Is this a golden age of pro-cycling or the beginning of the end?

[Flying_Monkey]

There have been some really contradictory opinions flying around about where top level cycling is going. On the one had, we have just had a season which was unpredictable, exciting and full of as good racing as I've seen for a long time, with the rise of many riders previously considered only as domestiques and much more. On the other hand, we have since seen the collapse of HTC and Geox, and uncertain future for Euskaltel, the merger of Radio Shack and Leopard Trek, and women's top-level cycling contracting all the time. Managers and riders quoted are arguing that top level cycling is, like top level football, becoming a game for only very rich super-teams, and variously blaming 'globalization' (Miguel Indurain) or the 'the Pro-Tour' (ex-Geox riders) for this.

Now, I don't like the World Tour, and I don't like the way the UCI has tried to chase after big markets rather than reward hard work and great outcomes by existing race organisers, but I don't have any problem with the fact that more places are now interested in pro-cycling than they have ever been, and at the same time the sport is cleaner and more genuinely competitive than it has been for a while - at least for the men.

What does everyone else think?

 

[Smokin Joe]

In a sporting sense we are indeed in a golden age, but the coming economic storm could have a devastating effect on professional racing.

The same could apply to many sports, football and F1 in particular.

 

[lukesdad]

I think with the other afore mentioned sports, its the tv companies dictating or starting to its a slippery slope.

 

[Steve H]

I think cycling is booming at the moment, meaning sponsorship opportunities for bike brands etc are going to have a broader market. This should mean more money in the industry and therefore more teams. I think the key to really unlocking though is more mainstream tv coverage. ITV4 and Eurosport are still a bit niche and therefore aren't going to bring in large numbers of viewers to help sponsorship.

HTC not wanting to continue sponsoring a team bringing in so many victories in a year still baffles me.

 

[Smokin Joe]

HTC not wanting to continue sponsoring a team bringing in so many victories in a year still baffles me.

Sports sponsorship has a finite life before the name of the team becomes dissociated from the manufacturers brand in the eyes of the public. That's why even high profile football teams like Manchester United never have the same shirt sponsor for more than a few years.

 

[lukesdad]

I think cycling is booming at the moment, meaning sponsorship opportunities for bike brands etc are going to have a broader market. This should mean more money in the industry and therefore more teams. I think the key to really unlocking though is more mainstream tv coverage. ITV4 and Eurosport are still a bit niche and therefore aren't going to bring in large numbers of viewers to help sponsorship.

HTC not wanting to continue sponsoring a team bringing in so many victories in a year still baffles me.

Bike brands wont have the cash to sponsor super teams.

 

[Flying Dodo]

I think there's still enough money floating around for quite a large number of teams to compete in next year's season. Obviously in the UK there's been increasing public support for cycling events generally, following the increasing levels of news publicity given to the likes of Hoy and Pendleton and others, plus of course the success of Sky in the TdF.

So yes, I'd say a golden age, as without the likes of Armstrong around, it allows a mixture of other talent to push forward.

 

[lukesdad]

I think there's still enough money floating around for quite a large number of teams to compete in next year's season. Obviously in the UK there's been increasing public support for cycling events generally, following the increasing levels of news publicity given to the likes of Hoy and Pendleton and others, plus of course the success of Sky in the TdF.

So yes, I'd say a golden age, as without the likes of Armstrong around, it allows a mixture of other talent to push forward.

and maybe a waning interest in the states as their purple patch draws to a close ?

 

[Shadow]

It's definitely boom time. How long it lasts and how much it can grow is anyone's guess. I don't think multi stage road racing will ever become huge and mainstream in the UK, it is too complex. And the same goes for track, venues are too small and chances of loads of velodromes being built isn't going to happen.

If markets contract, I still think there will be enough wealthy individuals or companies to sponsor teams. Certainly in the traditional mainland european countries e.g. france, belgium etc. that it will continue. And the potential for growth in china is immense. I won't be surprised to see chinese riders competing at the top level in 10+ years.


I agree that last years racing was exciting, superb to watch. Long may it last!

 

[johnr]

Anyone know what the plans for post-Olympic events at the London veledrome are?

 

[big vally]

Boom time, no arguments. Shouldn't even have to justify my assertion...so I won't

 

[oldroadman]

It's definitely boom time. How long it lasts and how much it can grow is anyone's guess. I don't think multi stage road racing will ever become huge and mainstream in the UK, it is too complex. And the same goes for track, venues are too small and chances of loads of velodromes being built isn't going to happen.

If markets contract, I still think there will be enough wealthy individuals or companies to sponsor teams. Certainly in the traditional mainland european countries e.g. france, belgium etc. that it will continue. And the potential for growth in china is immense. I won't be surprised to see chinese riders competing at the top level in 10+ years.


I agree that last years racing was exciting, superb to watch. Long may it last!

Interesting observation - There will be 3 major venues with 4,00 - 6,000 seqts open soon, Manchester, Glasgow, London. The bigger quesstion is whether there will be enough major promotions to keep them going, and attract TV. It's pointless to build huge expensive arenas that won't get filled (see athletics!), when the cameras show rows of empty seats. Much better a packed house and strong demand for tickets. There are very few velodromes with bigger than 6,000 capacity, simply because if they get too big, they are never full - back to athletics again, the TV looks awful when the empty stands come into view!

 

[zizou]

The finances are always a bit weak and despite what is happening in the sport and the interest generated by fans that seems to be getting a bit worse than normal, mostly due to the factors outside the sport (eg economic crisis) but also for some legacy issues within like the problem of doping and the continued lack of sponsorship/media coverage from German firms and broadcasters (although this will probably change with a few younger stars like Martin and Kittel)

Vaughters has campaigned a bit for a new funding model for cycle teams and he is probably right that it would help the sport. But i'm not sure how much cash there is out there to be spread around via tv rights - I think it is the case that of the ASO organised races only the Tour de France makes money, some break even (presumably the Vuelta) but most are run at a loss - even races like Fleche Wallone, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Paris-Roubaix.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Interesting observation - There will be 3 major venues with 4,00 - 6,000 seqts open soon, Manchester, Glasgow, London. The bigger quesstion is whether there will be enough major promotions to keep them going, and attract TV. It's pointless to build huge expensive arenas that won't get filled (see athletics!), when the cameras show rows of empty seats. Much better a packed house and strong demand for tickets. There are very few velodromes with bigger than 6,000 capacity, simply because if they get too big, they are never full - back to athletics again, the TV looks awful when the empty stands come into view!

Track racing just isn't very popular, even among cycling fans it shares the same status that Speedway does among motorcylists, just a minority interest sideshow.

We only take an interest in this country because our own riders are dominating, but who takes an interest in the track at lower levels or bothers to scour the internet for the latest six day results? I doubt most cyclists could name a six day other than maybe Ghent, let alone the riders who take part.

 

[oldroadman]

My pint entirely, it has become a winter indoor sport at high level, simply because the fans have something to go to and watch when there is no road racing. The Benelux countries get massive CX crowds for the same reason, plus sixes are very popular and quite regularly sell out. The problem for any big track venue is what you do through the warmer months, aside from track leagues and open training sessions, plus the odd open meeting.
That said, summer track leagues both outdoor and indoor are doing very well, but the financial model at a big venue is a strain on organisers, to say the least.