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As another successful Tour of California rolls through the golden state, race organizers are already considering the status of the race for 2008 and beyond. Jim Birrell, race director for the TOC, sees a bright future for the early season stage race, but also recognizes that there are some logistics to consider before initiating the change to a Pro Tour designed race. He explains, “Our race has all the ingredients to become a Pro Tour event. We have a great CEO, a great owner with big visions, and this state offers very desirable routes, both on the coast and inland. That said, our approach is to walk before we run as an organization, and fine tune our engine before we choose to make that quantum leap to Pro Tour status.”

He continued by praising the teams involved for this years edition, as well as the sentiment among the governing bodies for the sport. “It’s an honor to have the top Pro Tour teams and their directors that we have this year. As we’ve heard from the UCI and others, the presentation of this event is already on a Pro Tour level. That level is shown in the overall organization of the race, the level of professionalism, the safety aspects, the marketability of the Tour, the huge crowds, and the supply and demand scenario of all the top teams wanting to be here. So we (TOC and Medalist Sports) feel our event is already at the level of a Pro Tour type event, and in some cases, better than some Pro Tour races.

The big problem with bringing all of the Pro Tour teams into the race, according to Birrell, is two-fold. “It’s probably a half a million dollar budget increase to your budget to bring all the Pro Tour teams to the race. So our organizers would have to decide whether we would be able to absorb such costs. Also, it’s always been a belief of the race to give our continental teams a chance to compete against the best riders in the world so that they have a future beyond their continental contracts. If we invite all of the Pro Tour teams, we would inevitably have to shut out many of the American teams.”

So what about a separate one day event? Does Birrell think it’s possible to create a one day Classic type event on American soil? “We’d love to find somewhere here in the states to create our own Paris-Roubaix type event in America. That’s the type of race that will command big media attention and something that many riders, I think, would have a big interest in participating in.”

In terms of the TOC’s growth over the coming years, Birrell explained that there are unlimited scenarios. “We’ll possibly consider a nine day event next year. We have 52 different packages that we’re considering as far south as below San Diego and as far north as Chico. And so if it works out logistically, we could seriously consider growing to a weekend to weekend event.”

Chris Aronhold, managing partner for Medalist Sports, was glad to have the Pro Tour teams in the race this year, and explained that the event has received high praise from cycling’s governing bodies. “It’s an honor to have the top Pro Tour teams and their directors that we have this year. As we’ve heard from the UCI and others, the presentation of this event is already on a Pro Tour level. That level is shown in the overall organization of the race, the level of professionalism, the safety aspects, the marketability of the Tour, the huge crowds, and the supply and demand scenario of all the top teams wanting to be here. So we (TOC and Medalist Sports) feel our event is already at the level of a Pro Tour type event, and in some cases, better than some Pro Tour races.”

Like Birrell though, Aronhold realizes the financial impact bringing all of the Pro Tour teams to the race would mean. “Bringing all of the Pro Tour teams into the picture would obviously have a financial impact on the race, in the range of hundreds of thousands of dollars. So that is the evaluation that we need to analyze. Certainly it would be great to have Pro Tour status, but at the same time, you’re limited in who you can invite. We are very committed to supporting teams like Priority Health, Bissel, Jelly Belly and Health Net, our continental American teams. In terms of growing the sport in America, it is vital to give these smaller teams the chance to compete and been seen among the world’s elite cyclists, so it is important that we consider those teams when making decisions about the future status of the race. So, while having an all Pro Tour field would be great for the fans, it may no be in the best interests of the race and American cycling.”

Pat McQuaid, head of the UCI, is also hopeful that the Tour of California can become a Pro Tour race, and believes it can happen as early as 2009. “We would be very interested in this event becoming a Pro Tour event, and possibly as early as 2009. Because of the changes with the ASO and other organizers taking their races off of the Pro Tour calendar, we have fast-tracked the globalization of the sport because of the situation we have found ourselves in. As of now, we are on contact with the Russian and Chinese government about Pro Tour events there, and it is an obvious step to include America in that equation as well.”

McQuaid then went on to qualify his statement by noting that the decision has o be made by the appropriate people. “This is a decision that should be taken by AEG in conjunction with US Cycling. This race is important for the US teams, and a Pro Tour switch would mean many American teams would no longer be able to race. If US Cycling can develop other events for the US teams, then it would make it easier to have the TOC make the transition to the Pro Tour.”

In the months ahead, expect AEG to mull the pros and cons of the Tour of California becoming a Pro Tour event. In the meantime, they’re surely more than satisfied with the quality of the field, and the racing, this year.

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