Move World Champs back to late Summer

[avanti]

I can't recall the reason that the track world cup races and world championship races were moved to the winter.

I would like to see them moved back to August/September.

That way open air velodromes could be used, cyclists could get more good weather riding in their legs (not every rider lives near a covered velodrome), and options to use 333m velodromes are back.

 

[twothirds]

I totally agree. I fell that at least here in Canada, track cycling has taken a back seat to road riding. We used to get close to 50 racers coming out every second week for a track league at the crappiest open air velodrome you could possibly ride on.

 

[oldcrank]

I can't recall the reason that the track world cup races and world championship races were moved to the winter.

Hey, it's summer in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina

 

[CobbleStoner]

it makes sense for the track worlds to be held in spring, the track season is during the winter, it always has been. if you wait until the end of summer, the true track riders are past their peak. It is perfect in spring because the best track riders are peaking and they are also just starting their pro road season (gotta pay the bills) so they can get track over with and race road all summer. The bigger problem is putting the world championships in far away places, like Melbourne. riders with pro road contracts can't go, if worlds were at a European velodrome, it would be no problem. Look at last year in Apeldoorn vs this year in Melbourne, more of the top riders were in Apeldoorn. promote world cycling at the conti level but there is no need to do that at the very top level, it is already there, the top level is almost beyond nationalism, they are world citizens

 

[TShame]

Not going to happen.
UCI doesn't want to deal with rain and bad weather.
Indoor velodromes have no winds either.
It was hoped more riders could compete in the winter, but few road riders can afford to do both (energy-wise).

Actually, I think the South American velos are rain covered but open like Greece.
I thought about going to next years champs but in the middle of winter? No way.

Concrete and especially outdoor velos are almost impossible to beat old records.
I do wish more velodromes were enclosed.

 

[Master50]

it makes sense for the track worlds to be held in spring, the track season is during the winter, it always has been. if you wait until the end of summer, the true track riders are past their peak. It is perfect in spring because the best track riders are peaking and they are also just starting their pro road season (gotta pay the bills) so they can get track over with and race road all summer. The bigger problem is putting the world championships in far away places, like Melbourne. riders with pro road contracts can't go, if worlds were at a European velodrome, it would be no problem. Look at last year in Apeldoorn vs this year in Melbourne, more of the top riders were in Apeldoorn. promote world cycling at the conti level but there is no need to do that at the very top level, it is already there, the top level is almost beyond nationalism, they are world citizens

More than road the power in track is shifting away from a Eurocentric, almost to a Commonwealth power. Track is Mondial-izing very fast and there are some very good riders coming from outside of Europe. I appreciate the argument but it is getting more diluted every year. At some point the Euros are going to accept the world is entitled to share the sport and it will change the distribution of power to some advantage and to some loss too.

As to the season track cycling is? It is somewhat tied to your facility. Indoor vs. outdoor is obvious too but to do TV you need reliable conditions and indoor fits the bill. Rain delays cost money and loose sponsor dollars too. The mandate for world cup and world championships is indoor 250 meter but 333 is just fine too. the size of the track is greatly financial in nature. 333 tracks are a lot more expensive to build as indoor tracks so the 250 is predominant.

 

[CobbleStoner]

More than road the power in track is shifting away from a Eurocentric, almost to a Commonwealth power. Track is Mondial-izing very fast and there are some very good riders coming from outside of Europe. I appreciate the argument but it is getting more diluted every year. At some point the Euros are going to accept the world is entitled to share the sport and it will change the distribution of power to some advantage and to some loss too.

I agree 100%, but my point wasn't that the worlds should be in Europe because that is where the best riders are from, my point is that the worlds should be in Europe because that is where the World Tour mainly is, and the top pro teams are all based there.
the great track riders in Malayasia, Oz, or wherever can always get to worlds in Europe, but as we saw this year, the top Euro based riders can't go to worlds outside of Europe because of their contracts.

 

[oldcrank]

I'm not sure how much of this is speculation
http://www.trackcyclingnews.com/worldcups12.html