Just when you thought it was safe to start clearing your mind of tubulars, tire pressure, mud, sand, dismounts, remounts, clipping in, clipping out and all things ‘cross, I’m back.

That’s right, now you can waste more time at work while reading Chocolate, Waffles and ‘Cross in the next few days coming straight at you from the motherland of cyclocross. I’m back in Belgium to get my butt kicked again. I can feel the pain – and taste the beer – already.

Two guys and 'cross gear. And, it just barely fits in a pickup truck

For the past year, Greg Keller, a buddy of mine and the brain child of
www.mudandcowbells.com,
has been enthusiastically planning a trip to race in the Masters Cyclocross World Championships in Mol, Belgium, on January 19th. A couple of months ago, another friend of mine, Kurt Perham of Personal Best MultiSport Coaching, asked if I wanted to go to Belgium and race at masters world’s. I told him Greg was going and if I could cash in some frequent flyer miles for a free ticket to Belgium I was all in.

Belgium has great beer, but I decided to grind and bring my own beans

Since normal people don’t really find January in Belgium to be an ideal vacation destination, I had no problem getting a ticket. With the flight booked I looked into entering the Masters Cyclocross World Championships and came to find out I can’t race because of the UCI rules stating: All riders who hold a masters license are permitted to take part in cyclocross events on the UCI international masters calendar, with the following exceptions:

1. Any rider who, during the current season, participated at the world championships, continental championships or world cup events.

Nope, too slow.

2. Any rider, who has been a member, during the current season, of a team registered with the UCI.

Nope, too slow.

3. During the current season, any rider ranked in the first 200 of the individual UCI cyclocross ranking published after the national championships in Europe.

Yep… too fast?

With a mere 40 UCI points, I am ranked 156th in the current world points standings. Even though I was lucky enough to win masters nationals, in the eyes of the UCI, I am too fast to race in masters world’s. Yet, in the eyes of many others, including yours truly, I am way too slow to race in the elite world’s.

Yes ma'am, I'll have another.

I was a little bummed to discover I can race in masters events in the U.S., yet I can’t race in masters world’s. True, I choose to race in the Elite category throughout the U.S. and accrue UCI points, so now I can’t race in masters world’s.

Too be honest, I don’t really care. I’m just here to have a good time with some good friends.

There has been some discussion in the cross community about racers, such as myself, who compete in the elite category all season, but choose to race in the masters and elite races at ‘cross nationals. Some masters racers are complaining about elite riders cherry picking masters races at nationals when they should be in elite races only. I understand the argument and I can see where the frustration lies. You race as a master all year and then at nationals your field is stacked with guys who race elite all season.

I think a lot of people view the elite class as the professional class, but in cyclocross what makes you a professional? There are no qualifications needed to race in the elite field, which is one reason why the field is so huge.

I guess all of this begs the question: is it fair for someone, like me, to compete in elite races all season and one masters race, nationals? According to USA Cycling this is allowed, but not by the UCI. Here is what I propose: USA Cycling needs to have a professional, as well as a Masters A and Masters B category with qualification criteria. Plain and simple. Okay, off the soap box.

So, here I am on a plane bound for Brussels with two cross bikes, lots of wet weather clothing and hankering for some yummy Belgian Ale. Stay tuned!

Thanks for reading.