USA Cycling has issued an apology to its members for the postponement last Sunday of the Cyclocross championships in Austin.
By now you've probably heard the story: The Cyclocross races in Zilker Park were scheduled to end Sunday. But the city's Parks and Recreation Department postponed the event until Monday because of rain.
The agency worried biking in mud would uproot trees in the park. The Austin Heritage Tree Foundation had pushed back against the event, saying that it shouldn't have been held at the park at all because of the potential damage to trees.
In its statement, USA Cycling says it spent three years planning the race. During that time, the cycling organization said, Austin officials never said the tracks ran too close to tree roots. USA Cycling also said it reviewed the course with the Heritage Tree Foundation.
The Foundation denies this and said it never saw the racetrack before the event.
USA Cycling said it will pay for any park damage caused during the competition.
