CEO Brendan Quirk narrows the focus of USA Cycling with an eye on worlds and the Olympics
It would be an understatement to say that Brendan Quirk took over a USA Cycling organization in turmoil in December 2021
It would be an understatement to say that Brendan Quirk took over an organization in turmoil when he moved from his spot as USA Cycling's chairman of the board to the office of the chief executive in December 2021.
The national governing body had churned through CEOs for more than a decade, each with their own vision and ideas but never staying long enough to implement them. Some wanted USA Cycling to be a vehicle to get more people on bikes, tapping into the recreational market, while others wanted to build up lower level and domestic racing programs.
Quirk wants all of that to happen, of course, but more as a byproduct of a sharpened focus on Team USA's elite athletes, the ones that will be competing over the next 10 days at the world championships in Scotland and the Paris Olympics next summer.
“There was a period where I think the leadership here tried to become the signature cycling organization across America and the truth is that's not our mission,” said Quirk, who has held a USA Cycling license since the 1980s. “We have really tried to focus our strategic plan and make it hyper-focused on our mission to compete at the highest levels.”
Recreational riders are important, Quirk explains, but there are numerous nonprofits and advocacy groups — perhaps with help from USA Cycling — that are better equipped to lead those efforts. Rather, he wants USA Cycling to follow the lead of governing bodies for many other Olympic sports that are designed to identify, nurture and produce top-end talent.
While the American team has done relatively well at the past three Summer Games, given all the changes in
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