Archer GP cancelled again

Bronzie

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/si ... celled.asp

This time due to lack of funding. Last year due to Thames Valley Police playing silly buggers. Wonder if the 2007 event will prove to be the last ever running of this historic race? Damn shame.

Kléber

A real pity. In a way, the velodrome success is the wood that hides the forest, that for all the gold on the track, there isn't enough money to put on high quality racing. The sport has to retreat from populated areas.

Bronzie

From Cycling Weekly:
A press release from organiser Stuart Benstead said:

Undoubtedly the recession has been a major factor, but not necessarily the only factor. It is particularly galling that arrangements had already been put in place for Thames Valley Police (TVP) to provide a motor-cycle escort team and our relationship with them has been first class.

Nevertheless, the costs of this escort together with the road closure order would have been easily the biggest proportion of the whole budget. It is understandable that TVP treat all sporting events on the highway in the same way and that is absolutely right and proper.

It is a huge pity, however, that British Cycling and the road running and horse trial governing bodies have failed to persuade the government to introduce new legislation for alternative self-regulation safety measures for such events. So major charity road runs as well as cycle events have been lost.

In fact TVP officers have told us that they would welcome such legislation so that they can concentrate on their mainstream duties. The cost across the country is colossal and almost 100% of other major cycle races needing a police escort and/or road closure are now drawing their major financial support from Regional Development Authorities (RDA) or local authorities. So there is no wonder that all are situated from Lincoln to the north of England or in Wales and Scotland. The Chilterns base for the Archer GP is unlikely to be perceived as in need of business or tourism support through sports sponsorship.

I find this almost complete reliance by cycle sport on government controlled funding very worrying indeed, whereas most other sports do have a core commercial sponsor for their domestic programme.

The international side of cycling is well funded and this is justified by its success. But the domestic side, from where most of the Olympic and World Champions have emerged, is very vulnerable indeed.

We have approached a considerable range of companies without success including a number within the cycle industry which has perhaps has not been hit so hard by the recession. Some quote the cost of their sponsored teams, which presumably will now have the cost of having to go abroad that weekend for suitable quality racing.

eh

Rubbish news and a real shame a class race with history is looking more and more likley to never run again.

Stuarts points about relying too much on public funding are very pertinent in the present climate. Personnally I think the cycling is very venerable to funding cuts post 2012 at the top end, and at the domestic level relying on RDAs is very dangerous since there have been rumours going around for months that these will be one of the first areas the government will cut back on in an attempt to get the public finances in line.

I'm not sure what the answer is but some better support from BC in terms of lobbying would help rather than the silence we have had for years. Further a clear stratergy from BC on how to help ensure races remain would be start.

Bronzie

And now the Chas Messenger is for the chop too apparently:
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Cha ... 77018.html

All well and good cycling getting loads of money for an Olympic track programme ............. but no money / organisation / determination to make sure the most prestigous domestic road races are actually held.

As long as we are all riding track, safely out of the way so people aren't held up driving down country lanes on a Sunday eh? :evil:

currieinahurry

this really sucks ass. how people are supposed to progress when they take away two of the higher level races in the uk in the south is just outrageous! guess they need to start televising more if that could be done? much easier ti get sponsors then.
tikka