The Long View
JD reminded me about this today, and asked if I still had it on hand. I wrote it sometime in the fall of 2001. It's nice to see how far we've come. It's also good to remember how far we have to go. I think a lot of people might not realize how hard we fought to create or acquire some of the items on this list, and how long ago we started. We shouldn't take them for granted, huh?
We called this the "Myerson Manifesto," which makes me giggle now.
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List of Concerns for the Future of US Cyclo-Cross
1. A full and complete US national cyclo-cross team to compete at the world championships, including full funding for riders who meet the qualification requirements, and unfunded coaches' selections for the remaining spots.
2. Establishment of a National Racing Calendar for cyclo-cross.
We believe the most simple solution is to set the standard for the national calendar series at UCI status. If a race can meet UCI status then it should be considered in the calendar. It then becomes necessary for USAC and the chief official to see that the UCI standards are met. This would guarantee a minimum level of quality including scoring, officials, results, and prize lists, based on a format already existing. If the calendar becomes too crowded with UCI events then priority could be given to the higher ranked events. Ideally, there should be one national racing calendar event somewhere in the country each weekend, beginning the first weekend in October.
To further ensure the quality of these events and that UCI guidelines are understood and being followed, we propose a USAC cyclo-cross organizers manual or technical guide, and continued education of officials and promoters.
It's important that there be no additional fee required to be part of the NCS, since we're looking for more representation and support from USAC for what we currently spend, not more costs.
The NRC should be for Elite Men and Elite Women, but could also include U23 men and junior men. We believe it's not in the best interest of the quality of racing to include a teams standing, as the emphasis should be on the individuals.
The full cyclo-cross season should be considered to start the first weekend of September and end the last weekend of February. NRC races should begin in October. To promote the extension of the season, warmer climates should be encouraged to organize their bigger events in January.
Potential Season/ Known races:
October 5
October 26 Amherst, MA, Amherst International, UCI Cat. 3, Adam Hodges Myerson, 413.587.3133, adam@cycle-smart.com
October 27
December 28
December 29
3. Minimum standards for entry to the elite national championships.
4. Creation of a rankings system for cyclo-cross, or the recognition of UScrossrankings.com as the US rankings system.
We see three levels of rankings or standings that should exist: the NRC standings, which would include all national racing calendar events, the SuperCup, which is a separate series who's races are part of the NCS but at the same time stands alone as privately run promotion, and a rider ranking system like uscrossrankings.com, that considers and weights events all across the country and at all levels.
The UCI points system for cyclo-cross can be used as the model for awarding points in the NRC.
5. Standard set of rules, based on current UCI cyclo-cross rules.
6. Well-trained officials, knowledgeable in cyclo-cross rules and race scoring.
7. A national championship date in line with the rest of the world, and announced at least one year in advance.
In continuing discussion on this topic, our position on this issue has changed, but the rationale behind it has not. We still believe that we need to be in line with the rest of the world to be taken seriously as a cyclo-cross nation. However, we also believe that Nationals in mid-December is actually the best date for the event, and that we should be lobbying the UCI to move the date forward for the rest of the world.
December is ideal from a sponsorship and marketing standpoint. It gives elite riders the opportunity to have a break after nationals and prepare properly for the world championships. It allows colder climates to end their seasons at Christmas, but will hopefully still encourage warmer regions with growing cyclo-cross scenes like North Carolina and Texas to host big events in January and February to showcase the new national champions.
The site for nationals will be chosen by May 1 in 2002 (for January, 2003), and then chosen and announced at the national championships 1 year in advance thereafter. This is in order to give promoters time to acquire necessary sponsorship and organization, and for riders to plan their season and travel accordingly.
8. A national cyclo-cross coach/director/coordinator.
9. Cyclo-Cross rider categories.
10. We also believe that is high time the UCI institutes a UCI ranking for women, and raises it's prize money minimums for that category.
We believe that the USAC should work with promoters to change the sport worldwide, not just in the US. Currently, Elite Womens' cyclo-cross in the US is at as high if not a higher level then the men. We would like to see the UCI recognize this and support womens' racing in general by keeping a UCI cyclo-cross ranking for women, and raising the prize money requirements to at least 1/2 that of the Elite men, and at a higher level than what's required for U23 men.
These minimums should be an additional requirement to be considered for NRC status for US events.
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If these services can't be provided within the USCF, then it should be done through a separate US cyclo-cross association under the USAC umbrella. If that's not possible, then it will be done under a new organization dedicated only to cyclo-cross, independent of the USCF and USAC.
We expect funding for the World Championships team to be in place for 2002 in Zolder, and the remaining items to be in place in time for the start of the 2002/03 cyclo-cross season beginning in September.
Generally, we would like to see the revenue generated in the fall and winter months through cyclo-cross invested back into cyclo-cross through the support of these points, as well as additional investment from USAC in order to continue to grow, develop, and support cyclo-cross on all levels.
We will begin putting the infrastructure in place now to promote and insure our events for the 2002/3 cyclo-cross season independent of USAC, so that if the changes we require are not acted on, our departure will be swift and decisive.
Recognize that our first choice is to do this within USAC and part of the current organization, and we are willing and able to discuss all points and issues.
Categories
- AdamMyerson: @starrwalker People like it for the same reason as Bag Balm: lanolin. I generally don't like sheep wool oil on my nuts, though.
- AdamMyerson: @arielmendezp @joshsakofsky It's hard to not run with it when you give us material this good.
- AdamMyerson: @andrevandenberg 326/271. I didn't do much of a sprint. That's a little more pedaling than I normally do, but my job was to go with moves.
- AdamMyerson: @joshsakofsky @arielmendezp "New York" is his first language.
- AdamMyerson: @alyssasevern I can't even imagine the drugs she's on right then.