July 27, 2021 (COLORADO SPRINGS, CO) - USA Cycling, in conjunction with industry partners, sports advocates, and inclusivity experts, have set September 10 and 11 for the inaugural Cycling Inclusion Conference. The target audience for the conference is cycling industry representatives, with a view to educate, inform and collectively stand for change. The focus will be on four key underrepresented communities in cycling: BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled athletes, and women—with a goal of creating a more inclusive sport of cycling for all. Members of these underrepresented communities and USA Cycling’s DEI Task Force are helping shape the agenda and panel discussions, and will be invited to speak and sit on panels across the two-day event.
“Everyone involved in the Inclusion Conference has expressed that we must come ready with actions in mind to activate in the industry in order to create change and welcome a more diverse community to cycling,” said USA Cycling president and CEO, Rob Demartini. “This is long overdue and will be a major focus for the organization and like-minded brands moving forward.”
Canyon Bicycles and Allied Cycle Works have both agreed to donate product for raffle, with proceeds going towards offsetting the cost of the conference and compensating all speakers and panelists for their time and expertise. More information on where and how to buy raffle tickets will be released soon.
The two-day Inclusion Conference will bring together representatives from every corner of the cycling industry to galvanize the resources, experiences, and expertise necessary to ensure cycling is more welcoming and inclusive to every athlete who wishes to take part. Industry representatives interested in taking part can contact Kelsey Erickson: kerickson@usacycling.org. The Conference will also be live-streamed and available to the broader cycling community across the two days.
USA Cycling has contracted The Inclusion Playbook, a highly influential and recognized sports impact consultancy, to oversee the organization and delivery of the Conference as well as the launch of the Inclusion Coalition, that will advise USA Cycling and the industry on inclusion initiatives.
A full agenda, speakers, and list of Conference partners will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
For more information, visit usacycling.org.
ABOUT USA CYCLING (usacycling.org)
USA Cycling is the national governing body for the sport of cycling and oversees the disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, cyclocross, and BMX. USA Cycling’s mission is to champion accessibility, participation, and excellence in the sport of cycling to make more Americans healthier, happier, and better on two wheels while achieving sustained international racing success. USA Cycling supports cyclists at all levels, from those just beginning in the sport and participating in fun rides to international caliber racers. The organization identifies, develops, and selects cyclists to represent the United States in international competition through the support of kids’ and interscholastic programs, amateur bike racing and grassroots development programs, and the provision of critical infrastructure to run organized racing. USA Cycling has a membership of 100,000, annually sanctions over 2,500 events, and is a proud member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
