London plans 'classic' cycle road race to rival European events

[Froome19]

The UK could host some amazing one day races. ToB doesnt go to them either for some reason

The reason is because they're not willing or don't want to pay for the rights to host a stage

Of course its better not to do it in London but it seems that
1) they think it's better publicity in london
2) capital where everything is so in non cycling terms is obviously the best place to do it in terms of advertisement
3) Olympics, from the article it seemed to apply this would be some sort of follow on from the olympics (probably to keep the olympic legacy ect) in Britain the "legacy" and all that is so important. Of course without the olympics this project would never have taken place so soon but rather in a couple more years.
4) More people in London that would attend.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Nothing wrong with them holding it in London. But it's not going to be anything other than a low-rent Paris-Tours if they do, and it runs counter to what they say they're going for. I don't see it displacing P-T or MSR as 'sprinter's classics', though that is perhaps their best opportunity at carving a niche for it. And 160km? Please. Some of the Trofeo Mallorca races are longer than that.

 

[Froome19]

Nothing wrong with them holding it in London. But it's not going to be anything other than a low-rent Paris-Tours if they do, and it runs counter to what they say they're going for. I don't see it displacing P-T or MSR as 'sprinter's classics', though that is perhaps their best opportunity at carving a niche for it.

TBH there certainly is a possibility of it forcing it's way into the calendar of many top class sprinters especially as money wont be a problem if it is linked with the olympic scheme. A lot may depend on how the olympic rr this year turns out, with three different scenarios changing how the london classic will be: either cavendish wins or another top class sprinter wins or a hilly rider wins. If cav wins then certainly will be flat as possible and only sprinters will be interested, yet if another sprinter wins the organisers may try making a harder race, yet if a hilly rider wins then the race will probably be made flatter (if possible) for cav

 

[Izzy eviel]

They could do several laps round the Hampstead Heath area, lots of short steep climbs around there. More then that would be a bit dull. A finish on top of Swain's lane would be epic.

 

[Froome19]

They could do several laps round the Hampstead Heath area, lots of short steep climbs around there. More then that would be a bit dull. A finish on top of Swain's lane would be epic.

That route was originally supposed to be the route for the olympics (hampstead heath laps) but was rejected due to the UCI complaining it was too easy

 

[LugHugger]

TBH there certainly is a possibility of it forcing it's way into the calendar of many top class sprinters especially as money wont be a problem if it is linked with the olympic scheme. A lot may depend on how the olympic rr this year turns out, with three different scenarios changing how the london classic will be: either cavendish wins or another top class sprinter wins or a hilly rider wins. If cav wins then certainly will be flat as possible and only sprinters will be interested, yet if another sprinter wins the organisers may try making a harder race, yet if a hilly rider wins then the race will probably be made flatter (if possible) for cav

Agreed. For longevity's sake though, the race needs to be more than just a procession to a sprint in the Mall/along Olympic Boulevard or whatever they're going to call it. My preferred option would be an attempt to recreate a Flandrien Classic in Surrey/Sussex and Kent.

 

[hrotha]

It's nice if new races are organized in Britain, but what's with the Anglo-Saxon obsession with "rivalling," "displacing," "replacing" or "obliterating the hell out of" other races? Can't they just do their own stuff and have their races grow without the implied treading on other folks? Are they simply not interested unless the event/team/rider is on the top?

 

[Richeypen]

It's nice if new races are organized in Britain, but what's with the Anglo-Saxon obsession with "rivalling," "displacing," "replacing" or "obliterating the hell out of" other races? Can't they just do their own stuff and have their races grow without the implied treading on other folks? Are they simply not interested unless the event/team/rider is on the top?

Centuries old traditions

Just ask Africa

 

[The Hitch]

Maybe they should copy the French style of it, and have London as the start, not the finish. Yes, most of those Paris races no longer start in Paris, but they were called that for a reason. Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Tours, Paris-Troyes, Paris-Camembert, Paris-Bourges, Paris-Corrèze, Paris-Bruxelles... lots of them.

From London, I can see a few ways to make a race interesting. Travel up the East Anglian coast or down the Kentish one for a wind-battered festival of echelons. Perhaps in East Anglia you'll be able to find some cobbles or, if not, dirt roads à la Tro Bro Léon. Otherwise, the Surrey Hills (as used in the Olympic race) could serve as a warmup as the riders go down to the South Coast, finishing with a few hills into a city on the shoreline.

Its a good post but the whole point of this race is that its in London - where 16 odd mllion people live if you include subburbs.

Not brighton or york or cornwall or the south downs or sherwood forrest.

LONDON.

Its not about having a classic in GB, its about closing the streets letting people ride bikes through the course.

Families see it as a family day out, fans as a way to see the riders, check the course, general bike riders as something to do, anyone with a bike as something to try because its the only time of the year the roads will be closed.

People watch the race, because its a spectacle right on their doorstep and cos Cavs there and because they are out shopping on Oxford street on a sunday anyway so might as well walk an extra 100m to see what the fuss is about.

Vendors see it as a way to sell something to fans coming to watch the race.

Bike business booms maybe, Cav gets a few extra sponsorship bucks, the local government likes the economy it brings so spends more money funding it so the big riders come because the race has good prize money and they come because the organisers are welcoming them to one of the most important world cities.

If it doesnt finish in London its not going to happen

 

[LugHugger]

It's nice if new races are organized in Britain, but what's with the Anglo-Saxon obsession with "rivalling," "displacing," "replacing" or "obliterating the hell out of" other races? Can't they just do their own stuff and have their races grow without the implied treading on other folks? Are they simply not interested unless the event/team/rider is on the top?

Modern sponsorship doesn't really allow this type of organic growth, at least not in South east England. It's simply too expensive to put on a small event and see what develops. The NIMBY's/Clarksons will moan because road closures mean they can't drop Tarquin off at hockey practice in their Q7's. In order to recoup the investment, it needs to have a high impact from year one. You may not like it but that's the reality.

 

[The Hitch]

It's nice if new races are organized in Britain, but what's with the Anglo-Saxon obsession with "rivalling," "displacing," "replacing" or "obliterating the hell out of" other races? Can't they just do their own stuff and have their races grow without the implied treading on other folks? Are they simply not interested unless the event/team/rider is on the top?

To be fair this isnt trying to kill any races. Its not like TOC trying to kill the Giro and vuelta. This is just offering another classic for the calendar. There are many already whats the harm in another one. They arent threatning to take anyones place anyway.

Also going for a 1 day race rather than a 21 day one is a step in the right direction.

Its actually praiseworthy considering most anglo countries think the TDF is the only cycling race of the year. A 1 day race not only aknowledges the classics, it would require comparisons with Paris Roubaix and NOT the TDF in order to big it up.

It would raise awarness of cycling.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

To be fair this isnt trying to kill any races. Its not like TOC trying to kill the Giro and vuelta. This is just offering another classic for the calendar. There are many already whats the harm in another one. They arent threatning to take anyones place anyway.

Also going for a 1 day race rather than a 21 day one is a step in the right direction.

Its actually praiseworthy considering most anglo countries think the TDF is the only cycling race of the year. A 1 day race not only aknowledges the classics, it would require comparisons with Paris Roubaix and NOT the TDF in order to big it up.

It would raise awarness of cycling.

Notwithstanding that for all the criticism of the likely dullness from a racing perspective of any potential route finishing in London (which is plenty), Britain is much, much better poised to host a one day race than a 21 day one. I'm just not seeing anything in a London to London route that ends up with anything but a bunch sprint, in which case why not hold a glorified crit on a 15-20km circuit, maybe using a handful of mini-hills in the city and let the fans see more of the action, since that's the bit of the event that is most sustainable and likely to work. In that eventuality they can make it longer than 160km and make it a decently challenging length too.

Unless somebody can point me in the direction of some nice cobbled climbs. There are a few small hills in London, probably not enough to cause any great damage if paved, but if cobbled? Could be interesting.

 

[LugHugger]

Notwithstanding that for all the criticism of the likely dullness from a racing perspective of any potential route finishing in London (which is plenty), Britain is much, much better poised to host a one day race than a 21 day one. I'm just not seeing anything in a London to London route that ends up with anything but a bunch sprint, in which case why not hold a glorified crit on a 15-20km circuit, maybe using a handful of mini-hills in the city and let the fans see more of the action, since that's the bit of the event that is most sustainable and likely to work. In that eventuality they can make it longer than 160km and make it a decently challenging length too.

Unless somebody can point me in the direction of some nice cobbled climbs. There are a few small hills in London, probably not enough to cause any great damage if paved, but if cobbled? Could be interesting.

Is swain's lane cobbled? I know a few nice rupps which are 1km or so out Barnet way which could add some Melton cicle classic type variation. Isn't wapping high road cobbled for a mile or two? That's part of the Marathon course.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

"I'd be surprised if in a few years it isn't one of the world's biggest cycling races," Clay told BBC Sport.

i hate this.

To me it just feels ignorant and lacking respect to the most prestigious races in the sport.

Obviously it isn't true, regardless of parcours (yes it can be a great race) it will never have the appeal of a P-R. No time soon anyway.

I'm all for globalizing cycling and such, but does every bozo have to think they are god's gift to cycling.

--

anyway I like the idea of a one day race in britain, the quote just annoyed me

 

[The Hitch]

Notwithstanding that for all the criticism of the likely dullness from a racing perspective of any potential route finishing in London (which is plenty), Britain is much, much better poised to host a one day race than a 21 day one. I'm just not seeing anything in a London to London route that ends up with anything but a bunch sprint, in which case why not hold a glorified crit on a 15-20km circuit, maybe using a handful of mini-hills in the city and let the fans see more of the action, since that's the bit of the event that is most sustainable and likely to work. In that eventuality they can make it longer than 160km and make it a decently challenging length too.

Unless somebody can point me in the direction of some nice cobbled climbs. There are a few small hills in London, probably not enough to cause any great damage if paved, but if cobbled? Could be interesting.

Yes, I know London is flat and it would have a bunch sprint. For 1 i wrote it 4 pages ago. For 2 I live here.

Personally I think the best way to make this hard is to go the MSR way and make it long.

Start it in Manchester (thats a place everyone here knows is "far"), go over as many litle hills as you can just to drop Guardini, then fnish in London.

Its going to be a sprint, but hey.

Or, what if they (and im sure uCI would not allow it) made it a 2 stage thing. The first stage from say 9 - 10 am is a a 60km crit around London and then from 12 for the next 3 hours a tt.

 

[The Hitch]

i hate this.

To me it just feels ignorant and lacking respect to the most prestigious races in the sport.

Obviously it isn't true, regardless of parcours (yes it can be a great race) it will never have the appeal of a P-R. No time soon anyway.

I'm all for globalizing cycling and such, but does every bozo have to think they are god's gift to cycling.

--

anyway I like the idea of a one day race in britain, the quote just annoyed me

I think the problem is that these people think cycling is a small sport like say ping pong so they think they are doing it a favor by bringing it to a wider audience.

The london marathon is used as a comparison, but marathon is not as big a sport fan wise as cycling.

 

[Jamsque]

They are making a lot of noise to attract attention. Of course London classic wont be one of the biggest races in the sport in a few years. Obviously 160km isn't a serious length. The course will not be selective enough.

However, none of these facts mean that creating a one-day race in London isn't a good idea. It IS a good idea. Bike races don't go from nought to classic overnight. Ignore the marketing pomp, enjoy the race for what it is, and hope that it develops in to a more compelling event over time.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yes, I know London is flat and it would have a bunch sprint. For 1 i wrote it 4 pages ago. For 2 I live here.

Personally I think the best way to make this hard is to go the MSR way and make it long.

Start it in Manchester (thats a place everyone here knows is "far"), go over as many litle hills as you can just to drop Guardini, then fnish in London.

Its going to be a sprint, but hey.

Or, what if they (and im sure uCI would not allow it) made it a 2 stage thing. The first stage from say 9 - 10 am is a a 60km crit around London and then from 12 for the next 3 hours a tt.

Make it a new generation's Bordeaux-Paris!!!

Or, failing that, Porto-Lisboa.

 

[craig1985]

How about this as a potential route?

Map and Profile

A 43.3km circuit that can be done 5 or 6 times. I've been to London a couple of times, but obviously I don't know the place that well. It should offer plenty of places to watch, but whether it would be viable is another thing.

 

[The Hitch]

Make it a new generation's Bordeaux-Paris!!!

Or, failing that, Porto-Lisboa.

No, nothing like that. i explain here what the attraction of this London race would be. sometimes their Is more to a race than parcors.

Its a good post but the whole point of this race is that its in London - where 16 odd mllion people live if you include subburbs.

Not brighton or york or cornwall or the south downs or sherwood forrest.

LONDON.

Its not about having a classic in GB, its about closing the streets letting people ride bikes through the course.

Families see it as a family day out, fans as a way to see the riders, check the course, general bike riders as something to do, anyone with a bike as something to try because its the only time of the year the roads will be closed.

People watch the race, because its a spectacle right on their doorstep and cos Cavs there and because they are out shopping on Oxford street on a sunday anyway so might as well walk an extra 100m to see what the fuss is about.

Vendors see it as a way to sell something to fans coming to watch the race.

Bike business booms maybe, Cav gets a few extra sponsorship bucks, the local government likes the economy it brings so spends more money funding it so the big riders come because the race has good prize money and they come because the organisers are welcoming them to one of the most important world cities.

If it doesnt finish in London its not going to happen

 

[PCutter]

They should do it on Boris Bikes to make it a bit tougher

 

[The Hitch]

They should do it on Boris Bikes to make it a bit tougher

Now this i like

 

[The Plediadian]

Really the way to do it is behind derney for the first 4 hours,starting 400hrs. and then add 6 hours on top, mixed hills, cobbles etc.
Anywhere around London it would be a hit, and a velodrome finish, winner!

 

[avanti]

Really the way to do it is behind derney for the first 4 hours,starting 400hrs. and then add 6 hours on top, mixed hills, cobbles etc.
Anywhere around London it would be a hit, and a velodrome finish, winner!

I like this Bordeaux-Paris style race idea.

 

[avanti]

For a world class one-day race in the UK I think the Isle of Man TT course would be ideal (4 or 5 laps?). Other great locations would in Wales or the Pennines.
But road traffic is going to be an issue in most areas.