November 16, 2012 – Only days before the biggest cyclocross date on the calendar, the BC Cross Community Collective and individuals in the province’s cycling community are frustrated after being unable to convince organizers of this weekend’s Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships and the BC Grand Prix of Cyclo-cross, to distribute additional funds collected by the group with the purpose of providing equal prizing for elite men and women at the UCI C2 BC Grand Prix event on Sunday.

The new group, spearheaded by Norm Thibault, organizer of the popular Vancouver Island Cross on the Rock Series, collected $2,100, all donated by the cycling community (see list below) but, according to Thibault, when they offered the funds to the race organizers with the clear wish that it be used solely for the purpose of equal prize money for the racers, organizers apparently responded that this would not be guaranteed.

Last month, the BC Cross Community Collective formed to raise funds for equal prize money for the elite men and women at the upcoming BC Grand Prix of Cyclo-cross event, to be held on November 18 in South Surrey, the day after the Canadian CX Nationals – read the original story HERE.

A disappointed Thibault commented, “I have been a race director since 1994. If someone wanted to donate money to one of our events for prizes, which does happen, there are always strings attached or conditions. As long as it is not unreasonable… we accommodate them. An investment in anything wants a return. Our return is that we want to promote women’s racing, we want to encourage them to come back. We want to give the guys and girls that might be representing us at World Champs in 2013 in Louisville a bit more cash to try and get there and back. We did not think it was unreasonable.”

The group has now taken matters into its own hands and will unofficially allocate the money equally on site on Sunday between the elite men and women racers down to 15th place.

The group was also concerned about the lack of any prizing being offered at the Canadian Championships. “The first technical guide came out and it showed no prize money for Nationals, but bigger than that, it showed unequal prize money for the UCI C2 race on November 18th. Developing women’s racing in B.C. is a big deal to us, so discrimination of women or not following the UCI protocol does not sit well with our organization or others in the BC ‘Cross community,” added Thibault.

But soon after race organizers and Cycling BC announced that there will be equal prize money offered for the top three elite men and elite women finishers at the Canadian Championships via sponsor Daryl-Evans Mechanical. Further the technical guide for the C2 race on November 18 now states: “The top 1/3 of the Women’s Elite field will receive the same amount of prize money as the men. For example, if 21 women enter the race, the top 7 women will receive the same amount of prize money as the top 7 men. The prize money listed in the table below represents only the minimum amounts required by the UCI.” See the technical guide HERE. (Prizing information is on Page 13.)

Kevin MacCuish from Cycling BC told Pedal they had reviewed and improved the prize money situation at the Canadian Championships and the C2 race, and while he applauded the group’s efforts, they couldn’t reach a consensus on the additional funds that the group had raised and noted that a statement would be issued shortly.

The precedent for equal prize money in cycling is being set worldwide, with a recent mandate by USA Cycling and recommendations at the UCI athletes commission earlier this week. Stay tuned to pedalmag.com for more on this issue as it unfolds.

Donations for the BC Cross Community Collective were received from the following:
– Atomic Cycling Club
– West Coast Racing
– Interior Cross Series
– Dwyane Kress
– Trail Bikes-Eatmore Sprouts
– Pedal Magazine
– Tara and Mike Pollock
– Cross on the Rock #5  Crosstoberfest
– Cross on the Rock #6 Binab Property GP
– Pumpkin Cross
– COTR Series General
– Pro City Cycles Club
– OrganicAthlete Victoria cyclocrossers
– Jak New
– Escape Velocity/Garneau Evolution crew