Pro cycling “has been failed structurally and commercially”

[Milzy]

I’m in a rush but I have to totally agree with this. All the money and modern technology we have these days and it’s way more sloppy than when they accidentally let a pick up truck crash into Marco Pantani and his group causing serious injuries.
I enjoyed the tour of Britain this year but it’s lacking more every edition. The tour of Yorkshire could be profitable if managed well. Hope it’s re-booted some day.

 

[Dogtrousers]

The tour of Yorkshire could be profitable if managed well. Hope it’s re-booted some day.

It was the TdY that convinced me that pro road racing isn't really viable in the UK.

It started on a wave of (relative) public enthusiasm followed the Yorkshire grand depart. It was run by ASO, who really should know what they are doing. (More so than any of us at least ) And yet it folded.

 

[matticus]

The biggest bug bear I have is the fact that Paris-Nice and Tirrenno overlap (meaning I inevitably ignore the Italian race)

I'm not generally too bothered by the alleged "fixture congestion", but THAT is the one that I would support fixing, if 'twere in any way possible!

...and that Basque Country is right in the middle of the Classics, which are my favourite races of the year

I wasn't aware of that; like you, the Classics are just about my favourites, and it may be instructive that I know nothing about Basque Country!

 

[Webbo2]

The biggest bug bear I have is the fact that Paris-Nice and Tirrenno overlap (meaning I inevitably ignore the Italian race) and that Basque Country is right in the middle of the Classics, which are my favourite races of the year

Didn’t worry one Sean Kelly as in 1984 he was second at the Tour of Flanders, First at Paris Roubaix, First at the Tour of the Basque Country( he may have one all the stages) First at Bastogne Liege.

 

[wakemalcolm]

Didn’t worry one Sean Kelly as in 1984 he was second at the Tour of Flanders, First at Paris Roubaix, First at the Tour of the Basque Country( he may have one all the stages) First at Bastogne Liege.

Won Roubaix & Liege, but had to settle for runner up at MSR and the Ronde. In that spring he also won P-N Criterium International and Itzulia.

DNF at Het Volk. Would probably have ruined his spring.

What a hero/charger*
*delete as per your moral persuasion

 

[matticus]

Didn’t worry one Sean Kelly as in 1984 he was second at the Tour of Flanders, First at Paris Roubaix, First at the Tour of the Basque Country( he may have one all the stages*) First at Bastogne Liege.

*Nope - but he did win 3! (and Paris-Nice overall before that lot!)

A heck of a spring ... possibly not the best prep for Le Tour that year, as despite 2nd in the Green Comp, he failed to win a stage.

 

[Webbo2]

*Nope - but he did win 3! (and Paris-Nice overall before that lot!)

A heck of a spring ... possibly not the best prep for Le Tour that year, as despite 2nd in the Green Comp, he failed to win a stage.

My point in a round about way was that if he can ride all those races it shouldn’t be too much trouble for us to watch/ keep track of them.😉

 

[matticus]

My point in a round about way

Have you considered actually stating your point in future?? 😜

I do take your point, but I'd add They Were Different Times. Kelly was winning bunch sprints AND GC comps. All of which is irrelevant to the topic, but anyway ... !

 

[katiewlx]

It was the TdY that convinced me that pro road racing isn't really viable in the UK.

It started on a wave of (relative) public enthusiasm followed the Yorkshire grand depart. It was run by ASO, who really should know what they are doing. (More so than any of us at least ) And yet it folded.

well it had a bit of everything loaded against it didnt it, councils losing interest and pulling back on funding (which is the bane of the ToB too), Welcome To Yorkshire going tilt, covid, lack of big sponsors (which is the bane of pro cycling full stop in the UK). and the backlash from the Worlds in Harrogate, which directly led to Harrogate then refusing to be involved in the 2020 (not that it happened) or future editions, and kind of broke the whole consensus on cycling events as a positive in the region post TdF grand depart/Olympics glow, which really had sank by then.

and I dont think it could be profitable. I mean BC claim the ToB is profitable, and I dont think it remotely is. it doesnt quite feel like its on life support, but I dont know how it pays the bills.