Since starting as CEO at USA Cycling this summer, I’ve received a lot of very helpful feedback from our members on a number of issues and areas of concern. As I’ve mentioned in past emails and blog entries, some of the top items that our membership feels most strongly about are anti-doping and an increased focus on amateur racing. As we move into the new year, these issues are at the forefront of our 2016 policy changes.
Through close collaboration with all constituents— from the positive and passionate to the frustrated— we've quickly built plans that start to show real change. I think we have found excellent ways to start to address these issues without putting an unreasonable cost onto our members, which was an important goal for us.
Highlighting the policy changes are: an increased Local Association rebate, which will put more money into the hands of those that manage amateur racing at the local level; a reduction in the one-day beginner license fee for road, track and cyclo-cross events from $15 to $10, thereby reducing a key barrier to entry; improved economics for mountain bike promoters, with a $5 rebate on one-day licenses, the elimination of permitting fees and the removal of the need for one-day licenses for practice days; and the addition of a RaceClean anti-doping surcharge to upper-category racers that will be used to significantly increase the number of anti-doping tests in the U.S. next year, particularly at the amateur level.
In 2015, Local Associations received a $10 rebate for each adult racing membership sold in their regions, which is intended to help grow and improve amateur racing on a local level. In 2016, Local Associations will still receive $10, plus $0.17 per competitive racer day, increasing grassroots funding by roughly 20 percent. Additionally, LAs will no longer be required to contribute to the USA Cycling RaceClean program, saving each LA up to $3,500 per year.
Membership fees for domestic racers will not increase, but a $5 RaceClean anti-doping surcharge will be added to Category 1 mountain bike, and Category 2 and 3 road, track and cyclo-cross memberships. A $25 RaceClean anti-doping surcharge will be added to pro mountain bike and Category 1 road, track and cyclo-cross memberships, and a $50 RaceClean anti-doping surcharge will be added to UCI pro road licenses.