Cycling Hotbed

[simo1733]

There are currently 3 protour riders from the Isle of Man (pop 80,000 approx)
Cavendish(HTC) Bellis(Saxo Bank) Kennaugh(Sky)
Thats seems remarkable for such a small population,but is there somewhere else that beats it.

 

[Ney the Viking]

There are currently 3 protour riders from the Isle of Man (pop 80,000 approx)
Cavendish(HTC) Bellis(Saxo Bank) Kennaugh(Sky)
Thats seems remarkable for such a small population,but is there somewhere else that beats it.

Were they actually born and raised there, or did they move there to protect their income?

 

[Superbagneres]

All born and raised. I guess Monaco is what the question is about.

 

[Bernardus]

Thats seems remarkable for such a small population,but is there somewhere else that beats it.

Cyclists often come from small cycling-crazed communities, so it might not be as remarkable as it seems. There are probably plenty of riders from small towns in the Basque Country (Euskaltel), Vendee (bBox), Tuscany and Belgium.

I've only looked at the current squad of Euskaltel:
Egoi Martinez (1978) and Gorka Verdugo (1978) were both born in Etxarri Aranatz, a town with less than 2500 inhabitants.

Aitor Galdos (1979) and Aitor Hernandez (1982) were both born in Ermua, a town with just over 16000 inhabitants.

 

[online-rider]

There are currently 3 protour riders from the Isle of Man (pop 80,000 approx)
Cavendish(HTC) Bellis(Saxo Bank) Kennaugh(Sky)
Thats seems remarkable for such a small population,but is there somewhere else that beats it.

I don't think 3 riders constitutes a hot-bed but it is impressive. I'd say Tuscany and Flanders are more the hot beds.(or were back in the glory days)

 

[Clemson Cycling]

Luxembourg has a population of around 500,000 and has two of the best riders in the sport along with Laurent Didier. Little bigger but better quality of riders.

 

[maltiv]

Both Dag Otto Lauritzen (first Norwegian TDF stage winner) and Thor Hushovd (second Norwegian TDF stage winner) are from Grimstad, a town with 20 000 inhabitants.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Not even close:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovo
Current population, 2,486
Seems to have claim to a couple of half decent pro bikers.

 

[issoisso]

Mont-Saint-Aignan. 21000 people: Anquetil and Pineau

or, better:

Eeklo, Belgium. 19500 people.

Classics monster Roger de Vlaeminck, his brilliant brother Eric de Vlaeminck, Albert Buysse and a bunch of pros current and past who were merely "good" or "very good"

 

[icefire]

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Barraco

Go to the 'Personajes Ilustres' section.

 

[ingsve]

I don't think a place where successful brothers comes from really counts as a hotbed either. It's more interesting with small places that have independently bred top riders.