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Yawn; another Grand Depart in the UK.......what about the Giro on the mainland? There's more to cycling than the Tour de France......but these idiots don't think there is.

I'd rather that money be spent on improving the UK cycling scene, both racing, and infrastructure.....
As a Dutchman, the idea of someone complaining about another Grand Depart 13 years after the last one and wishing it was the Giro (/Vuelta) instead is very funny to me.

You have also had two Worlds in the meantime so the UK is, if nothing else, getting a reasonably varied set of big events.
 
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You are aware that there are parts of Scotland that are not the Grampian highlands, and areas of Wales away from Eryri?

I havent been to Scotland since I was a wee bairn, but I do remember Edinburgh is alot lot smaller than people expect it to be, and Scotland is very difficult to get about the place, unless you drive, lots of places literally only being accessed via the one particular route.

Wales equally so, the road to Snowdonia, is pretty much the only road in or out of the national park, not that I think theyll pick north Wales, it will more likely be Pembrey & Black mountain I suspect as a favoured BC climb.

remember its being funded by essentially government NGOs to promote tourism, so theyll decide on stages that look nice from a helicopter, not those that are easy to spectate from.

I think it will be much like the world championships in Glasgow the roads outside werent exactly lined with millions of people were they ?

and Im not saying oh it would be better in London, south east or even my local roads, it wouldnt be those would be terrible areas to pick for TdF or TdFF stages as theyd be boring as hell.

Im just highlighting from a spectating pov whilst everyones going yah its so great the races are coming to the UK, chances of you seeing it much roadside or in person could be alot lower than you think, certainly it will be easier to just hop on a ferry to France to watch the race instead.
 
As a Dutchman, the idea of someone complaining about another Grand Depart 13 years after the last one and wishing it was the Giro (/Vuelta) instead is very funny to me.

You have also had two Worlds in the meantime so the UK is, if nothing else, getting a reasonably varied set of big events.

I dont see it so much as a complaint, more a lament, that the UK only sees the TdF (I doubt the TdFF was a choice they made feels more like an ASO move) as the sum total of cycling as a sport, when we should be looking wider than that to the Giro or the Vuelta as well.

and all whilst we do have a very fundamental problem with cycling in the UK, both now in the sporting side theres barely any domestic teams, barely any domestic races, barely any sponsors and as an activity in that to be a cyclist in the UK is to be part of an outgroup, who are pilloried, abused, often threatened just for riding a bike, we have terrible nationwide infrastructure, terrible government plans for cycling (I dont even think the current lot have published a cycling plan).

and yeah I get all the its the biggest race on the calendar. its prestigous, Ill absolutely be happy to see the races on UK roads, assuming I can get to see them, but I also know theyre one off events that dont move the needle forward in respect of cycling in the UK

it reminded me of a conversation I had with the people who picked the spot next to me in the middle of Yorkshire in 2014, right at the height of Wiggomania/post Olympics glow, we had about 6hrs to waste so might as well chat right. And it turned out they werent interested in cycling at all, either as a sport or a hobby, they were literally only there because it was the current next big event thing to happen sporting wise in the UK, and they wanted to be able to show their friends they were lucky enough to see it, post on their socials pictures of them being there, get likes for it and so on.

Thats all the TdF was to them, a chance to boast that they were there, they werent and their kids werent inspired to become cyclists or follow the sport more because of it.

and I suspect that was the same for alot of those people along the stage routes, because I dont think post 2014 there was anykind of mini cycling revolution in Yorkshire, hence why the TdY died a death, as a result, we didnt see a major boost to cycling either as a sport or activity, in fact since 2012 its been on a decline back to mid 90s levels

as for the worlds, the one in Scotland might as well have been held in a completely different country, for all the impact it had UK wide, it was tiny and barely covered, and Yorkshire, well the weather killed it, maybe if it had been sunny it would have had some impact. but I doubt most people even remember either of them happened.

and that would be my point really, its yep its great these races are coming to the UK, Im not churlish enough to criticise that its happening, Im looking forward to the TdFF, but theres more to cycling than these races, and actually their impact isnt really that big ultimately for cycling in the UK.

and post 2027, our domestic sport scene and cycling as an activity will still be stuck in the same hole it is, so what will we have achieved ? another notch on the bed post so we can say the next time in 2040, it will be the 6th time/2nd time.
 
I dont see it so much as a complaint, more a lament, that the UK only sees the TdF (I doubt the TdFF was a choice they made feels more like an ASO move) as the sum total of cycling as a sport, when we should be looking wider than that to the Giro or the Vuelta as well.

and all whilst we do have a very fundamental problem with cycling in the UK, both now in the sporting side theres barely any domestic teams, barely any domestic races, barely any sponsors and as an activity in that to be a cyclist in the UK is to be part of an outgroup, who are pilloried, abused, often threatened just for riding a bike, we have terrible nationwide infrastructure, terrible government plans for cycling (I dont even think the current lot have published a cycling plan).

and yeah I get all the its the biggest race on the calendar. its prestigous, Ill absolutely be happy to see the races on UK roads, assuming I can get to see them, but I also know theyre one off events that dont move the needle forward in respect of cycling in the UK

it reminded me of a conversation I had with the people who picked the spot next to me in the middle of Yorkshire in 2014, right at the height of Wiggomania/post Olympics glow, we had about 6hrs to waste so might as well chat right. And it turned out they werent interested in cycling at all, either as a sport or a hobby, they were literally only there because it was the current next big event thing to happen sporting wise in the UK, and they wanted to be able to show their friends they were lucky enough to see it, post on their socials pictures of them being there, get likes for it and so on.

Thats all the TdF was to them, a chance to boast that they were there, they werent and their kids werent inspired to become cyclists or follow the sport more because of it.

and I suspect that was the same for alot of those people along the stage routes, because I dont think post 2014 there was anykind of mini cycling revolution in Yorkshire, hence why the TdY died a death, as a result, we didnt see a major boost to cycling either as a sport or activity, in fact since 2012 its been on a decline back to mid 90s levels

as for the worlds, the one in Scotland might as well have been held in a completely different country, for all the impact it had UK wide, it was tiny and barely covered, and Yorkshire, well the weather killed it, maybe if it had been sunny it would have had some impact. but I doubt most people even remember either of them happened.

and that would be my point really, its yep its great these races are coming to the UK, Im not churlish enough to criticise that its happening, Im looking forward to the TdFF, but theres more to cycling than these races, and actually their impact isnt really that big ultimately for cycling in the UK.

and post 2027, our domestic sport scene and cycling as an activity will still be stuck in the same hole it is, so what will we have achieved ? another notch on the bed post so we can say the next time in 2040, it will be the 6th time/2nd time.
I think you're overstating it a bit, cycling as a general mode of transport is flagging bit afaik club memberships and British Cycling memberships are up quite a lot. The latter is at 160k+ now. We're seeing a lot of young British professionals now, too, way more than ten years ago where the only pathway was Team Sky.

Also, worth saying that this isn't purely a sporting decision to boost cycling, but an economic/financial one, given 2014 was a really huge success both for host towns and BC. BC are very, very unlikely to lose money from this, so I think it's wrong to say you'd rather this money spent elsewhere, as this is money that will likely multiply in order to be spent elsewhere.
 
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I think you're overstating it a bit, cycling as a general mode of transport is flagging bit afaik club memberships and British Cycling memberships are up quite a lot. The latter is at 160k+ now. We're seeing a lot of young British professionals now, too, way more than ten years ago where the only pathway was Team Sky.

Also, worth saying that this isn't purely a sporting decision to boost cycling, but an economic/financial one, given 2014 was a really huge success both for host towns and BC. BC are very, very unlikely to lose money from this, so I think it's wrong to say you'd rather this money spent elsewhere, as this is money that will likely multiply in order to be spent elsewhere.


well Cycling Weekly were reporting just 3 months ago based on BCs annual accounts, there was a 11 percent decline in BC membership down to under 130k.


and I know from experience of the Olympics in 2012, and Yorkshire 2014 they act as like super massive black holes because all the focus, all the attention, all the funding, all the effort goes solely into them and if youre not part of those events, no-ones interested in you and you very much get left out on the periphery.

I mean a classic example of this would be the ASO are far more likely to want to wildcard a British pro-conti level team for the TdFF that year, however the people running those teams are going to find every conversation they have with potential sponsors for the next 2 years, will be about the TdF instead, because those sponsors have to gamble spending money on team that might see no ROI on ever vs chucking some money at the host stages in Scotland or Wales wherever for the TdF and guaranteeing their spot in hospitality at the finish, which is really all they care about.

BC absolutely wont lose any money on this, but it wont be money theyll then spend making the sport overall in the UK better.
 
well Cycling Weekly were reporting just 3 months ago based on BCs annual accounts, there was a 11 percent decline in BC membership down to under 130k.


and I know from experience of the Olympics in 2012, and Yorkshire 2014 they act as like super massive black holes because all the focus, all the attention, all the funding, all the effort goes solely into them and if youre not part of those events, no-ones interested in you and you very much get left out on the periphery.

I mean a classic example of this would be the ASO are far more likely to want to wildcard a British pro-conti level team for the TdFF that year, however the people running those teams are going to find every conversation they have with potential sponsors for the next 2 years, will be about the TdF instead, because those sponsors have to gamble spending money on team that might see no ROI on ever vs chucking some money at the host stages in Scotland or Wales wherever for the TdF and guaranteeing their spot in hospitality at the finish, which is really all they care about.

BC absolutely wont lose any money on this, but it wont be money theyll then spend making the sport overall in the UK better.
What a gut punch for Americans!! UK cycling down by 11%..and still almost 123,000 license holders w population of 70million..!! US has 343 million people and we barely have 100,000 license holders!!
And if gravel didn't show it's pretty head, numbers likely lower!!
Luke Lamperti, Matteo Jorgensen, Sepp Kuss, Magnus Sheffield and our federation can't figure out how to go in a positive direction!! And UK company will promote Colorado stage race in September!!!
American racers making some positive contributions, despite floundering, foolish federation!!
TDF should start in Santa Monica or Boulder.. Boston or Brooklyn!! Give us a chance..!!
 
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What a gut punch for Americans!! UK cycling down by 11%..and still almost 123,000 license holders w population of 70million..!! US has 343 million people and we barely have 100,000 license holders!!
And if gravel didn't show it's pretty head, numbers likely lower!!
Luke Lamperti, Matteo Jorgensen, Sepp Kuss, Magnus Sheffield and our federation can't figure out how to go in a positive direction!! And UK company will promote Colorado stage race in September!!!
American racers making some positive contributions, despite floundering, foolish federation!!
TDF should start in Santa Monica or Boulder.. Boston or Brooklyn!! Give us a chance..!!
Not these days it shouldn't--there would be too many visas refused.
 
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That's a much easier Sant Feliu de Guixols stage than in recent years, could well be 3 days for the sprinters which is stupid for a race that has never attracted and will never attract strong sprint fields. Aside from the (admittedly excellent) Queralt stage, this is a terrible route.
2025 has a really nice Catalunya style sprinter field. Groves, Van den Berg, Bittner but also Pau Miquel, Aniolkowski, Hayter, Laurance, Govekar, Brennan, Strong/Einhorn/Vernon and good old Aberasturi. Henok for the win in stage 1.
 

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