Earlier this month, we broke the news that the UCI had canceled the Masters Cyclocross World Championships for 2010, after receiving the following email from the UCI:
Dear Sir,
In 2010, there will be no Masters World Championships for Cyclo-cross.
Best regards,
Annelyse Torrent Day
Union Cycliste Internationale
With a growing number of Americans making the trip across the pond, and having previously published Masters Worlds reports from Norcal’s Henry Kramer and World Champ Kathy Sarvary as well as Greg Keller’s excellent trip planning article, we knew the sad news would be of interest to many of you. But the passionate response and subsequent rally to continue the event (perhaps in NYC) was still surprising.
Well, the UCI may have been listening. Last week we received a note from the UCI that the event was back on, but the location and date were to be released in September at the Road World Championships. But after further prodding, Gerrit Middag of the UCI has revealed to us that the event will be held once again in Mol, Belgium on January 23, 2010, a week before the Elite, U23 and Junior World Championships in Tabor, Czech Republic. Same as years before.
Middag told Cyclocross Magazine that “some internal changes in the office” were responsible for the change in the race’s status. But the important news is that at least for now, the race is back on and amateur American masters racers can once again race for that coveted rainbow jersey.
For 2011 and beyond, the UCI is open to bids to host Masters Worlds, and Middag encourages American promoters to submit proposals. Check back shortly for full details on that bid process.
