Part three of Brother UK Cycling’s ‘The Way Ahead’ about British domestic road racing and the challenges it faces – reasons to be cheerful
![]() |
Feature: ‘The Way Ahead’ – Part Three
British domestic road racing faced serious challenges even before Covid19 decimated the 2020 calendar. How can it recover, strengthen and achieve sustainability? Enjoy part three of our in-depth investigation. You can read the full article on the Brother UK Cycling Blog.
Reasons to be cheerful
Reasons to be cheerful, one, two, three: British Cycling will host a National Road Series in 2021, Brother UK will remain at the sport’s side during what looks set to be a pivotal year, and Erick Rowsell, appointed the federation’s Elite Road Racing Manager in January, has already won the hearts and minds of disaffected race organisers.
Rowsell’s appointment is of particular importance. Not only is he the first incumbent of a position specifically created to address the organisational challenges of domestic road racing, but he is also a popular appointment; a man who knows what a bike race looks like from the inside. The sport whose future he seeks to secure is one in which he has spent a lifetime competing. The races he seeks to save are those he has contested and treasures.
That race organisers like Peter Harrison, the man behind the Beaumont Trophy and Curlew Cup, value his appointment is especially significant. Harrison is the most experienced of the volunteers who keep the show on the road; tireless servants of a sport that still depends largely on private individuals to deliver its biggest events.
Listen to the Brother UK Cycling Podcast Here
There are further reasons for optimism. Many of the teams embraced e-racing during lockdown and, if they are savvy, will recognise e-sport’s enormous potential to generate revenue. New graduates from the domestic scene to the WorldTour peloton – notably Matt Holmes (Lotto-Soudal) and Conor Swift (Arkea-Samsic) – have proved the worth of a cycling education gained on British roads.
And while many businesses have faced bankruptcy under lockdown, others have gained from the ‘new normal’ and might be seeking sponsorship opportunities. Further, cycling is experiencing the greatest boost to its popularity since 2012, even if the foundations of this new ‘mini boom’ are very different to Olympic success. ‘Active travel’ has flourished on roads suddenly made safe by home working’s dilution of Britain’s seemingly endless rush hour and amid warnings to stay off public transport.
This last trend, while not directly related to cycle sport, can deliver the same advantages. Local authorities – huge players in the health of domestic road racing, either as sponsors or enablers – have an economic interest in a healthier population. Many might be convinced of the advantages of staging a bike race as a halo event to inspire residents.
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
- CX Result: NWCCA Round 2 (Barnoldswick)
- RR Result: Beeston CC Six Hills
- Report: Wightlink-Island Renewables Military Road 35km Open TT
- CX Result: London and South East CX League 2
- RR Result: Surrey League Ditchling Common RRs
- HC Result: Bute Wheelers Serpentine Hill Climb
- TT Result: Bute Wheelers 2 Up TTT
- TT Result: Poole Wheelers 10m Time Trial
- TT Result: VTTA Surrey/Sussex 25m Championship
- TT Result: Midlands VTTA 10m TT
- HC Result: GS Metro Hedley On The Hill
- TT Result: Darlington CC 10m TT
- TT Result: Bute Wheelers 10m TT
- HC Result: Yorkshire Road Club Hill Climb
- Youth Result: Inter Regional Road Championships
- CX Result: Central Cyclocross League Round 1
- CX Result: South West Cyclocross League 2
- CX Result: Notts & Derby Round 1
- CX Result: Hope Supercross Rnd 3
- TT Result: AWCC Classified 10 Mile TT
- RR Result: Circuit of Charfield RR
- CX Result: SCX Series Round 1
- Youth Result: White Rose Youth league Finale
- BMCR National Circuit Racing Championships E/F/G/H/W
- BMCR Result: Kenilworth Wheelers Road Race
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer WMCCL Rd 3
- Crit Result: West Thames Autumn Crits
- HC Result: Cheshire Maverick CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Protech Velo Hill Climb
- HC Result: Bridgwater CC Hill Climb
- TT Result: North Lancashire 50m TT
- HC Result: VC Venta Old Winchester Hill (climb)
- TT Result: ECCA 10 mile time trial
- HC Result: Reading CC Streatley Hill Climb
- Crit Result: Full Gas Autumn Cup Series 3
- HC Result: Minehead CC Porlock Hill Climb
- HC Result: Minehead Cycling Club Hill Climb
- RR Result: Radnorshire Late Season Road Race
- GB Riders for European Road Championships
Other News on VeloUK
- 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)
- Cycling Worlds: Medals for Great Britain (Friday, Aug 4)
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (July 2023)
- Q&A with Paracycling GB Rider Millie Cass