USA Cycling announce junior gravel series
Plus: Mathieu van der Poel, Lachlan Morton, and more
USA Cycling has created a five-race junior series to help develop the next generation of elite cyclists. While junior racers can already find plenty of gravel events to strut their talents, the newly-announced series creates a formal environment to incentivize all the best talent to show up in the same places.
USAC Junior Series Calendar
March 8 - Valley of Tears - Turkey, Texas
April 11 - Sea Otter Classic - Monterey, California
May 31 - Unbound Gravel - Emporia, Kansas
June 29 - SBT GRVL - Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Sept. 20 - Gravel National Championships - La Crescent, Minnesota
The series will have four categories consisting of a 15-16 and 17-18 category for both men and women. Riders must complete in 3 of the races to be considered for the overall series standings which will be based on a rider’s best three out of five finishes. The Gravel National Championships will serve as a tie-breaker.
Gravel Nationals will be the only race that requires a USAC license.
The top rider in each category will qualify for a USAC Talent ID Camp at the end of the year.
Pas Normal opens applications for devo team
One step up the age-ladder, Pas Normal Studios has announced a new development team for gravel racers aged 18-21.
“Focusing on personal growth and team performance, the Pas Normal Studios Development Team equips emerging gravel riders with the tools and resources needed to excel,” according to the trendy clothing company.
“Successful applicants will receive full support, including race expenses, training camps, technical apparel and equipment,” the announcement said.
More details can be found here.
New South African stage race and SBT GRVL registration
A new gravel stage race is coming to South Africa, put on by the Cape Epic founder Kevin Vermaak. Here’s how the race describes itself:
Gravel Burn is a 7-day, 850km full-service gravel stage race through South Africa’s diverse landscapes. Starting in coastal forests, the route heads into the breathtaking Great Karoo – a famously vast, semi-desert region. Riders rest each night in remote camps under star-filled skies and, on the final day, are greeted by Africa’s iconic Big 5 wildlife.
Over in the States, SBT GRVL will open its registration for deferrals and volunteers on November 18. For everybody else, the lottery-style registration opens December 2. The event takes place on an earlier date (June 26-29) this year, and the event will consist of a non-competitive gravel ‘fondo’ event followed by a competitive gravel stage race. Crucially, riders can choose one or the other, not both, giving more riders the chance to participate.
Lachlan Morton out of the Life Time Grand Prix. Payson McElveen off Voler.
Lachlan Morton appears likely to not participate in the Life Time Grand Prix in 2025. The 2024 Unbound Gravel winner said this on social media: “It’s been a great few years and I am genuinely so grateful for what this series has done for bike racers in the US. I’ll find some new goals for next year but please don’t ask me what’s next because I have no clue.”
While the statement is vague, fellow racer Payson McElveen said in his season-wrap podcast episode that Morton will not toe the line in the Grand Prix next year. Speaking of McElveen, the Grand Prix contender posted an Instagram story that his partnership with Voler Apparel is coming to an end.
“After 8 wonderful years, my partnership with @volerapparel is coming to an end,” the post said. “What comes next is truly exciting, but that doesn't make finding the words to express my gratitude to Voler any easier. They've been family.”
Which clothing supplier the racer will go with is yet to be seen.
MVDP and Pidcock watch
Mathieu van der Poel has again hinted that he could race MTB in 2025. He said in an interview that he did not enjoy racing the Tour de France this year and wouldn’t be against skipping it next year.
“I think maybe it's a good moment to try and get back on the mountain bike, if I have time. That's still a big objective for me,” he said.
The Dutchman will have to mount a qualification campaign to return to the World Cup under the new rules. My guess is he would either have to qualify via UCI points collected at lower-level races, or Alpecin-Deceuninck could secure a wild card.
Oh, and Tom Pidcock? He could be staying at Ineos, though I’m sure we’ll get 1,000 more updates by the end of the year.