Nationals Moving Back to December? Help USA Cycling Decide

How do you feel about January National Championships, now that we're entering the sixth year?

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Several reasons for the move of the National Championships to January, starting with 2012 in Verona, Wisconsin, were cited in the official announcement:

1. A 2009 survey of USA Cycling members supported the move
2. To “better align the event with the international calendar”
3. To “better support the U.S. athletes who are training to compete in the world championships slated for Louisville, KY later in January”

The announcement, although not showing actual numbers, cited “a large majority came back and said they would support moving the event to January” and that was consistent with our own initial poll above.

Since that move, the support seems to have waned, as reflected in our more recent poll above, launched over a year ago, and even perhaps in participation numbers, which USA Cycling has acknowledged were down in Hartford.

Perhaps training during the holidays, and taking work or school vacation time right after a traditional holiday break, has been more difficult in practice than many thought it would be.

The growing preference for a move back to December also includes stars and stripes-decorated athletes. Perpetual Masters National Champion Pete Webber told Cyclocross Magazine in Asheville the move made sense for 2012 and 2013 due to Louisville (when many Masters would race Masters Worlds in Louisville), and when the UCI categories would race Louisville Worlds in 2013, but that it was time to consider moving it back to December, something he and teammate Brandon Dwight would personally prefer.

Three-time National Champion Todd Wells skipped participating after the January move until this year, while ultra-decorated Masters National Champion Dan Norton has skipped the event after being a mainstay on top of the podium. Former cyclocross pro Andy Jacques-Maynes also cited the January date as the reason he’s skipped the event for many years, after picking up a Baby Masters title in Kansas City.

Now USA Cycling, as it still debates locations and venues beyond Reno, is looking for your input on which month Nationals should take place in, and this poll, is open to all: Nationals racers and not, USA Cycling members and not.

As CX comes to a close, time to get your opinion. Should #CXNats be in Dec or Jan? Please take our short survey https://t.co/9Lkwc5ryrZ Thx! pic.twitter.com/Q67NrAdUWC

— USA Cycling (@usacycling) February 3, 2017

Speak up, weigh in, give your input and especially if you get your wish, join the fun at Nationals.

You can take the full survey here or below.

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