Paige Onweller (Trek Driftless) won a bronze medal at the U.S. National Gravel Championships, earning her a second wildcard entry into the UCI Gravel World Championships on October 5-6. However, she and other top U.S. gravel racers such as Keegan Swenson, Russell Finsterwald, Lauren De Crescenzo, and Alexis Skarda have roster slots for the World Championships to focus on the last two races of the Lifetime Grand Prix Series withdrew from the race.

Convenience and profitability are two major deciding factors for American riders passing up the chance to compete in the World Championships, but the Belgian course is half “gravel.

For Grand Prix competitors in particular, top finishes at The Lad Dirt Fest in southern Colorado this Saturday and the Big Sugar Gravel in Arkansas on October 19 will mean $300,000 in prize money after Big Sugar, split evenly between the top 10 male and female finishers. The top 10 male and female finishers will receive equal shares of the $300,000 prize money after Big Sugar.

Rainbow jerseys are available for the World Championships, but there is no prize money, no travel support from USA Cycling, and athletes must purchase a national kit.

The UCI Gravel World Championships course “puts American gravel riders at a disadvantage,” Onweller said. She cancelled her plans to head to Belgium the day after The Lad, opting to stay in the U.S. to compete for the top spot in the Grand Prix, where she is second overall, and to focus on “two pure gravel events that suit me very well.”

“I was excited about the opportunity to be part of the team and help other riders who fit in well [on the World Championship course]. It's an Olympic year and there isn't a lot of support out there. It's hard to give up the opportunity to compete in the World Championships, but I have to think about what my priorities are right now and what fits best for me personally. This decision was multifaceted,” she told Cycling News and a small group of journalists gathered for a virtual press conference about the Grand Prix.

“Once I finished second overall (in the LTGP), it was clear that I needed to not only fight for Big Sugar, but also fight for the overall. I've had my sights set on Big Sugar all year. The Lifetime Grand Prix is putting the spotlight on American off-road racing, putting the spotlight on women, and setting the standard for women to start. I want to support that.

“And I was also worried about my experience and whether I could make a difference there. For example, if I finished 20th in the World Championships, it wouldn't mean much to me or my sponsors. But if I win the Grand Prix overall, it would mean a lot."

Onweller, the winner of the 2022 Big Sugar Gravel, had booked a flight from Colorado to Belgium for this Sunday, but he was concerned that taking an international flight from a race at high altitude, competing in one five-hour race, and flying home to recover would affect his fitness and health, he explained that he was concerned about the impact this would have on his health.

De Crescenzo said that she too could not make up her mind and decided to cancel her flight to Belgium last night. “It's not a good course for me,” she admitted, prioritizing saving money on airfare, lodging, and team kits and focusing on the Grand Prix.

Jim Miller, USA Cycling's sports performance chief, acknowledged that the reduced support that had been part of the World Championships program in the past was due to the constraints of the Olympic year.

“In an Olympic year, we face significant expenses without the revenue to make up for it. We are not funded by the government, so we have to find ways to cover those costs ourselves. Miller told Cycling News that USA Cycling is not helping with travel expenses to Belgium and does not have a local support system in place, saying, “Simply put, you can't spend money you don't have.”

John Borstelmann is also in the Lifetime Grand Prix, and he spoke to Cycling News about both his chances of qualifying for the series and the Gravel World Championships, where he is outside the top 10 with two races remaining. Unlike Onweller and De Crescenzo, this year's wildcard entry to the World Championships, based on his second place overall at the US Gravel Nationals, was his first and an offer he could not refuse.

“My biggest motivation is to race in Flanders with its crosswinds, cobbles, and punchy climbs. This race is like a bonus race for me,” the 33-year-old told Cycling News from his camp in Trinidad, Colorado, where he is preparing for the Rad Dirt Fest.

“My bread and butter is American gravel racing. Just being there and developing the content of the race experience is valuable enough for the sponsors.”

“As a team, we won't have support from USA Cycling, so there will be a lot of privateers. From what I saw at the Italian World Championships, there were 230 riders on the line and it was so chaotic that team strategy was virtually impossible. I feel like it's a little bit of an obligation [to compete at the World Championships]. I'm very excited.”

Finsterwald declined the wildcard spot he earned by finishing fourth overall at the US Gravel Nationals due to an already busy fall. He agreed with Borstelmann about the chaotic nature of the start with so many riders.

“I didn't think it would fit into my schedule and I didn't have enough UCI points to start at the front, which I thought was important on that course,” he said.

22-year-old Andy Leidich has UCI points and will represent the United States in Belgium for the third time. He said he set himself up with the money to go to the World Championships as an “investment in my future.”

“I think that buying the travel expenses and the team kit is an investment in my future. I set aside funds to be able to go to the World Championships because I believe it is important to me and that sponsorship and partnership opportunities will pay off in the future.”

Borstelmann, who has an extensive gravel history in American racing, including three consecutive wins at the Gravel World Championships in Nebraska, was eager to represent the U.S. at the World Championships for the first time and, in case he did not finish in the top five, the week before the US Gravel Nationals he completed the USA Cycling application process.

“I always wanted to compete at the highest level, and USA Cycling promised me prize money for the Gravel Nationals. I didn't rely too much on my travel and race budget this year, but there is enough money coming in. It's good to use those funds.”

He is still undecided on whether participants going to Belgium for the Gravel World Championships will need to purchase a team kit. He just wants to run hard to support American gravel champion Brennan Wertz.

“Brennan is getting better after the All-Japan championships, so he should be able to get a good starting position, and he has enough road experience to run at the front of the peloton. Personally, if it helps Brennan, I want an excuse to go crazy in the first half of the race and go all out, even if I have to bust a move.”

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