From Brother Cycling comes the second part of their in-depth investigation into British domestic road racing and its challenges
![]() |
Feature: The Way Ahead Part 2
British domestic road racing faced serious challenges even before Covid19 decimated the 2020 calendar. How can it recover, strengthen and achieve sustainability? Enjoy part two of our in-depth investigation. You can read the full article on the Brother UK Cycling Blog.
Unforeseen circumstances
Fast forward 12 months from an unforgettable day in Manchester when the closing stage of the 2019 Tour of Britain rolled into town and elite domestic road racing is again fighting for its survival. British Cycling’s Covid19-inspired moratorium on bunch racing, understandable perhaps in the face of a pandemic, has only felt like the steepening of an already downward trajectory.
Folding teams and races had become the norm even before the imposition of a ‘new normal’, but even the most pessimistic spectator on Deansgate might have struggled to predict a year without national road racing. Competition is the raison d’etre of any cycling team, and races represent some of the most important milestones on the cycle sponsorship road map.
It has now become essential to address the sport’s systemic weaknesses if it is to recover from a year of inactivity, enforced or otherwise. Piecemeal repairs can no longer fill cracks broadened by lockdown.
The domestic sport’s dependence on the efforts of a handful of ageing race organisers to stage the events that give the National Road Series its structure and character has also been exposed. A stand-off between British Cycling and members of the national organisers group over branding rights at flagship events delayed publication of the 2020 calendar even before the outbreak over coronavirus.
British Cycling’s relationship with title sponsor HSBC embodies the too-often transitory nature of cycle sponsorship. In February, the bank announced that it would end its relationship with the federation after the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. When coronavirus forced the postponement of both events, HSBC postponed its departure until 2021.
Sponsors, suppliers of cycle sport’s lifeblood, will not wait forever for it to embrace sustainability. Once lost, the support of a commercial backer can be hard to regain, especially in such challenging economic circumstances. Many are engaged in their own fight for survival. Sponsoring cycle events or teams might be low on their list of priorities.
The recent heyday, when six British-registered, UCI Continental teams, well-funded and well run, raced with panache and success at home and abroad already seems far distant, but can it be recaptured? Much of the despondency surrounding the sport can be counterbalanced with optimism.
Click here to read the full article, or listen to a panel of experts including Phil Jones MBE, Erick Rowsell and Larry Hickmott on the Brother UK Cycling Podcast, available now from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.
Cycle Division’s Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- RR Result: Beaumont Trophy/Curlew Cup
- Features, Reports, Results
- Series Table: Isle of Man Youth League 2023
- BMCR Result: Victoria CC Criterium
- 93rd VeloViewer Monsal Hill Climb Event Preview
- CX Result: London and South East CX League 3
- RR Result: JGCC Road Race
- CX Result: Central Cyclocross League 2
- HC Result: Cheltenham & County CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Westerham CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Ayr Roads CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Kingston Wheelers Hill Climb
- HC Result: Mid Devon CC Haytor Hill Climb
- HC Result: Mid Devon CC Widecombe Hill Climb
- TT Result: East Anglian VTTA 25m TT
- TT Result: VC Sevale 10m TT
- HC Result: Team Lifting Gear Products (Pea Royd Lane)
- HC Result: Team Lifting Gear Products Hill Climb
- TT Result: Paceline RT 25m TT
- HC Result: Watford Velo Sport Hill Climb
- HC Result: Cleveland Whs Hill Climb
- HC Result: Withington Wheelers Hill Climb
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer WMCCL Rd 4
- BMCR Result: Moda RT E/F/G/H/W Stallard Finale
- Dedication to the late Steve Knight
- TT Result: SVTTA (Speed Trophy) 15m TT
- RR Result: 360cycling Junior National Series Finale
- TT Result: Bramley Wheelers 25m TT
- TT Result: New Forest CC Autumn 10
- TT Result: Berkhamsted CC Sporting 10m TT
- TT Result: Saint Piran 19m TT
- HC Result: Exeter Wheelers Hill Climb
- HC Result: Wigmore CC Hill Climb
- Track Result: 2023 Derny Championship
- Crit Result: West Thames Autumn Crits 2
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League Rd 2
- CX Result: CXNE Series Round 2
- CX Result: Western Cyclocross League Rd 1
- CX Result: 3 Peaks 2023
- CX Result: Lincolnshire CX League Rd 1
- CX Result: Wessex CX League Rd3 (Foxhill)
- HC Result: Allen Valley Velo Hill Climb
Other News on VeloUK
- 93rd VeloViewer Monsal Hill Climb Event Preview
- Dedication to the late Steve Knight
- Saint Piran’s Remarkable Journey
- GB Riders for European Road Championships
- News: Ribble Launches Stone into Gravel
- Report: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT 2023
- News: East Cleveland Classic Rescheduled
- ENTRIES NEEDED: Severn Valley GP
- EVENTS: Criterium des Vainqueurs
- RR Result: Scottish National Road Race Championship
- Startlist: BMCR National Road Race Championships(C/D)
- PREVIEW – AA Brown Road Race
- Startlist: Beaumont Trophy/Curlew Cup
- Team News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT
- News: Ribble adds 105 12 speed to Bikes
- Startlist: RTTC National 10 Mile Championships
- News: Jenny Holl races Rás na mBan with Alba DRT
- WORLD TRACK MASTERS – LESS THAN A WEEK TO ENTER!
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Start List
- News: Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclocross League (WMCCL)
- JUNIOR TOUR OF WALES (Podiums)
- This Sunday: Time Trial’s Blue Ribbon Event – 25 mile Championship
- News: new Womens Cycling Team
- News: Reviving Elite Cycle Racing Taskforce
- News: Charlie Tanfield Extends with Saint Piran
- News: West Midlands Road Race League
- Report: World Championships (August 13, Sunday)
- News: Pedal Club Lunch (August ‘23)
- Report: World Championships (Aug 12, Saturday)
- Report: World Championships (August 11)
- Report: World Championships (August 10)
- Events: Ryedale Grasscrete GP (Men/Women)
- Feature: Handsling Bikes
- News: Tao Geoghegan Hart Signs for Lidl-Trek
- World Championships (Wed, Aug 9)
- Report: World Championships (Aug 8, 2023)
- 2023 World Championships: (Monday)
- Report: World Championships (Sunday)
- Report: Golden Day for GB in Glasgow
- World Championships Report: Scottish Cycling (Aug 4)