events has gone. However; when discussing courses, there is an initial mention that "75%" of the course must be gravel, but then Erwin Vervecken, the off-road and gravel manager of Golazo Sports- the main event organization helping the UCI -, is quoted as saying that some countries don't have a lot of gravel road networks so there may be only "....60 to 65 percent gravel". 

If Golazo Sports is willing to waffle a bit to get the series going, then perhaps we can expect some waffling on rules until this gets off the ground, and when people are invested? uh-huh........ We shall see. I suspect any "spirit of gravel" will be defined in quite a different way down the road. That is "IF" this takes off. Vervecken was quoted as saying he expects World Tour Pro level competition up front while the mid-pack to back-of-pack riders  would be "........ fun riders who stop at the feed zones, who stop for a drink and something to eat, and then ride in a group with their friends. Their goal is to finish the event,” 

Sounds good, but that misses the point. Basically- in terms of business, (and let's not forget that Golazo Sports is a HUGE corporation which generates over 15 BILLION in sales a year), your "field filler", "mid-pack" riders are the ones footing the bills for this Pro Tour series. (As of now, no presenting sponsors have been named, but I would assume that this is also in the works) Is this comapny even capable of doing anything "in the spirit of gravel", or should I say "The $pirit of Gravel"?  Hmm....

Well, it will be interesting to see what becomes of all of this. Oh.....and you are also probably wondering what I think about Tuesday's announcement on the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. 

I have words on that in this week's "FN&V"

More About The UCI "Gravel Worlds" Made Clearer Recently

 A recent "Velo News" article (you can read it here), written by Betsy Welch, has made some details of the planned UCI World Tour for Gravel and the climatic event of the series, "Gravel Worlds" a bit clearer. 

In the article it is revealed that there will be gravel "qualifying events" in many countries and on most continents. "More than one" of the races will be in the USA, while Central Africa, Holland, Europe, Asia, and Mexico were also mentioned as places where events will occur. Apparently, all but a few are existing events. Particular to the US events, it is stated that these events will not be any of the "big ones" where thousands of riders attend. Apparently USAC has helped to vet out events which have somewhere around a thousand participants up to 1500 on a regular basis. 

Furthermore; it is being reported that USAC is being very careful to craft the look and feel of the events to be in line with "the spirit of gravel", although it also is reported that these events will be ones that have held a high level of production in the past. According to the language in the article linked, the three US based events have already been determined. 

An announcement regarding the series of 15-20 events and where the "Gravel Worlds" will be held will be forthcoming in "early February", according to the article. 

Comments: This will be interesting and almost answers the question of "How does the USA Cycling organization wheedle its way into the gravel scene?"

The answer, apparently, will be to grow a series of events to support the feeder to Gravel Worlds/UCI Pro Tour level gravel racing. (Sound familiar?) As I have said- It is the same-ol' tactics that worked to turn MTB and road racing in the US into what it is today- meaning a not very fun, not very profitable, not very inclusive form of cycling. Of course, I could be wrong, and I am sure that the USAC and UCI folks have good intentions. 

But already there is banter about "rules" and "bike regulations" and what constitutes a "gravel race". Initially this article would give one some hope that the UCI/USAC rule makers are trying to steer things in a direction that the mainstream of gravel events has gone. However; when discussing courses, there is an initial mention that "75%" of the course must be gravel, but then Erwin Vervecken, the off-road and gravel manager of Golazo Sports- the main event organization helping the UCI -, is quoted as saying that some countries don't have a lot of gravel road networks so there may be only "....60 to 65 percent gravel". 

If Golazo Sports is willing to waffle a bit to get the series going, then perhaps we can expect some waffling on rules until this gets off the ground, and when people are invested? uh-huh........ We shall see. I suspect any "spirit of gravel" will be defined in quite a different way down the road. That is "IF" this takes off. Vervecken was quoted as saying he expects World Tour Pro level competition up front while the mid-pack to back-of-pack riders  would be "........ fun riders who stop at the feed zones, who stop for a drink and something to eat, and then ride in a group with their friends. Their goal is to finish the event,” 

Sounds good, but that misses the point. Basically- in terms of business, (and let's not forget that Golazo Sports is a HUGE corporation which generates over 15 BILLION in sales a year), your "field filler", "mid-pack" riders are the ones footing the bills for this Pro Tour series. (As of now, no presenting sponsors have been named, but I would assume that this is also in the works) Is this comapny even capable of doing anything "in the spirit of gravel", or should I say "The $pirit of Gravel"?  Hmm....

Well, it will be interesting to see what becomes of all of this. Oh.....and you are also probably wondering what I think about Tuesday's announcement on the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. 

I have words on that in this week's "FN&V"

Life Time Fitness Announces New Series For Gravel & MTB

 NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

Yesterday it was revealed that Life Time Fitness would have a six event series, half of it on gravel, half at MTB venues, and that the series would be exclusive and pay out $250,000.00 for the winners. The story can be read on Cycling News here. The series would have 20 men and 20 women only. These elite athletes would have to submit resume's for consideration to be included in the series. One of the considerations being  "feedback from the applicant on how he or she is “helping to grow cycling in the U.S. through their activities.”"

The gravel portion of the series would include Life Time's "Unbound Gravel", The Big Sugar, and the Crusher In The Tushar. The MTB portion of the series would include a new marathon distance MTB event at Sea Otter, the Chequamegon 40, and the Leadville 100. 

Noted on Twitter in responses to this by athletes I would consider 'possible people of interest' for this series were the entry fee and what Life Time expects athletes to do to get money to ride. First off, the entry fee for any one of the 40 participants is reportedly $1250.00 a head. Life Time suggests that,  "Athletes will have until February 1st to secure these dollars, and are encouraged to empower sponsors to support you in this."

Comments: Life Time making a series? Expected. Life Time making the series exclusive to 40 athletes and including MTB? Life Time making them pay an exorbitant fee to participate AND suggesting athletes source sponsorship to cover expenses? Unexpected and......odd. I get that having a Pro only spectacle draws in more eyeballs, sells more sponsorships, and gets the cycling industry into a tizzy, but it is about as 180° from the current temperature of social issues and events as you can get.

It also is about as far as the East is from the West when you consider why gravel events grew as big as they have. Life Time states in the story linked that, ""After many years of declining participation, we’re experiencing a groundswell of growth,..."" Well, does that have anything at all to do with Life Time buying up two of the biggest gravel events and two of the most iconic MTB events in the country? I think that the answer there is "Yes!" Those events are huge, and they have been, grown as they were from grassroots ideas and people. And did Life Time have anything at all to do with THAT? The obvious answer is, "No! They had nothing at all to do with that!" Credit there goes to the founders, RD's, and the past participants of the Crusher, Leadville, Chequamegon, and the DK200, NOT to Life Time. 

How soon people forget, especially when the marketing arms get a hold of the reins of these old events. This is nothing more than a corporate take-over and a cashing in on equity which was built up by others. Is that wrong? No, not intrinsically. The "Market" shall dictate who is successful, so if you have a beef with Big Corporate entities, don't support this. But many will, and ....ya know- it's their choice and right to do so. 

But I would like some honesty from the folks at Life Time, at least. Here....let me fix that quote for ya: "After many years of declining participation, we decided to buy a few very successful, built from grassroots events, and we feel like we have a product with which we can now make a decent profit with going forward." THAT is what really is going on here.

Life Time Fitness Announces New Series For Gravel & MTB

 NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

Yesterday it was revealed that Life Time Fitness would have a six event series, half of it on gravel, half at MTB venues, and that the series would be exclusive and pay out $250,000.00 for the winners. The story can be read on Cycling News here. The series would have 20 men and 20 women only. These elite athletes would have to submit resume's for consideration to be included in the series. One of the considerations being  "feedback from the applicant on how he or she is “helping to grow cycling in the U.S. through their activities.”"

The gravel portion of the series would include Life Time's "Unbound Gravel", The Big Sugar, and the Crusher In The Tushar. The MTB portion of the series would include a new marathon distance MTB event at Sea Otter, the Chequamegon 40, and the Leadville 100. 

Noted on Twitter in responses to this by athletes I would consider 'possible people of interest' for this series were the entry fee and what Life Time expects athletes to do to get money to ride. First off, the entry fee for any one of the 40 participants is reportedly $1250.00 a head. Life Time suggests that,  "Athletes will have until February 1st to secure these dollars, and are encouraged to empower sponsors to support you in this."

Comments: Life Time making a series? Expected. Life Time making the series exclusive to 40 athletes and including MTB? Life Time making them pay an exorbitant fee to participate AND suggesting athletes source sponsorship to cover expenses? Unexpected and......odd. I get that having a Pro only spectacle draws in more eyeballs, sells more sponsorships, and gets the cycling industry into a tizzy, but it is about as 180° from the current temperature of social issues and events as you can get.

It also is about as far as the East is from the West when you consider why gravel events grew as big as they have. Life Time states in the story linked that, ""After many years of declining participation, we’re experiencing a groundswell of growth,..."" Well, does that have anything at all to do with Life Time buying up two of the biggest gravel events and two of the most iconic MTB events in the country? I think that the answer there is "Yes!" Those events are huge, and they have been, grown as they were from grassroots ideas and people. And did Life Time have anything at all to do with THAT? The obvious answer is, "No! They had nothing at all to do with that!" Credit there goes to the founders, RD's, and the past participants of the Crusher, Leadville, Chequamegon, and the DK200, NOT to Life Time. 

How soon people forget, especially when the marketing arms get a hold of the reins of these old events. This is nothing more than a corporate take-over and a cashing in on equity which was built up by others. Is that wrong? No, not intrinsically. The "Market" shall dictate who is successful, so if you have a beef with Big Corporate entities, don't support this. But many will, and ....ya know- it's their choice and right to do so. 

But I would like some honesty from the folks at Life Time, at least. Here....let me fix that quote for ya: "After many years of declining participation, we decided to buy a few very successful, built from grassroots events, and we feel like we have a product with which we can now make a decent profit with going forward." THAT is what really is going on here.