The much needed UCI loller thread

[CyclistAbi]

'Paradoxically, the teams didn't accept it' – Teams budget caps not coming to cycling in near future, reveals UCI President

David Lappartient talks cycling's financial state in extensive interview with Ouest-France, also explaining difficulty of future ticketed entry at races

www.cyclingnews.com

I feel that until a Tour winner is paid the same as a top scorer in UEFA Champions League there will always be initiative to do better in term of the finances. As for the future i feel that instead of "Super League" or "franchise system" or similar and worrying about on who can buy a ticket to enter into such competition it's important to copy European football model. That is to develop a strong cycling clubs culture over Europe with die hard fan bases. And such clubs to be able to compete at any rank of cycling competition for as long as they do better then the other "wealthy" teams (cycling clubs). To some extent that will hence need to be financially supported and regulated. Athlete safety is something that will need to get addressed too as currently not a lot of parents would allow their kids to participate in such clubs at a young age due to safety concerns.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

What route do you suggest to a position where there are teams with "die-hard fan bases"?

A survey on this forum suggests that loyalty to a team is a very small element of fan engagement currently: how would the UCI change that?

 

[RedheadDane]

Dunno if it was already mentioned, but seems ASO/UCI (whoever's to blame) has done it, the stupidest thing ever:

12.04

Paris-Roubaix Femmes

Yeah... that's on the Sunday, same day as the men... that's definitely not going to improve the chances for full-race coverage of the women's race.
Also dunno what it'll mean for the U23 and Junior (men's) races.
Or any hope that they'll include U23 and Junior women's races at some point in the - hopefully, not too distant - future.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Dunno if it was already mentioned, but seems ASO/UCI (whoever's to blame) has done it, the stupidest thing ever:

12.04

Paris-Roubaix Femmes

Yeah... that's on the Sunday, same day as the men... that's definitely not going to improve the chances for full-race coverage of the women's race.
Also dunno what it'll mean for the U23 and Junior (men's) races.
Or any hope that they'll include U23 and Junior women's races at some point in the - hopefully, not too distant - future.

All four races appear to be listed for Sunday 12th.
Somebodies going to have get out of bed early.

 

[CyclistAbi]

What route do you suggest to a position where there are teams with "die-hard fan bases"?

A survey on this forum suggests that loyalty to a team is a very small element of fan engagement currently: how would the UCI change that?

Strengthening local cycling clubs network cross Europe, likely there could even be cycling ultras. As currently the focus seems to be only for the top few cycling clubs, most soaking in money and peaking in sports washing. In general it's harder to truly identify with that in terms of a fan base. Especially if not being involved with this sport in any meaningful way and in your local community.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Strengthening local cycling clubs network cross Europe, likely there could even be cycling ultras. As currently the focus seems to be only for the top few cycling clubs, most soaking in money and peaking in sports washing. In general it's harder to truly identify with that in terms of a fan base. Especially if not being involved with this sport in any meaningful way and in your local community.

You have repeated the ambition, and made no attempt to address my question as the route to achieve this.

Who could do what to "Strengthen local cycling clubs network cross Europe" to the point that there "could even be cycling ultras"? Do you have evidence of anyone getting remotely close to such a thing? I struggle to see any vaguely attainable goal in your proposal.


"to copy European football model" one would need what football offers: an event in the locality at least once a fortnight over the course of several months each year, so that the same group of people can build their day around a routine of pre- and post- event "socialisation", and a cultural shift that makes this supporting culture such a deep part of one's identity that becoming submerged in a collective is deeply ingrained.

 

[CyclistAbi]

You have repeated the ambition, and made no attempt to address my question as the route to achieve this.

Who could do what to "Strengthen local cycling clubs network cross Europe" to the point that there "could even be cycling ultras"? Do you have evidence of anyone getting remotely close to such a thing? I struggle to see any vaguely attainable goal in your proposal.

I mean i already wrote that in the original response. Basically UCI should for the most part copy FIFA, it's less then a 200km ride, for Lappartient to visit Čeferin.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

You think FIFA invented the fan culture of football?

What have FIFA done that you think can/should be usefully replicated in cycling that will result in an ultras style support for local teams?

 

[CyclistAbi]

You think FIFA invented the fan culture of football?

Invented no, sustain and develop it, yes. FIFA understands that long term sport sustainability comes from strong local communities involvement in football. You have football clubs in every village and kids are involved from young age. With cycling clubs this is much less developed ATM, often niche. Said that some countries in Europe do better then others. On where with football it's rather OK-ish cross Europe.

What have FIFA done that you think can/should be usefully replicated in cycling that will result in an ultras style support for local teams?

I already wrote that part too.

That is to develop a strong cycling clubs culture over Europe with die hard fan bases. And such clubs to be able to compete at any rank of cycling competition for as long as they do better then the other "wealthy" teams (cycling clubs). To some extent that will hence need to be financially supported and regulated.

And especially this part will need to get sorted out first:

Athlete safety is something that will need to get addressed too as currently not a lot of parents would allow their kids to participate in such clubs at a young age due to safety concerns.

This again is something UCI must take leadership role and address it. Before that forget it.