The Baie-Saint-Paul Canada MTB Cup on July 11 is currently being held one day ahead of the July 12 Pan Am Games MTB XC events being held at the official venue, Hardwood Ski and Bike in Oro-Medonte (near Barrie), ON. The tight overlap is resulting in concerns primarily for volunteers to assist in running the events at the Games, the biggest MTB races next year, including others who will be forced to make a choice – critics wonder why.
“I spoke with John Pugsley [SOC organizer for the MTB events at the Pan Am Games] yesterday and outlined the various drivers in the decision to keep the event on the weekend noted in the calendar that was released yesterday,” wrote Mathieu in an email. “It is fully appreciated that this is not optimal from the Pan Am Games event perspective but other options were not workable so we had to stay with the Canada Cup dates to serve the athletes, teams and organizers that are involved.”
“The members of the Pan Am MTB XCO Sport Organizing Committee now know the calendar and there are those that will have to make a personal decision on the conflict and how they will deal with it. There was no decision that would favour all stakeholders. We had to make a call that was in the best interests of the majority.”
Cycling Canada apparently considered and then rejected a possible date change for the Baie-St-Paul race; organizers of the event presumably have said that it would be impossible to reschedule it.
Also impacting the governing body’s decision are MTB XC events in the USA that are part of WORS, the Wisconsin off Road Series, where presumably Canadian riders with US professional trade teams are obligated to attend. The WORS Cup on July 24-26 in Portage, WI would make that alternative date unavailable. But critics say these riders wouldn’t be attending the Baie-St-Paul race anyway making it a non-issue.
The Sport Organizing Committee (SOC) for the Pan Am MTB events remain very concerned about having a sufficient number of capable volunteers to run their event particularly those needed in the Field of Play (FOP) – approximately 80 of the 180 volunteers needed to properly manage the Pan Am MTB events. Apparently 20% may be forced to choose Baie-Saint-Paul over a lifetime opportunity to be a part of the Games.
Critics claim that the powers that be should fix the problem and end the dispute as the Games are too important and long-time supporters of the sport, including athletes, families, teams and fans should not be forced to choose between the two events.
Pedal understands that the matter is being debated at a Cycling Canada Board of Directors meeting this evening and more news may be forthcoming soon.