The U.S. Cup, which organizes many of the top domestic mountain bike events, The organization announced tuesday that it will no longer sanction events through USA Cycling.
The move comes in response to USA Cycling’s decision earlier this year to enforce a rule barring athletes from competing in independent events like the GoPro Mountain Games. While the rule was put on hold after public outcry, organizers of the cup said USA Cycling’s ambiguous stance on the rule led them to cease sanctioning events through the body.
“We would rather concentrate our investment and our partners’ sponsorship dollars on the event itself without the burden of USAC priorities or needs, which quite often have nothing to do with the paying customer … the riders and their families,” R. Scott Tedro, owner of Sho-Air International and The U.S. Cup .
The U.S. Cup has promoted or subsidized upwards of 110 mountain biking events over the last year, more than any other U.S.-based promoter. It remains unclear if other event promoters will follow the organizer’s lead.