In this interview via CyclingNews, USA Cycling attempts to address the hoopla over 1.2.019. In the end, their position seems to be that they have to enforce it and elude to no attempt to advocate for exceptions to UCI. In fact, the much debated “exceptions” would appear to be far narrower. It doesn’t appear, from where I’m sitting, there would be very many mountain bike event that would receive such an exception.

USA Cycling appears to rather be pushing that events pay the permit fee and get sanctioned and questions promoters’ reasons for not doing so:

“The only reasons not to sanction an event with USA Cycling are if the organizer is: 1) under-insuring the volunteers and/or participants, 2) avoiding the requirement to have USA Cycling licensed officials at the event and the athlete protection policies they enforce or 3) avoiding the USA Cycling RaceClean program.”

Certainly not a diplomatic response. The insurance angle appears to be the bait USAC thinks will lure promoters but doubling the sale with a veiled threat isn’t going to be received well.

See the full interview here.