Hello and welcome to part of the answer to the question posed in the article’s title. Answering the remainder is going to take work, which is exactly what we are here to do. Allan, Céline, and I have decided to start a print version of our coverage as a supplement to the podcast. Sometimes audio fails while photos and the written word are just right. Then, on other occasions, audio is the perfect way to provide context. With The Chronicle we are hoping to fill gaps in our podcast coverage and help paint the most vivid picture possible of a sport that sometimes moves too quickly for all but the most talented photographers.
The end of 2021 left a lot in flux. The demise of USACRITS left a void in teams’ schedules, focus, and frankly marketing plans. There is movement, mainly behind the scenes, to stake a claim on that void, and we are starting to hear about it. There are public efforts like the National Association of Cycling Teams; and USACycling’s national criterium series. Additionally, there are movements like L39ion’s effort to build a city-based league similar to what we saw in the men’s race at Into the Lion’s Den.
It’s late February, and the criterium season is already starting. The details of the season, and specifically a series, are not finalized. This is not unusual if you are only looking for specifics. What is abnormal is that the big picture remains murky. Looking at USAC’s national criterium series, the press releases have been heavy on event names and the size of the prize purse, but light on other major details. What teams will participate? Are there any direct financial benefits for a team to race the series beyond “exposure” and race day winnings? And a lot of others.
If a comprehensive story is to be told about the season, the teams and promoters need to get on the same page about what the season is going to look like. The beauty of American crit racing has always been the narrative generated by the linkage between events - Armed Forces leads into Tulsa Tough which then blends into the Tour of America’s Dairylands, etc…. - and teams’ journeys through those events. The two compliment each other, providing the stage and actors for our entertainment. We have the events and the teams, now it is a matter of how they will interact this year.
Our goal will be to report that story as it happens; to provide context and answers. Please join us.