Spring Classic in England?

[NUFCrichard]

After the success of the stages in England, there is already talk of bringing the Tour back to England in the future. Does anyone else think that they could make a pretty decent spring classic on the parcours of stage 2, or in the lake district?

It would be a bit Amstel Gold Race like, good for the climbers and the punchers. Do you think the English would turn out to watch for a classic? or are they only interested in the Tour and the Olympics...?

I guess scheduling would be difficult, but they could put it on the same day as the Scheldeprijs.

 

[arvc40]

More importantly, how about injecting some cash into cycling clubs so more races can be organised at Amateur level !. For years it has been a struggle to find races and its often still the case !.

 

[veji11]

Well it looks like in mai next year there should be a Yorkshire Tour organised by ASO ! TO me this weekend in Yorkshire has shown that one could do a great 3/4 days race there :
- one or two stages finishing with a sprint
- one or two hard hilly stages.
Buttertubs or Holmes Moss deserve to become regular fixtures in the racing calendar, that is for sure.

I for one am happy to see more racing in Europe in a place where spectators are happy and boisterous, rather than having another special Qatar/Beijing tour for the money, where no one cares.

 

[Pricey_sky]

More importantly, how about injecting some cash into cycling clubs so more races can be organised at Amateur level !. For years it has been a struggle to find races and its often still the case !.

Completely agree, just like other sports not enough is passed down to 'grass-roots' level.

Something like stage 2 but slightly longer with a couple more hills in would make a great classics stage. It's certainly something which could be done if the Yorkshire public support it. Perhaps even something over 2 days like the Crit-international would be good, a short prologue and flat(ish) stage on the Saturday then a really hilly one on the Sunday.

 

[veji11]

Completely agree, just like other sports not enough is passed down to 'grass-roots' level.

Something like stage 2 but slightly longer with a couple more hills in would make a great classics stage. It's certainly something which could be done if the Yorkshire public support it. Perhaps even something over 2 days like the Crit-international would be good, a short prologue and flat(ish) stage on the Saturday then a really hilly one on the Sunday.

Something is already planned for 2015 :
Yorkshire Tour

The UCI Would be crazy not to do it. This + the fact that it is quite likely that the organisers of the Tour of Britain will try to use the aura of the Tour de France to beef up their difficulty level on some hilly routes, pro cycling is looking good in Britain !