Don’t forget who drives the interest in the likes of Kona or Unbound.
Paula Newby Fraser, or Mark Allen, or Chris McCornack.
I believe there was a delay in the triathlon world, and it took a while before prize purses went up (after Pros started protesting).
Which is a good indicator as to why more Pro’s should stand up like Sofia and demand proper prize money.
Agreed. But I don’t think the sport will reach the same level as triathlon.
Maybe not, it stands a good chance due to it’s focus on “participation”.
Having a legitimate gravel World Champs may help. That will introduce more riders to the idea of gravel “racing”.
It’s going to be interesting to see what happens for America’s gravel national champs, and what they do for sending a team to gravel worlds.
Big prize money, but I think not great timing for Nationals. USA has the potential to send a strong team to work for one rider, but whether everyone is too individual.
Alexey was on Groadio talking about going as a USA team to World’s.
lol… I hope this year’s Gravel Worlds isn’t the quasi-road race that it was last year. But I understand that these things need some time to sort themselves out.
Same location as last year so don’t get your hopes up. UCI taking a page out of the "How to kill a category of racing by not conducting it on a course that’s in ‘The Spirit of Gravel’ ". Italy is the polar opposite of Sea Otter Gravel in that Italy can and was won on a road bike with CX tires. Try to do that on the Sea Otter course and you’ll end up with a busted frame and blown wheels.
This year? Not so much. Don’t we have a thread on “What is Gravel already?” Searching…
Fat Tyre Crit. iG live.
I’m agree with you here… but it’s funny that on MTBR their is always some poster who comments how tame the XC trails are and you don’t need a mountain bike. 
[quote=“liam_mail, post:65, topic:83143, full:true”]
Which is a good indicator as to why more Pro’s should stand up like Sofia and demand proper prize money. [/quote]
But who is she demanding more prize money from? Lifetime or the BWR (one example) race organizers? I get the impression that they are not tied at the hip, or is that incorrect (i.e., Lifetime could pull out and the show would go on as before)?
I guess my point is that Lifetime is only invested in the athletes they invited to compete (30 total?), when it comes down to it, and they are using the grass roots popularity of the races to promote their race in a race. How much are they going to be able to grow their race in a race? It’s like a side-bet. Will BWR (or any/all of the other grand prix races) allow Lifetime to grow their contingent to Lifetime racers, at the risk of losing the feeling of their race or of having a big corporation changing their rules for them?
This is a very salient point….IM saw massive growth last decade because it provides for a massive participatory element. You don’t need to stay with the “front group” or be jettisoned out of the race. Same with IM (and marathons, etc). You can do the race at “your speed”.
Same for gravel….
Doesn’t Lifetime own at least some of these races? For example, I know they own Leadville and Unbound. Maybe all of them?
Pretty sure they own all of them.
This is definitely part of it.
This weekend here in Monterey is the Big Sur Marathon. They shut down the highway along the coast and you run from Big Sur to Carmel. Why not do this for Sea Otter? Have an elite race and a mass participation event wave that starts later. Advertise it as a community event that everyone can do… a “bike party of sorts.” Of course have a the real race for pros & serious riders and then something shorter and more manageable for families that will fund the payouts. Everyone with a bike would want to do it. As is Sea Otter is freaking hard. You are limiting the field to 500-1000 crazy hard core participants. But the festivals is insane and packed. I am sure the status quo is making them lots of money but there is stilltons of room for growth… and more money.
Part of the selling point of gravel has always been that regular joes can ride along with the pros.
I get your point, but it’s a pretty big culture shift that you’re suggesting, which I suspect would turn into “spirit of gravel” arguments.
It is easy to arm chair quarterback for sure. I was referring to the road race aspect of Sea Otter. But I agree… big culture shift.
Ah. My bad. I didn’t even realize there was a road race there.
Ah I misunderstood the situation. Thanks.
Used to be a crit that took over Cannery Row too. Things have changed