Article by Chris Johnson

Full disclosure up front: I'm a proud member of Echelon Energy Cycling Team.

E2 has been around Fort Collins in various forms for many years, going back to its origins as a competitive offshoot of the Fort Collins Cycling Club. With members of all ages, both genders, competitive in all disciplines of cycling, and as sponsors of some of Northern Colorado's longest-standing and most venerated weekly group rides and with our distinctive team kit on display en masse at all of our grassroots race events, we are among the leaders in developing and supporting competitive cycling in Fort Collins.

On Dec. 10, E2 is bringing cyclocross back to Northern Colorado with the Cross of the North CX race. We're working closely with the The Ranch in Loveland to bring racers of all levels a challenging, safe, spectator-friendly race event. On 10 wild acres north of the event center, the team is already hard at work plotting a course of varied surfaces, challenging run-ups, fast, tight corners and an incredible view of the northern Front Range and the majestic Rockies.

Its convenient highway exit location, ample parking, on-site food, beer and coffee, professional announcing and a compact course layout will make for a great, family-friendly race-day experience. And as always, kids race free.

E2 is also proud to present this event with full financial transparency: A spreadsheet of all associated costs and revenues are available to the public at crossofthenorth.com. We hope this transparency will inspire confidence in local racing and will serve as a model for promoters in the future. We are also thrilled to collaborate with The Ranch and hope Cross of the North will be the first of many cycling events to develop from this partnership.

ACA and USAC reintegration

As I've mentioned here on a couple of occasions, the relationship between Colorado's bike race sanctioning body (the ACA) and the national body (USAC) is filled with contention and tumult. The unease built sharply over the past season and culminated in a club council special meeting in Golden on Friday night, where the ACA member clubs voted 185 to 100 to reintegrate into the USAC after more than a decade of independence. Colorado racers and clubs and local officials have much to be proud of in terms of our growth and development over the past 10 years, and now we have the opportunity to reintegrate into the national race community.

The change goes into effect as of next season and calls for the ACA to act as a "local association" of USAC, continuing to provide Colorado racers with personal, accountable governance, while folding us back into national rankings, a consolidated upgrade points system, a single race calendar, better integration with collegiate cycling, fairer appraisal of Cyclocross National Champion call-up status, and access to sponsorship opportunities previously available only to USAC regions.

Emotions ran high over the course of this process, but the overwhelming vote constitutes a strong mandate and obligation for these governments to work together in the interest of local racers and racing, to grow the sport and provide for its future through youth outreach, collegiate team support, and minimizing barriers to entry wherever possible. We Colorado racers have every expectation that this new agreement will result in a organization that incorporates the best of both institutions and puts racers and the community first.