What Happened to Road Racing in America?

Former WorldTour professional Mike Woods recently toured the North American domestic road racing scene, observing a landscape significantly altered from his time competing there over a decade ago. His VeloNews article highlights a stark decline in professional-level events, team infrastructure, and overall visibility compared to the vibrant circuit he once knew, prompting a wider discussion about the sport's health in the region.

This observation by Woods, a Canadian who rose through North American ranks before his successful WorldTour career, underscores a long-standing concern within the sport. The gradual erosion of the National Racing Calendar (NRC) and the subsequent Pro Road Tour (PRT), coupled with the financial struggles of domestic teams and the exodus of talent to Europe, has left a void. For a region that once produced Grand Tour contenders and Classics specialists, the current state raises questions about the future pipeline of American and Canadian talent.

Woods' assessment is a blunt mirror reflecting years of neglect and strategic missteps. The question isn't just "what happened," but rather, "who is going to fix it?"