The Challenge of Organizing Elite Cycling Events in the UK Has Become More Difficult
Putting on Cycling Road Races in the UK
In a recent interview, Mick Bennett, organiser of Britain’s top cycling events, expressed his concern over the increasing challenges faced by race organisers in the UK. According to Bennett, putting on road races has become “most definitely” harder than ever before. The cancellation of this year’s Women’s Tour due to lack of funding and the men’s Tour of Britain being run without a title sponsor are clear indications of these difficulties.
Bennett highlighted that it costs nearly £3 million each year to organise the Tour of Britain alone, which is quite staggering and alarming for him. As time goes on, living expenses increase while local governments face financial constraints as they prioritize public services like libraries and youth clubs over funding cycling races.
The reliance on local authorities plays a vital role in organising races as they need to pay for race routes through towns and cities along with making necessary road improvements. Additionally, substantial bills are incurred for policing purposes during races to ensure minimal disruptions and maintain safety for riders and spectators alike.
A striking contrast can be observed when comparing how other countries such as France and Spain handle their cycling events – their models often prove significantly cheaper compared to those implemented in the UK.
In an effort to address these issues, British Cycling established a task force led by former professional cyclist Ed Clancy along with eight others who will work towards finding viable solutions. Clancy pointed out that funding remains one of the undeniable problems plaguing domestic road racing scene at present; while policing costs during the Tour of Britain exceeded £500,000, it is noteworthy that the three-week-long Vuelta a Espana faces no such expenses.
Expressing his concerns further, Bennett emphasized the need for British Cycling to thoroughly assess the current situation. He believes that the racing scene has reached its limit and cannot sustain any more cuts. However, he commends their efforts in establishing this committee as a step in the right direction.
Despite these challenges faced by race organisers and authorities, it’s important to acknowledge that Great Britain boasts several talented riders who continue to achieve remarkable victories at elite levels of cycling. Athletes like Tom Pidcock from Ineos Grenadiers – an Olympic gold medallist and Tour de France stage winner – have voiced their discontent with the current state of affairs within British cycling scene.
Tao Geoghegan Hart, winner of 2020 Giro d’Italia and now representing Lidl-Trek team, highlighted multiple issues that need urgent attention. The lack of races being organized is one pressing concern impacting various aspects including sponsorship availability and involvement from local councils or organizations. Geoghegan Hart also noted with disappointment that there is currently no women’s World Tour team in UK while expressing his dissatisfaction over the absence of Women’s Tour this year.
The loss suffered due to cancellation of Women’s Tour was indeed significant but Bennett assured fans that it will make a comeback in 2024. It was once considered a progressive race classified under World Tour category where both men and women received equal prize money – a groundbreaking move at its time.