The American XCO has experienced its best year in terms of competition results in 2024, and its federation wanted to recognize it in a big way a few days ago in Bentonville, Arkansas. But Haley Batten's historic medal in Paris or the victories of Riley Amos, Chris Blevins, Kelsey Urban, and Savilia Blunk do not align with the new trends in the American country.
USA achieves its best year in XCO, but it is no longer in fashion
The cyclist from Specialized Factory Racing, Haley Batten, achieved with her bronze in Paris 2024 the first Olympic medal for her country in this discipline. A historic event considering that we are facing the nation where this sport was created in the 70s.
This was not an isolated achievement, and the successes of young Riley Amos, cyclist from the Trek Factory team who has dominated the U-23 World Cup and finished 7th in the Olympics, of the Rockrider Racing Team's rider Savilia Blunk, of Kelsey Urban in Team 31, or of Chris Blevins, have placed their country among the best world powers in the discipline.
This is something that their Federation (USA Cycling) has known how to recognize in true American style last October. With a parade on convertible cars and a helicopter ride included.
But at the same time, these successes coexist with the paradox that XCO has never enjoyed great popularity among fans in the USA, who have always been a majority in other Gravity modalities of mountain biking. And now, in addition to those majority preferences, the relentless trend of Gravel is added. Gravel is one of the most booming modalities in cycling, and the USA could be said to be the current country with the most fans and the most crowded races.
This is how some of its protagonists tried to explain it in a recent interview with Velo.
"I think the reason why gravel has grown so much is because it is more accessible than XCO World Cup races or road races" "Also, the UCI XCO World Cup races have been 100% in Europe. I really think that can change. And when that changes, it will be exciting... I think there are a lot of people who just don't know, don't follow World Cup races, but love mountain biking" explained the winner of a Cape Epic and several World Cups Christopher Blevins
Haley Batten said: "It shouldn't be one discipline against another... cycling is too small. I want other athletes to get big sponsorships and big brand endorsements. They should earn salaries, do media projects, genius... Not everyone will go to the Olympics and can't compete in the World Cup. Only a small group of people can do that and make a living out of it, and if others can compete on their bike in another way and make it worthwhile, that's incredible."
On the other hand, Kelsey Urban explained: "The path to being a professional in XC can be, like much of cycling, very elitist. But especially as a kid... it's pretty hard to make it work without a certain level of resources and people investing in you from an early age. Gravel is more accessible and it's not just about competing for an hour and a half, they are interested in the adventure of the race. The challenge of completing a really tough race. It's really amazing that people show up for that. I think there's also a lot more social aspect. People start and finish with their friends, and that doesn't happen in an XCO race."
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