Wait. What? Why would they do this?

What's up with this guy too? Is he making a ton of assumptions? ... I know plenty of DH/BMX racers that hold USCF licenses they use to cross train?

On a side note, I've heard of a maximum average age on pro teams... am I making this up? Did they do it to satisfy this?


Toyota-United abusing USAC team rules?

Have I slept through what should be considerable controversy, or am I the only person who is disappointed that the Toyota-United UCI continental team has signed 2 professional downhill racers and a BMX racer to their squad? I can see that it is within the purview of USAC's rules, but let's be honest; the three of them aren't going to be at any events except for perhaps Sea Otter. I doubt they are getting paid at all, and none of them have ever even held USAC road racing licenses as far as I can tell. But they are American and under the age of 28... balancing out the Aussie/Kiwi veteran team.

Michael Ball is certainly the infant-terrible of this young year, but what the heck does Pettyjohn think he's up to anyway? There are plenty of Cat1's in this country that deserve contracts. Maybe the Toyota-United squad should start an Antipodeans registered team if they intend to primarily race in North American with a team from the other side of the planet? And what does it say about the interdisciplinary devaluation of fellow professional cyclists when the Shanbag and Riffle have confirmed for 2008 are a sham?

I'd love to hear the teams spin on this, but more importantly I'd love to see some deserving Cat1's in their place...

Mickey Denoncourt
Pelham, Ma
Thursday, January 10, 2008


Toyota-United abusing USAC team rules?

Wow, to the respondents of my previous my letter:

These riders ARE NOT going to race. They are solely on the roster to pad the age and nationality requirements. If the media were to do their due diligence to contact the riders or team management they would know this. I do not discount the talents of BMX or Downhill racers, I am one and regularly find myself on podiums at NMBS slalom races, NBL regionals etc, my heart and mind is large enough to enjoy all facets of bike racing.

These riders are not Sven Nys, John Tomac, Shanaze Read or the like, they are simply riders who received a few paltry dollars to be on a roster. They are not bright hopes, crossover athletes or at all interested in road racing. These riders do not have contracts even in their own disciplines for 2008 at this time...

There is a wealth of under-28 US Cat 1's, XC mountainbike racers, 'cross specialists, high caliber BMXers and trackies who would actually be of some use to a professional road team, and are riders whom would benefit immensely from the experience. Instead only the lazy and desperate are being exploited by Toyota-United. Other riders who were contacted by them showed enough class to turn down such an exploitive offer.

As someone who is actively involved in all aspects of bicycle racing in this country, from racing myself, to designing and building frames, promoting events, coaching and sponsoring a professional level team in multiple disciplines, I've been able to shorten the list of riders I am interested in working with by three.

If "real" racers don't fit into Toyta-United's budget, they need to re-assess their goals for their program.

I would love to be proven wrong, and to see Betcher, Shanbag and Riffle emerge as useful road racers. It's not going to happen, and none of the parties involved have any intentions of it happening as far as I can see.

Mickey Denoncourt
Easthampton, MA, USA
Friday, January 18, 2008

Wait. What? Why would they do this?

What's up with this guy too? Is he making a ton of assumptions? ... I know plenty of DH/BMX racers that hold USCF licenses they use to cross train?

On a side note, I've heard of a maximum average age on pro teams... am I making this up? Did they do it to satisfy this?

I think Mickey doesn't know what he's talking about.

There is no maximum age on some pro teams, that being said, I think at the division III, or whatever they're calling it now (basically whatever pro teams are in the US, or the lowest level of pro team) you have to maintain a certain average age on the team, since those teams are considered "developmental" I think. I'm sure someone else can come up with the exact rule.

As far as BMXers, and DHers being on road teams, there were some great examples other people responded to this joker with. McEwen being one of them. He's an old BMXer, and I think Stuey O'Grady got his start there as well. John Tomac, and so on and so forth.

As far as BMXers, and DHers being on road teams, there were some great examples other people responded to this joker with. McEwen being one of them. He's an old BMXer, and I think Stuey O'Grady got his start there as well. John Tomac, and so on and so forth.

But didn't McEwen start racing road, and then was picked up by a pro team? He didn't just quit racing BMX one day, and was then handed a sponsorship of a road bike and a razor? I haven't looked into this guy's accusations, but from what it sounds like, T-U's hired three guys who have negligible road racing experience (if any at all) to pad the roster, when in reality, they should've hired guys who are bona-fide roadies.

I think Mickey doesn't know what he's talking about.

...


That guy's e-mails read like he's an idjet. That's what I thought too.

And as far as McEwen, Tomac, O'Grady, et. al. are concerened... I'm sure they started out as BMX/DH racers but then moved to road BEFORE getting hired by a pro road squad, rather than after as Mickey so boldly assumes. Take female Jr. USA Nat. Champ Sinead Miller as a "less accomplished," more contemporary example-- pro BMX racer, cat2 road. I feel like she could be headed to a pro women's squad in a few years. But I don't see anyone mistaking her for a "lazy and desperate" rider.

What rule is he talking about TU taking advantage of?

I quickly googled one of the names... Derek Betcher-- I can't find his age, but I do see that he is a pro BMX racer (all that came up was what kind of bike he rode... :rolleyes: ). I tried putting his name into USAC results, and he has nothing listed, which makes me think that he never had a road license. :confused:

That guy's e-mails read like he's an idjet. That's what I thought too.

And as far as McEwen, Tomac, O'Grady, et. al. are concerened... I'm sure they started out as BMX/DH racers but then moved to road BEFORE getting hired by a pro road squad, rather than after as Mickey so boldly assumes. Take female Jr. USA Nat. Champ Sinead Miller as a "less accomplished," more contemporary example-- pro BMX racer, cat2 road. I feel like she could be headed to a pro women's squad in a few years. But I don't see anyone mistaking her for a "lazy and desperate" rider.

What rule is he talking about TU taking advantage of?

I quickly googled one of the names... Derek Betcher-- I can't find his age, but I do see that he is a pro BMX racer (all that came up was what kind of bike he rode... :rolleyes: ). I tried putting his name into USAC results, and he has nothing listed, which makes me think that he never had a road license. :confused:

I'm inclined to say YOU sound like an idiot.
http://beta.velonews.com/article/71713

It is entirely clear what is going on here, and no one has the balls to complain about it in the media. I do my part. My UCI mtb tradeteam has 10 riders on it. Even as a micro-manufacturer I go overboard to support domestic racing. With the money I spend registering the team I could have eaten well for 2 months. But now my riders get to race the 2 North American Worldcups this year that they would not otherwsie get to experience. Where do I pick my XC racers from? Cat 1's of course. People under the age of 30 who are racing road bikes right now by an large grew up as XC mtb racers. The skills are still there. We lost an entire generation to the road when contracts were flush and full, but plenty of good riders are remembering that bicycle racing is about fun, so we created a place for them...

_Mickey Denoncourt

This is sort of old news with T-U right?

Last year Ryan Miller (ex-Prime Alliance, ex-National champion many times over, and a good cat one) was on toyota united. Did you ever really see him at a NRC race? No. Most likely they had him on the team since he was under 28. It probably went un-noticed since him and Kirk Willett were friends/teammates in the past.

Who the hell cares? It's a stupid rule. I think it's a great way to get around the rule.

Rules that promote the development and support of young riders aren't stupid.
Not seeing there benefit, I won't call it stupid, but maybe myopic...