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But it is a challenge for us, because it shifts events away from us, and one of our core goals next year is to become more relevant in those non-traditional events. We want to play in that space, get more promoters to say ‘I want to do this with USA Cycling, because they offer me something.’ Our insurance, our ability to market, things like that. There’s a range of things that we’re trying to do develop the value proposition.
You may not care but I'm sure there are folks that will want to race gravel AND sanctioned Road events
Due to the changing demographics in cycling and our desire to improve value to our participants for our events, starting in 2016, the Tour of the Battenkill and Tour of the Catskills Pro/Ams will no longer be sanctioned by the national federation. The event will look very much the same as previous editions with both Pro/Am racing and the rapidly growing gran fondo, though with some subtle changes to the overall format. We will publish the registration page in the coming weeks.
I was planning to do a gravel race down in southern Illinois this October, the Ill Kanza. But today they announced that USA Cycling is going to sanction the event and that participants must purchase a 1 day license for $10 in addition to the $30 entry fee. I don't care about the $10, I'd happily pay a $40 entry fee, but I think I'm going to skip this ride due to the sanctioning.
Rich S wrote:I was planning to do a gravel race down in southern Illinois this October, the Ill Kanza. But today they announced that USA Cycling is going to sanction the event and that participants must purchase a 1 day license for $10 in addition to the $30 entry fee. I don't care about the $10, I'd happily pay a $40 entry fee, but I think I'm going to skip this ride due to the sanctioning.
dangle wrote:
Hi, (Northern) IL event organizer here. I don't get this comment at all. I have a rough idea of what it would cost to get liability insurance for this event. Nobody would issue a permit for this without seeing the COI (for liability insurance). For the organizer to have medical insurance for event participants on top of that, it's even more money. It's extremely rare to see an event have medical insurance for its participants. This teeny $10 daily license on top of a low $30 entry price (registration, food, prizes...wow) is giving you $25,000 supplemental medical insurance. That means for everything your primary insurance doesn't cover, that $10 gets you up to another $25,000 in coverage in the event of an injury. Insurance eats up a big chunk of my race cost and I wouldn't ever consider buying additional medical coverage for participants.
So if the race organizer bought a policy that would involve charging you $30 + $10 with the +$10 going to some random insurance company, it's cool.....but charging you $30 + $10 with that +$10 going to an organization that supports cycling (especially youth cycling) is enough for you to not go the event at all?
The lack of understanding of 'sanctioning' in this thread so far is poor (Except RobF). Even the link provided had nothing to do with race/event sanctioning as well. It was talking about selling new things to people that wouldn't have 'racing' licenses. Roadside assistance for $100 a year? That doesn't sound half bad with seeing how many people can't change a freaking tire.
bobknh wrote:\n \nIt's not insurance for race promoters, it's insurance for the racers. I know two people that have used it for actual medical expenses. There's a lot of other factors, but the price for an "alternative" to cover both liability and medical was crazy when I looked in to it. Timing, marshals and such are another issue. There's things I don't like about USA Cycling, but I'm fried that somebody would skip a dirt cheap, small-time event because the race promoter is using USAC to provide good insurance for the price of an inner tube.
You make very good points about insurance for race promotors. I admit that I don't know too much about insurance issues. But I do have almost a lifetime experience of dealing first hand with the USCF as a participant and observer. I'm very suspicious of their ability to deliver quality insurance products at competitive costs. After all, other organizations like Tri-fed put on high risk cycling related events and get insurance from other sources than the USCF. I think it pays for a promotor to look around for alternatives before worshiping at the USCF alter.
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