Pinkbike Poll - What Will Enduro Racing Become?

Enduro racing has taken two evolutionary paths: The European style that requires pro-level descending skills and dedicated bicycles, and the North American style, staged on less technical courses which can be won aboard an off-the-shelf 140-millimeter-travel trailbike. There is fierce loyalty in both camps, with those who support the Euro-style enduro, maintaining that the sport would be diluted if it was held on courses and terrain that did not challenge the likes of Dan Atherton and Nico Vouilloz. The North American camp sees enduro as the only competition venue that a rider can race competitively on his or her everyday trailbike.



The split seems to be based upon the vision of enduro as a showcase for professional racing that also allows amateurs to participate in - or a venue that is participation based, with courses engineered to challenge upper-level amateurs, with some sections that may challenge pro competitors. The easy answer is that both solutions are valid in their selective markets - as enduro events are massively attended on both sides of the Atlantic. I would tend to agree with that solution, but there are powerful forces looming in the shadows that will soon amalgamate the two into one set of rules and course requirements.



Now that it has become a respected and well-attended professional venue, the UCI will not allow enduro racing to be run without its strict oversight for an indefinite time - and in the United States, all indications lead to the conclusion that USA Cycling is chafing at the bit for a hostile takeover of the independent promoters who have built enduro into a successful enterprise there. History shows that, when the UCI enforces new rules, USA Cycling follows with a vengeance. The UCI has reached out to key players in Europe to find some middle ground, but be prepared for some arbitrary interpretations when the final verdict is handed down. Bottom line is that the UCI's vision of enduro will be the format that will determine the landscape of the sport and that may not be such a wonderful thing for either side of the Atlantic.



So, one may ask,"if a takeover of enduro is eminent, why bother to sweat the details?" There is a third option, however, and it may be that its time has come. Enduro could go it alone. There is a groundswell of popularity for the event that cuts across the entire scope of the sport and the promoters are all entrepreneurial types who understand their riders' needs far better than any entitled governing body. The path to success has been laid out by two divergent cycling groups: Triathlon and Freestyle. Both are flourishing without the intervening arms of the UCI, IOC or tiny USA Cycling. The primary reason that Freestyle and Triathlon succeeded is exactly why Enduro could become independent - they were cultivated, promoted and governed by people who were pioneers, who were integral parts of their sports. And they organized before traditional governing agencies understood what was going on. Now is that time.



Factors in favor of an independent enduro organization are strong. The facts that enduro has disastrous fan appeal and is nearly impossible to televise are b***r shrinkers for organizers who envision cycle racing as the Tour de France or an Olympic venue. If enduro is to thrive, it will have to be driven by participation. The more racers we can get to line up, the better - and Triatlhon shows us that professionals can and should compete on the same courses as amateurs do. Their simple separation of age-groupers and professionals could work equally well for enduro. Triathlon also points out that qualifier races can be implemented to weed out the best talent for world-class events. On the other side, the FMB shows us that you don't have to be big to make it happen - that passion, peer acceptance and roots in the sport are perhaps more important to a successful program.



Both sides of enduro could enter into a dialogue and organize a world governing body for the sport, and if that happens, arguably, the outcome would be a healthier sport for all. The reason is, that those who founded and built the sport are more inclined to make positive changes for the benefit of all riders as the sport progresses - and less inclined to enforce regulations that have no value beyond forcing a fresh venue to conform to existing types of cycling competition. Enduro is a participant sport, so it makes sense that it should be run by participants as well. In the end, both scenarios will produce one set of competition rules and course guidelines. The question is: would you rather choose the ingredients of your breakfast, or have someone else throw a plate of food in front of you and say, "eat?"

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