Gravel might still be viewed as the young upstart by many old-school cyclists — but a prize purse like this will surely draw elite racers of all kinds.
When the first-ever USA Cycling Gravel National Championships kick off in western Nebraska on Sept. 9, riders will compete for a $60,000 prize purse. The event will also serve as an automatic qualifier for the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Gravel World Championships, according to an announcement.
Prize money goes to the Elite races, with an equal payout for both Men’s and Women’s categories. This marks the largest single-day cash prize in the history of American gravel, said organizers. They see gravel as a galvanizing force in American cycling — and so does Lauren De Crescenzo, who will compete for the national title this November.
“There’s not much we can take credit for as Americans in the history of cycling,” De Crescenzo said in the press release. “But gravel cycling has its roots deeply embedded here, and because of that, I see the USA Cycling Gravel National Championship as the natural progression in the development of our sport.”
