Originally Posted by
Marcus_Ti
If you're meaning signing up to actually participate in those events---you're wrong. It is a zero-sum. There's a set number of bibs available and when they're gone that is it. If 50 or 500 UCI racers want to ride--that is 50 or 500 fewer bibs for anyone else. Between that and inflated registration costs it drives the grassroots people out from participating who made it popular in the first place.
The big rides already require a lottery to sign up for because they crash BikeReg or any other service with people wanting to ride it.
You're assuming UCI riders will be given preference for registration, so far race organizers have no such intentions and have told USAC/UCI to keep their noses out of gravel.
Several EF riders tackled DK200 last year and didn't win, nothing is guaranteed. If UCI can't get involved officially (i.e. - make money off of it), I don't see there being a huge influx of pros to the gravel scene.