The result of all this money is Centennial Park with its MTB trails but more notably a permanent cyclocross course that a few years ago hosted the worlds- yes, the worlds- only the second time it has been held in the USA.
"Build it and they will come?" - maybe not this time. Fields are pretty slim by pre-covid standards but the sport has been shrinking for years- less races and as a result less racers. This is not the fault of the Walton family-they are more than doing their part to keep the sport going but they face some headwinds. CX had a golden age about 15-20 years ago-tons of races , armies of participants and a bike industry that was happy to throw money and product to the sport. What happened ? Hard to pin it on any one factor. USA cycling has gotten stricter about regulations and rankings to the point that riders who live in areas where races are not part of the USAC system might as well not exist. No points and you start in the back of the field - regardless of your record in non-USAC events. Also, the entry fees to the nationals have more than doubled since the golden age of CX. To enter the nationals I think it was $ 110 for early reg. Late reg. was $ 200- that would be four entry fees in local races. Add to that travel costs and lodging and you have a sport that is no longer affordable for many racers.
As for me, I'm lucky-I have a little disposable - and I do mean disposable in this case- income and a team that has some funding so that the members of the team don't have to redline their credit cards to get to the nationals. Without these two factors I would not be here in Arkansas and I am very thankful to the sponsors for the opportunity, not so much to race but to support my team and have the experience. We , along with all the other teams and racers are helping keep the sport alive but we are facing headwinds- gravel cycling has lured a lot of industry and riders away from cyclocross. I'm happy that gravel has come into its own but not happy that so many people have bailed on the sport that I feel has more history, more excitement and a much more cohesive community-it is such and inclusive sport historically. Gravel has a set of requirements - you need to have the $200 for entry , really helps to have a big sprinter van or some sort of camper to spend the weekend in - all for an event that is more like an all day ride in the wilderness and not a short intense race with spectators , beer handups and people cheering for you regardless of how miserable your race was going. Gravel has none of this , yet people are coming to gravel races in increasing numbers. Why is this the case ? For most people doing gravel it appears to be much less about competition and more about the ride. I'm fine with this but it means that for probably the bulk of the riders it is just a ride and a post-ride meal with a whole bunch of people who also have all the same vehicles and gear that you have-kind of a parade of product and in some cases privilage. CX racers will show up to a race in any kind of beat up old car that will get them there. Gravel racers spend some times six figures to create their 'home on the road' to take them to the events. It really is two different worlds- and they are in many cases competing for the same people and the same dollars.
As a bike frame builder I win either way- I build what people ask for and I get paid. Gravel bike ? -Sure ! CX bike ? No problem. But where is my heart ? That would be in Cyclocross hands down. I can say that my ability to be a sustainable business was because of cyclocross back in the '90's and early 2000's. Maybe Gravel has been keeping me busy as of late so I can't say that it has not helped but the fact that the sport that made me seems to be getting crushed has me pretty conflicted, especially now that I am at yet another nationals that is showing signs of a sport that is not doing well. I understand it and at the same time I don't. People do gravitate to the new but I would think that if the 'new' turns out to not be as fun as the old that people would come back. So far, this has not happened.
