Covid Concerns Force USA Cycling to Adjust Format and Schedule of Inclusion Conference

September 2, 2021

Conference will now assume the form of monthly extended engagements for increased audience participation

Sept. 2, 2021 (COLORADO SPRINGS, CO) – USA Cycling had to make the difficult decision to reformat the highly anticipated Cycling Inclusion Conference. Originally slated for Friday, Sept. 10 and Saturday, Sept. 11, the organization made the decision based on the recent uptick in COVID cases. USA Cycling decided to launch the conversation virtually on Friday, Sept. 10, from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. MDT, as originally planned. This will serve as the kick-off for monthly conversations centered on the topics outlined in the Conference Agenda. These conversations will continue virtually until everyone can be together in person.

“We discussed internally and believe conducting the Inclusion Conference in person next week would potentially prevent people from being able to be included in the critical conversation,” said USA Cycling President and CEO, Rob DeMartini. “We don’t want to unnecessarily put our valued guests in a difficult situation, especially as we move towards creating improved inclusivity in the sport.”

USA Cycling believes this will be an opportunity to ensure that the conversation around inclusion in cycling is not limited to an event, but becomes an ongoing conversation and series of actions.

The agenda and panels, set with guidance and support of USA Cycling’s DEI Task Force and members of key underrepresented communities, will serve as a framework for the virtual monthly conversations. USA Cycling looks forward to engaging the broader cycling community in a regular cadence of conversation. The series will still primarily focus on four key underrepresented communities in cycling – BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women, and disabled athletes – with the potential for the conversation to expand and grow in the months to come. The target audience for the series remains the cycling industry representatives with a view to educate and inform and to establish strategic collaborations designed to increase inclusion in the sport moving forward.

The conversation series and eventual in-person event is brought to you with generous financial and product support from PeopleForBikes, Canyon, Allied Cycle Works, Trek, SRAM, Vittoria, Goodr, Hyperice and Strava. Canyon donated an Endurance CF SL Disc 8.0 Di2 for raffle, open to all. Proceeds from the raffle will be used to offset the costs of the speaker series and eventual in person event.

Refunds will be issued to those individuals who have registered to attend the Conference in person. A link to participate in Friday’s launch will be sent to everyone who has already registered for either in person or virtual Conference attendance. Details on the monthly conversations will be published alongside next week’s Conference launch.

For more information, visit usacycling.org.

ABOUT USA CYCLING (usacycling.org)

USA Cycling is the national governing body for the sport of cycling and oversees the disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, cyclocross, and BMX. USA Cycling’s mission is to champion accessibility, participation, and excellence in the sport of cycling to make more Americans healthier, happier, and better on two wheels while achieving sustained international racing success. USA Cycling supports cyclists at all levels, from those just beginning in the sport and participating in fun rides to international caliber racers. The organization identifies, develops, and selects cyclists to represent the United States in international competition through the support of kids’ and interscholastic programs, amateur bike racing and grassroots development programs, and the provision of critical infrastructure to run organized racing. USA Cycling has a membership of 100,000, annually sanctions over 2,500 events, and is a proud member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).