It’s that time of year again — election season at CRCA! Our club thrives because of the dedicated members who step up to lead, organize, and keep our community rolling smoothly (and swiftly). Below, you’ll find statements from the candidates running for this year’s board positions. Take a moment to get to know them, learn about their vision for the club, and see how they plan to make 2026 another great year for CRCA!
President (Two Candidates)
Emily Singleton
I am Emily Singleton, and I would like to be President of CRCA in 2026. I have been a CRCA member since 2014, and I have been on the Board for 5 years in various capacities, including Membership Director and President. CRCA has given me confidence, strength, and some forever-friendships. I will always be a fierce advocate for the club and for my local racing community. In my professional life, I am the VP of Operations at a small, prestigious auction house. I am reliable, detail-oriented, and committed to inclusivity and accessibility in cycling. I can effectively lead CRCA through another year of high quality races while making necessary changes to the infrastructure.
CRCA is built on community. It only exists through volunteer support. CRCA should be accessible to anyone who wants to join, and everyone at our races should feel safe to be authentically themselves. I will use this foundation of values to grow the club, and I will use my experience racing at national and international events to guide our local race operations.
In recent years, club membership has declined while the cost of sanctioning races through USA Cycling has increased, which has left the club operating at a loss. Something must fundamentally change if CRCA is to survive. I believe that the most necessary change is disassociating with USAC and returning the club’s focus to its own community. Leaving USAC is not my only objective, but it is the club’s most pressing concern, so I want to address it clearly. Myself and a small committee of long-time CRCA members have a proposal for leaving USAC that would not just grow the club, but give us an opportunity to create a better and more cost-effective racing experience for everyone.
We do not need USAC to run CRCA. In fact, remaining affiliated comes with added costs, and it removes control over our racing environment from the actual stakeholders: local racers, race organizers, and sponsors. USA Cycling at its core is a business. What they don’t make in membership revenue, they receive in government funding, which leaves them beholden to the whims of any administration. As long as CRCA remains a USAC club, we are bound by these rules, which might be entirely based on political agenda, while receiving no funds. Other clubs have left USAC and have been operating fully independent, healthy racing communities for decades. Using their models, we can build the race environment we actually want and maintain control over how it functions in perpetuity. Locally, we will have a system for category upgrades and competitions, and we will do everything we can to maintain a friendly relationship with USAC for national category reciprocity.
Our community is already facing the consequences of incomplete control over our racing structure. In September, USAC updated their gender inclusion policy to comply with an executive order banning trans women and girls from women’s sports. This policy update was not informed by science or new research, but part of a larger campaign to villainize and ostracize the transgender population. USAC is strictly enforcing the policy for race directors and providing no exceptions, loopholes or workarounds. As a longtime member of the women’s field, I personally disagree with this oppressive policy, but it also seems to violate New York State human rights laws that protect trans women from discrimination in public accommodations. There is precedent for discrimination lawsuits against organizations with similarly narrow policies in New York and other states with these protections, which includes Colorado where USAC is based. Following the policy could put CRCA at risk for similar litigation, which USAC has confirmed its insurance would not cover. If CRCA wants to continue running inclusive races or perhaps any races at all, it needs to separate from USAC. This year, the target is trans women. If we continue with USAC, what group gets excluded next?
For perspective, CRCA has had a public inclusion policy since 2019. In the years before or since, there has not been a single issue of disproportionate advantage from a trans woman competing in the women’s field. There have, however, been multiple instances of trans women being harassed or intimidated at local races. That is the true problem that needs solving.
I have been working hard on this framework for inclusive racing with a small committee, including some fellow nominees! We will be available at the upcoming Town Hall to answer any questions you have about this proposal. We know this is a big lift, and we are ready for it. Together with other motivated board members, we can provide a successful season of racing and be an example for other clubs and race organizers. When we foster a community that is enthusiastically engaged and inclusive of all people who want to race bicycles, we will see membership grow. I hope you will vote for me and allow us to build this future for the club.
Carlos Petricioli
For more than a century, the Century Road Club Association has been the beating heart of New York City cycling — a volunteer-run organization that makes racing possible in one of the most demanding and iconic urban environments in the world.
I am running for President because our mission is clear and urgent: to guarantee that we keep racing — now and for the next generation.
Racing in Central Park — the busiest, most iconic park in the world — is an enormous privilege. It is a privilege earned through decades of professionalism, cooperation with NYC Parks, and respect for the community that allows us to race in this extraordinary space. Every time the peloton rolls through the park at dawn, we’re not just competing — we’re upholding a legacy. That privilege must never be taken for granted, and we must never risk jeopardizing it.
CRCA is already the largest and most active racing club in the United States, and we should be recognized not only nationally but internationally for what we represent: a successful model for grassroots, volunteer-driven urban racing. Our events, history, and membership make CRCA a standard-bearer for what amateur cycling can be — safe, inclusive, organized, and communitydriven.
To sustain that leadership, we must strengthen our foundation — operationally, financially, and institutionally.
Our Reality and Our Responsibility
We face growing challenges: complex permitting processes, rising insurance and operations costs, volunteer fatigue, and evolving governance under USA Cycling (USAC). Of particular importance is USAC’s new Policy VII: Competition Category Policy, effective September 15, 2025, which redefines competition eligibility and verification in sanctioned events. This policy carries real implications for fairness, participation, and the future of grassroots racing.
It’s a policy that MUST be addressed to remain consistent with our values. To do so effectively, CRCA must first build strength: grow membership, stabilize our finances, and form alliances across the region. Only when we are solid, organized, and financially independent will we be ready to advocate credibly and successfully.
My Plan to Guarantee Racing for the Future
1. Protect the racing calendar — and our Central Park privilege. Strengthen our relationship with NYC Parks and the Central Park Conservancy. Racing in the world’s greatest park is not a right — it’s a privilege we must continuously earn through professionalism and respect.
2. Solidify CRCA’s financial foundation and legal structure.
Conduct a full, transparent financial review and create a multi-year budget plan. Diversify revenue through sponsorships, grants, and community partnerships. Modernize accounting and reporting systems for clarity and trust.
Revisit the process of transitioning CRCA to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, allowing us to access grants, tax-deductible donations, and corporate sponsorships that will secure our financial stability for the long term. Financial independence is the cornerstone of our sustainability and our influence.
3. Grow membership, diversity, and visibility.
Relaunch clinics and development programs (especially for new racers), re-energize team captains, and implement initiatives that rewards engagement and volunteerism. Growth strengthens our voice, our finances, and our ability to lead.
4. Build a national and international presence.
Form partnerships with major clubs and organizers across the U.S. and abroad. Share best practices and position CRCA as a model for urban cycling governance. Pursue recognition from international federations and city-based racing initiatives.
As the largest club in America, CRCA should be seen globally as the benchmark for organized, inclusive, and sustainable racing.
5. Operate with professional standards.
Publish annual budgets and reports, modernize registration and communications, and maintain transparent race-results systems. Professional operations build credibility with members, sponsors, and governing bodies alike.
6. Prepare strategically for policy advocacy.
Regarding USAC’s Policy VII, we will monitor its impact on participation and fairness, collect data, and coordinate with other clubs and race organizers to engage USAC from a position of unity and strength.
The Path Forward
I am running for President to protect what makes CRCA unique — the privilege of racing in Central Park, the spirit of volunteerism that sustains us, and the tradition of competition that connects generations of New York racers.
But I am also running to elevate CRCA — to make it financially secure, legally recognized as a nonprofit institution, and respected worldwide as the gold standard for grassroots racing in a global city.
Together, we will protect our legacy, grow our strength, and build a foundation solid enough to carry New York racing into the future.
When the time comes to fight for policy change, we will do it from a position of strength — and we will win.
VP of Rider Development (Two Candidates)
Tara Parsons
I have been a CRCA member since 1997 and a CRCA coach since 2011. I was an active racer between 1995-2005; a few years later I began coaching. I love bike racing, and I love helping others to love bike racing.
During my time as a rider and later as a coach, I’ve had the opportunity to work with other amazing mentors—they’ve made the CRCA coaching program what it is today: one of the best club-level programs there is. These coaches have been a true inspiration to me, and I enjoy helping CRCA continue its legacy of developing strong and skilled riders that have included racers who have gone on to become professionals and even Olympians.
As a board member for CRCA for ten years, as well as a veteran educator and cyclist, VP of Rider Development is a role that I know well. I am familiar with the scheduling and admin work and I also know what’s needed to improve our program to keep our racers succeeding, including strengthening the opportunities in our Development race fields. This long tenure on the board also brings historical knowledge to an ever-changing volunteer board.
I look forward to the challenges of the CRCA’s continued work to keep the largest racing club in the United States inclusive and supportive of all racers in this great city!
Frederik Johne
My name is Frederik Johne, 2026 will be my third season on Team Veslka, and 7th season racing bikes. I have competed seriously in endurance sports since I was 11 and experienced all the ups and downs that come with it. Despite plenty of success in both rowing and cycling, many of my proudest moments in sports are related to instances in which I was able to share my passion for the sport with others and help them grow, succeed, and find community in it.
I am running for VP of Rider Development because without new racers, the club slowly dwindles away. A large share of our costs, like officials, marshals, and overhead, don’t shrink when fields do. Shrinking membership means the same few people shoulder more marshaling duty, pay more per head, and race in fewer and thinner fields, which in turn makes CRCA less attractive for prospective new and existing members. My goal is simple: keep our existing coaching program going and make recruiting new riders the engine that drives growth and sustains CRCA. More members will make bike racing better for all of us.
Regarding coaching, I will keep the current clinic cadence and systems while adding a few guest coaches for different perspectives. Additionally, I would like to create a brief video/online course specifically on racing in Central Park to make it easier for new riders to understand the tactics behind our beloved chess-on-wheels.
That being said, the main focus of my work will be on growing the club to make it better for all of us. Some of the ideas and policies that I would like to explore to this end:
- Member referral → marshal-duty waiver: bring in a new member, earn a next-season marshal waiver. Recruiting new riders lowers everyone's burden; we should reward it.
- Team recruiting incentives: scale team-duty reductions to verified new-member signups. More members mean more revenue to cover fixed overhead and hire help where volunteers are stretched.
- Targeted outreach: show up at NYC group rides, bike shops, and cafes to find riders who just need a little nudge to go from “just riding” to becoming racers.
- Extend the free trial race to men: a single free Central Park try-it to convert the “curious but hesitant.”
- Creating practice teams in the C-field (Blue-team, Green-team, Yellow-Team, etc.) to expose new riders to the excitement of racing for each other, and increasing the likelihood of them wanting to join a CRCA team.
These are ideas to be refined with the Board, teams, and members, and adjusted to fit bylaws and budget, but it is out of question to me that we need to do more to actively win riders for our club.
My own background is development-first: I was Junior European & World Champion in rowing in the men’s eight, spent four years rowing at Princeton where coaches often leaned on me to help less experienced rowers develop their skills in small boats and became Director Sportif at UVA, where we grew the number of active racers from 3 to 19 in a season and turned depth into many wins and podiums as well as national titles for the women’s squad. I now race for Team Veselka and have spent the fall actively recruiting new riders for our team, an experience so successful and rewarding that it inspired me to run for this board seat. I live only two blocks from the Park, which will make it easy for me to conduct clinics in the mornings. I work as the Growth Operations Lead at a direct-to-consumer-focused Venture Studio, which has not only given me deep knowledge regarding growth but also allowed me to gain experience managing a diverse team with members all over the world.
Reference from Madison Gallagher, former President of University of Virginia Cycling and national champion in the women's collegiate TTT: “Frederik was the first person in my cycling journey to provide me with valuable training and competition guidance. The university club we were both part of at the time was somewhat disorganized, but under his leadership, he helped me and other members of the club get excited about racing and performing as a team. I wouldn’t be where I am now, racing with a women’s DE team, had it not been for him. I also wouldn’t have the memories of race strategy planning in hotel rooms with my teammates, early morning long rides, and more, without his impact on our club.”
Regarding the question of whether CRCA should leave or remain with USAC, I believe that a decision of this magnitude should be put to a vote of the full membership.
VP of Club Racing (Zero Candidates)
Please reach out to the Board if you would like to self-nominate for this position.
Secretary (Two Candidates)
Christine de Witte
I’ve been a racing member of CRCA since 2017, and I love getting up early to see which team’s tactics play out best each week. I appreciate how much I’ve benefited from the efforts of board members over the years, and I’d like to contribute to the club as Secretary in 2026. I am organized, succinct, and eager to collaborate to ensure CRCA’s continuation as a thriving, inclusive bike racing community.
Alexander Larsh
I’m excited to nominate myself for the CRCA Board as Secretary. I’m an active member of the NYCC Race Team since 2023, and I’ve had the chance to race regularly in Central Park where I’ve gotten to know many great people and developed a deep appreciation for the CRCA community.
Cycling has brought me so much happiness, friendship, and purpose here in New York, and I’d like to give back by being a more impactful member of the community. Through NYCC and our Saturday Attack Ride, I’ve encouraged riders to join CRCA and experience the same sense of camaraderie, which has introduced many new racers.
Regarding the USAC topic, my goal is to do what’s best for the club and its members, and I approach every issue with an open mind and a willingness to listen and learn.
Professionally, I schedule and take notes for 5-10+ meetings each week, so I’m comfortable with the organization and communication required of the Secretary role. Most importantly, I have the time, energy, and commitment to help CRCA continue to thrive.
Treasurer (Two Candidates)
Clara Warmath
Hi, my name is Clara Warmath! I've been a CRCA member for the past two years, during which I've raced in both the Women's Development and Women's Club fields. After four years of rowing at Brown, I found a new competitive outlet in cycling. I have grown to love racing in Central Park, and I want to give back to the club by joining the board as Treasurer.
Professionally, I regularly work with financial reports and evaluate financial decisions—skills that will serve me well as Treasurer. In this role, I will maintain accurate financial records, identify funding opportunities to support club initiatives, ensure timely payment of expenses, and collaborate with the board to make fiscally responsible decisions. I am highly organized, detail oriented, and a quick study, to the point where I have become my team's most accurate score-keeper during points races.
Kyle Kilroy
Since joining CRCA last year, I’ve become increasingly engaged in the club’s racing community and the broader NYC racing scene. After seeing the opportunities and impact CRCA creates for local cyclists, I’m excited to take a more active role in driving its continued success.
I believe CRCA operating within the USAC framework is key to the health of the organization and I support remaining with USAC going forward.
CRCA provides a well-structured and thoughtfully organized race series for both experienced and beginner racers. Organizations like CRCA are critical to keeping road racing alive in the U.S., and few other cities or clubs offer the same level of competition and opportunity for amateur cyclists. I love riding and racing, and I want to ensure others that share that passion can take full advantage of the NYC racing scene.
Professionally, I oversee budgeting, financial performance, and cash flow analysis across multiple private companies, focusing on using capital effectively and responsibly to drive growth. I’m excited to apply that same analytical and strategic approach to managing CRCA’s finances, collaborating with the Board and race directors to budget and allocate resources in ways that enhance the race experience while maintaining the club’s long-term financial health. My goal is to help CRCA grow by thinking creatively about how to best use our funds and resources to make the upcoming season as impactful as possible.
Communications Director (One Candidate)
Anthony Scelza
My name is Anthony Scelza, and I am running to be this year's Communications Director. I joined CRCA in 2021 and have been racing with KruisCX ever since. Professionally, I work in communications and want to use my skills to help keep our members informed and to highlight what makes the club such an important part of New York’s cycling scene. CRCA has given me a lot in the five years I've been a member, and I’d be proud to give back as your Communications Director. Thank you for your consideration.
Public Relations Director (One Candidate)
Lucie Vagnerova
After twelve years in the CRCA, I know what makes our club special and I know what makes it work. Everyone pitches in, good racing happens, and people make friends. I’d love to be your next Public Relations Director to work with sponsors who care about the same things we do: putting on a well-run racing series, building an inclusive community, and supporting the club’s voice in the future of cycling.
My work with sponsors and the public will build from this shared investment in the club and the community it represents. Especially at this time when new national-level rules threaten inclusion and the club's legal function, I'm here to grow meaningful partnerships that reflect our shared values and set the CRCA apart.
I've done hundreds of races, most of them in the CRCA's WTFNB club field. I can confidently speak to the club's history, culture, and accessible racing opportunities. Drawing on this knowledge, under the last board's leadership, I designed an updated CRCA website I'd love to take live. Off the bike, I am an education and arts consultant, coaching students and artists to communicate about their work so that others can connect to it. As your PR Director, I'll be using these same skills to represent the club.
Membership Director (One Candidate)
Kevin Hsieh
My name is Kevin Hsieh (he/they) and I've been in the NYC cycling community for over 10 years. I have been one of the core players in managing and growing the team KruisCX from 8 racers in 2017 to a thriving community of over 40 members now. I served on the CRCA Board during its 2019 and 2020 season as VP of Club Racing and again in 2021 as President. During my tenure, I was proud to push for progressive policies that created opportunities for more inclusion in the sport, offering dedicated WTF fields and clinics at our club races. In my year as President, I was proud to shepherd the organization through the ambiguity of a newly vaccinated COVID population, adapting our races and policies to ensure everyone's safety, while continuing to put on a successful season of racing.
I believe that the cycling community is at its best when no one is excluded from participating. I believe that trans men and women deserve to race in fields that they feel best fits their gender identity. I believe that CRCA complying with USA Cycling and the Trump Administration's draconian anti-LGBTQ+ policies not only puts trans folks' safety at risk but also endangers cisgender people who may be put under scrutiny for not conforming exactly to people's narrow definition of gender. I also recognize the real legal risks that CRCA might be exposed to in terms of state level anti-discrimination protections. Finally, I acknowledge the weight of CRCA's troublesome history, having once prohibited Black cyclists from joining the club. With all that knowledge, my goal is to guide CRCA towards the right side of history at this moment.
I am in favor of exhausting every avenue to make sure that CRCA has a thoughtful and methodical plan to divest from USA Cycling to protect the club and its membership. I believe that I have the experience and the operational mindset to be a positive contributor to the CRCA board. I would bring in research from prior conversations around divesting from USA Cycling to guide CRCA to make the right decisions for the club. My experience organizing races as well as operating the more high-level aspects of the club through difficult times give me a unique perspective on this daunting challenge.
Thank you for considering me to be Membership Director of CRCA for the 2026 season.
Marshal Director (One Candidate)
Elizabeth Tobey
I have been part of the NYC racing scene for almost a decade now, and bike racing has made me so much more than a better athlete: it has taught me about leadership, community, and introduced me to people from different places and perspectives that without bikes, simply wouldn’t have been possible.
Previously, I served on the CRCA board as a deputy for Women’s Development, Communications, and Teams, and helped build the women/trans/femme KruisCX team. Currently, I also serve as the Secretary of NYSBRA. I will use these experiences to ensure our marshal program is well organized and allows us to race safely. My previous experience working with the board and the NYC racing community gives me a perspective and motivation to ensure that marshalling is well-staffed and fairly distributed for all teams so that we can do what we love most: racing our bikes.
Teams Director (Two Candidates)
Leslie Burnett
Hello! I'm Les, and I love empowering athletes of all types to confidently pursue their highest capabilities.
Women's sports continue to be drastically undervalued in spite of progress made by thoughtful communities like CRCA. Racing, access and the overall betterment of WTFNB riders is deeply important to me, which is why I created a team whose core values align with CRCA's own long standing inclusivity policies. Now is the time to ensure that the ethical treatment of all Club members is overtly prioritized, not overlooked. In this pivotal year for the Club, please allow me to serve as your Teams Director.
I hold a strong demonstrated record as a community organizer getting women into group riding and competitive cycling, consistently supporting athletes through:
- Serving as CRCA 2025 Board Secretary and mentor for the Beginner's Clinic WTFNB field, giving tips and encouragement to new racers;
- Co-founding and co-leading Dawn Patrol, a weekly women's ride in Prospect Park which has collectively shared 18,000 miles to date and is featured in two Zwift Instagram grid reels;
- Co-hosting free, quarterly workshops at Specialized Hilltop Williamsburg, educating athletes on the importance of nutrition, recovery, strength training and riding style exploration;
- Founding and leading Angels NYC CC, a new race team sponsoring dynamic cyclists at individualized levels with an explicit commitment to community service, featured in TBD's Definitive Guide to WTFNB Race Teams In NYC;
- Working as a Rapha Clubhouse Assistant and SAG support, assisting Women's 100 and FAR rides since 2024, plus regularly advising riders on kit purchases and the many NYC opportunities to expand social circles and develop riding capabilities;
- Founding and co-leading the Rapha Speak Up! ride series, bolstering women to more easily use their voices and self-advocate by developing bravery and pride through achieving difficult accomplishments in sports;
- Offering an online pay-what-you-wish community store, resourcing affordable cycling gear for all while also hosting a group chat for totally free WTFNB-only gear swapping and donations;
- Advocating for explicit fair treatment and public safety, co-creating a team Code of Conduct which has been adopted by other groups to outline clear expectations for members, establish corrective measure protocols and demand heightened social awareness for improved security within our community.
As our Teams Director, I'd truly enjoy connecting and working more personally with our many sub-teams to serve the Club. This position is a natural fit for my experience interacting with a significant swath of local riders, and performing this role will allow me to better guide novice racers toward groups which may be the best fits for their particular personalities, strengths and goals.
I place no contingencies on how I plan to continue supporting athletes based on this election's results, as my desire to provide opportunities, distribute keys, build longer tables and remove barriers has never been offered on a conditional basis. Giving back to the community and being allowed to support others should never be directly related to what a person receives in return for or in advance of their efforts.
If elected to this role, I simply promise to deliver the same enthusiastic passion, ongoing commitment and attention to detail that I already bring to any space where I am welcome to make an impact.
James Gilbert
I love our club and it would be an honour to serve and help make our future awesome.
Beyond the obvious responsibilities of the role, my greatest hope is to bring new riders into the sport and work on gradually shifting the focus of members away from sub-team individualism and more to identifying CRCA as their team - getting members riding, racing and interacting more.
My plan/goals are:
1. Help promote our sport and club to new and old racers and reverse the decline in participation numbers.
2. Help maintain and foster the vibrant sub-team system in 2026.
3. Bring the team leaders together to discuss further team ideas and cooperation.
4. Build post-race rides and events to bring the sub-teams together.
5. Build CRCA Winter Zwift and gravel race teams - racing in the awesome CRCA jersey.
6. Maybe identify some post club season events and build an elite road team together.
Why I should be director of teams:
1. I have a track record of building a successful team after founding and operating NYCC Racing for now 10 years.
2. I have made Team Work the primary focus, fostering a culture of selflessness and team/club first.
3. I have worked hard to bring new riders into he sport through hosting weekly rides open to all as well as sponsoring and promoting events.
4. I have sat on the New York Cycle Club's Board for many years and I am proficient in navigating the realities of volunteer organisations and the challenges that can and do come up.
5. I have no strong personal/political beliefs and am open to all sides of all present day discussions and debates.
If I’m elected - I’ll sponsor the 2026 Development Series - plus lead rides before and after each event to help promote new riders coming into the sport.
Open Racing Director/VP of Open Racing (Zero Candidates)
Please reach out to the Board if you would like to self-nominate for this position.
Advocacy Director/Community Director (One Candidate)
Jules Spector
My name is Jules Spector, and I am running for the role of CRCA Director of Advocacy to prioritize ensuring that cyclists of all identities have an equal place in CRCA. I have been involved with CRCA for a year as a member of Continental Ostroy, and I started racing in good part due to the spirit of the NYC cycling community; every ride feels welcoming and inclusive, even if it is physically challenging. This is why I am running for this role, because every rider deserves to feel a sense of belonging in CRCA.
As a professional editor, I am an adept written and verbal communicator. I have experience liaising between different groups and am comfortable in dealing with potential conflicts. Furthermore, I have a background in advocacy work, having volunteered with the UN Foundation for several years; I also have experience organizing campaigns for social justice–related causes. I am ready to work hard to ensure that everyone has a place in CRCA—by listening to and speaking with members affected directly by USAC's new discriminatory policy changes, as well as collaborating with other members of the board to put in place an alternative that better serves our community.
In all, as a Queer, non-binary cyclist dedicated to maintaining and cultivating inclusion in the cycling community, I am the best candidate for the Director of Advocacy position.
