New Englander Mark McCormak (Clif Bar) surged to an impressive second-place finish in the Strawberry Elite Cup on the final day of the 2006 California Giant Berry Farms USA Cycling national cyclo-cross championships. After the event, McCormack — a longtime veteran on the road and the 2003 USPRO champ — admitted that, while he would continue racing ’cross, his road racing days were over. VeloNews caught up with McCormack at the awards ceremony.

VeloNews: Word on the street is that this is your last race as an elite today.

Mark McCormack: Well, that’s the rumor. Nothing is confirmed yet, although it’s look like I will not be racing as a pro on the road. It’s pretty likely that I’ll still do this level of cyclo-cross racing next year. Clif Bar is really enthusiastic and wants to keep me around and I want to be a part of that. I have a good relationship with them. But unfortunately there’s not enough money in the road scene to employ me. I mean, I have a family and I have a high standard of what I expect to make. Unfortunately in the U.S. road scene the pay scale has gone down. It’s unfortunate, but it’s reality. And if that’s the case then it’s time to move on.

VN: What are you going to move on to?

MM: I have a few irons in the fire. My coaching business is going well. Jesse Anthony is my biggest protégé. It’s getting close, and hopefully by the end of next week I’ll know what I’m going to do with my time. The best-case scenario is that I’m hanging out with my family. And maybe ride my dirt bike more often.

VN: Is it a bittersweet departure?

MM: No, but if things had worked out in September of August when I was really excited about racing then I would be doing it. But I’ve put too much energy into pursuing other options. I’m too much of a realist.

Teams sign riders and they start running out of money. November rolls around and you start to realize that things are probably not going to work out. I’m really content with my career. I won a lot of good races and kept to my standards.

I feel like I put forth a lot of good efforts. I still love training and racing, and it’s a little too weird that when someone asks me what I do, I won’t say I’m a professional bike racer. But I turned pro in 1992 which is a long time ago. I’ve been racing seriously since 1985. I’ll still train and race, but unfortunately not as a pro on the road. I look forward to doing some masters races next year.

VN: Do you see yourself still racing masters races in 10 years like Ned Overend or Steve Tilford?

MM: I hope so. I admire guys like that. Paul Curley, the guy who taught me the sport of cyclo-cross back in 1985, here he is in the 50-plus race. I admire that. I’ve been in the sport for so long that it will always be a part of me. I live in a region where there is racing every weekend for road and mountain-bike and ’cross. If bike racing is still a sport in 20 years, I will be doing it.