8 Takeaways from Big Sugar
Storms, safety, money, and partying.
Big Sugar, it was a pleasure. For the final time this season, here are my eight takeaways from the week.
Excuse any typos or formatting errors, I’m quite badly hungover.
1. Bentonville is beautiful yet bizarre
It’s where Walmart was born, and it’s where the Walton family has invested millions of dollars. Bentonville is a beautiful place - the trail network is mind boggling, the town is clean and everyone is smiling.
I’ve asked myself many times this week if it’s utopia or dystopia, and I’m still not quite sure.
2. The race…worked?!
Hot take: The 50 mile course is the perfect Grand Prix finale.
It’s twice the carnage in half the distance, and truly throws a cat amongst the pigeons. People are so fried this late on in the season, I think with some course alterations that it’s a cracking final round.
Just look at the results, they were quite different to what we normally see and that can only be good for the sport.
And it makes a more watchable product for the livestream.
3. We have to talk safety
We need safer races. Racing incidents are fine, but the controllables need controlling. It’s disgraceful that there are cars driving towards a 150 rider peloton, vehicles in the bunch, the list goes on.
It needs fixing, before a serious incident occurs.
I’ll cut some slack because of the late course changes, but this wasn’t an isolated incident to yesterday’s race. There’s big money on the line and it’s a pro-sport - it will never be perfect but it must be better.
4. Cam fcking Jones
If Unbound wasn’t enough, winning the Lifetime GP overall confirms it: we have a new gravel king. Cam you beauty. It could not have happened to a nicer person. Cam’s the sort of guy that everyone wants to see succeed. He’s a gent, and I don’t have enough superlatives in my locker.
Cam showed the power of the LTGP. A relatively unknown talent, he got in through the Wild Card and his life changed because of it.
Quick shout out to Griffin Easter, Cam’s main rival for nicest guy in the peloton. He had a stellar ride to finish 2nd at Big Sugar.
5. Gravel is fun out back
I’m still puking up when I go hard, so my day was spent off the back, and being “neutral service” for those in need. We often joke about the spirit of gravel in the pro field, but let’s be honest, that left when five and six figure contracts came in.
In the age-group and amateur field however, it’s well and truly alive. Yesterday made me take a step back, and realise why we’re all racing. Perspective is nice.
6. The US scene is unique
The US is a funny old place for many reasons, but the racing scene over here is special. On road, off road, whatever - it’s this travelling circus with people from across the globe.
There’s a uniquely American characteristic of supporting people no matter what and their never ending optimism too.
There were a few times that I stepped back and shook my head last night, questioning how life got me to a party in rural Arkansas.
I have the US cycling scene to thank for so much in the past few years.
7. It’s a long season.
We have to be fit in February and try to make it last through October. There are so many flights, engagements, training days, and races.
Everyone is fried, and it seemed ready for off-season. I’m bizarrely emotional writing this and I have a lot of reflecting to do.
This sport is brutal, bloody brutal. But, it’s quite beautiful too.
8. Thank you all.
This week, more than any other in my life, I’ve had so many of you come up to me and ask about my writing, or my crazy team idea.
Thanks to all of you - it seems weird that me writing thoughts here reaches so many, but thank you.
It’s not been a season I’m proud of results wise, but there’s a lot more to life than a number on a piece of paper.
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Totally agree about your first take away. I decided to do Big Sugar to make up for Mid South going up in flames. It was my first time in Northwest Arkansas in 19 years since I graduated the University of Arkansas. This is not the same Bentonville (or Northwest Arkansas for that matter) I knew back from 2002-2006 haha. Of course things are bound to change in 19 years, and the region was growing while I was in uni, but what I saw this past weekend just blew me away. I'll be back...I'll make sure it's not 19 years later though haha.
When describing Bentonville to others I often refer to it as America’s version of Girona though I suppose you could make a case for Bend, Boulder or Portland. Regardless I always enjoy visiting though not for Big Sugar (conflicts with CX season). Hey we all have our quirks🤷🏼♂️. Thanks for taking us along for the ride Joe and enjoy your off season.