Criterium Detroit City

Photo: Criterium Detroit City

MICHIGAN: Detroit - Last year, in 2011, race promoter Erica Fulk and her team of tireless workers brought back bicycle racing to the downtown Detroit area, the first in probably 20+ years, since the demise of the Tour of Michigan in the 1990s, with the "Criterium Detroit City". It was a rousing success - very popular with the locals and it drew some strong talent in the Pro 1/2 fields for men and women. Sadly, this year however, it is not to be. Stating mounting financial concerns and the inability to secure a course, they were forced to pull the plug for 2012. Fulk writes on the Michigan Bicycle Racing Assn webpage: "It is with a heavy heart, and a heavier hand that I write this email. After months, days, hours, several beers, lots of tears, a very helpful team, that I write you to tell you that there will be no Criterium Detroit City in 2012. There have been many developments in the past few months that I've been trying to fix and refix. Our course downtown was canceled due to a scheduling conflict. We tried to move the course but haven't found a suitable replacement course. We have made lots of headway with several new routes for the course, but I have been unable to raise enough money to put on the crit, or find the perfect course.

In full and total disclosure, last year I was able to raise $5,200 in sponsorship dollars, the race cost us $16,000 to put on (and that was the amount after we pulled every favor in the book). This year, I can't pull those favors again, it will cost more, and there just isn't enough time.

This is just a bump in a roubaix-esque course - there are lots of them, and you'll never know which one gave you the flat, and you know you'll get back in it.

I will be at Detroit Bike City on March 24th to talk about the future of the race. There is a future. The race will be back in 2013 in a new location. The point of Criterium Detroit City is, and has always been, to show off Detroit. To do that we will move the race course around the city and show off it's great assets.

To the racers - you have to know that for me canceling this race is the hardest thing I've ever done.  Putting the race on last year was hard, I broke down a week before the race as I was given two bills for $2,500 each that I couldn't pay. But I stuck with it. My moto last year was 'it's going to be the most amazing thing you've ever seen, even if I go broke doing it.'  I wanted to show you something you had never seen before, and I hope that I did.  In continuing with that tradition, I want to give you a race that you will always remember, and at this point I can't.  I can't keep getting you (and me) excited every time we have a silver lining. I thought we had a course, I was wrong. I thought we had a new course, I was wrong. I thought we had a title sponsor, I was wrong.  I want to give you an experience that you've never had before, and right now, I can't.

I have been trying to figure out a way around this. But I can't. I don't want to waste my planning teams time, they are a great bunch of people and I want them to focus on something that will work, like CDC 2013. I can't waste resources that I don't have, it seems that last year taught me something. Next year the race will be back - better than last year.  "

Fear not fellow readers, the Michigan cycling scene is strong and there are many other excellent races to be enjoyed in 2012. We wish them good luck in bringing racing back to downtown Detroit next year!