The Stud, retired from the bike shop, found himself with a little free time and more than a few unpaid bills.
The UCI-Walmart 2022 Cyclocross World Championships kick off today in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
I won’t be there, and neither will my old ’cross buddy Brook Watts, whose baby this is.
Or was, before the political climate in Arkansas took a distinct turn for the worse, presenting him with an insurmountable run-up to race day.
Those were not cheering throngs at courseside. Cowbells were out, bullshit was in. Not even shoe spikes would help, unless applied to asses, and maybe not even then. Some days a fella can wear out a couple dozen pair of kneecaps kicking ass and all he gets is practice.
You can read Brook’s take on the whole mess at VeloNews. And for those of you who enjoy such things, here’s a hot GoPro lap of the course.
“This site is undergoing maintenance.” How about getting to work on the state legislature next?
It’s Earth Day, and I plan to celebrate by staying on top of it, where I can keep an eye on things.
This ain’t always easy.
There is, of course, The Bug®. And I’ve had a couple close calls while riding trails this past week. No harm, no foul, but still, I think I might give that pasatiempo a rest for a while. A skinny trail can only handle so many remote “workers” before something gives. Our dirt arteries are dangerously clogged. That’s my diagnosis, anyway.
Speaking of keeping an eye on things, and dirt, here’s some bad news: My man Brook Watts has stepped down as organizer of the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Nor will he have any involvement in the UCI World Cup race there.
Says Brook:
“The situation in Arkansas remains problematic and unfortunately, I don’t see any satisfactory resolution. I have sincerely, but unsuccessfully, attempted to work out my concerns and differences with constituents. However, regrettably, we were not successful. I remain dedicated to continuing to use my position of influence in the cyclo-cross community to fight for equity in racing, and to ensure that the sport is accepting and welcoming to all.”
This is a goddamn shame, frankly. Brook is a righteous dude, a fine racer, and a top-shelf organizer. This can’t have been an easy call for him to make.
I haven’t tugged on his sleeve for more details because he asked for privacy after making his announcement. He deserves that and much, much more.
Some people build things. Other people, eh, not so much.
Mad Blog Media 