The Global Phenomenon of Cycling
Posted February 09, 2011
Cycling is traditionally thought of as a summer sport where shorts, lycra and tan lines are the order of the day. However, the increasingly global appeal and commercialisation of the sport, and indeed of any sport, means that the cycling season is becoming more and more stretched out. The UCI World Tour now kicks off in mid January; something which would have the hard-nut pros of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s up in arms if they were still racing. So what’s changed?
Well for a start, cycling’s appeal is spreading beyond it’s European heart land, the Tour of Qatar and Tour of Oman are stellar examples of smaller sporting nations putting on a great race for some really top professionals, even if some of them are having a bit of a hard time of it. It’s also great to see that the Tour of Qatar is whipping up some interest from the locals, although it’s unlikely that in a country of some 1.4 million people [football fans take note] the crowds will ever rival those of the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix or Cyclocross World Championships. But what other sport would you see a line up of this quality at a small event organised almost 6 months before the climax of the sporting season?
Sponsorship has also changed the face of the cycling world, and especially the teams within it. We all witnessed the so called ‘Lance Effect’ on the Tour de France over the past 2 years, the 39 year old Texan is said to have been a big player in helping secure $32 million of renewed sponsorship from Skoda and Orange amongst others. Big technology firms have also entered the cycling sponsorship market; companies such as HTC really seem to be getting their money’s worth from team HTC-Highroad. [picture source]
The UCI’s mandate includes references to widening the global appeal of the sport and to this end; races are now planned in China and India as well as the ever successful Tour of Langkawi held in Malaysia. It’s perhaps appropriate that the most recent addition to the World Tour calendar will be the Tour of Beijing: China is one of the world’s fastest developing nations and from a sponsors point of view provides a new and exciting market. But if you consider that there are over 300 million cyclists in China it surely seems obvious that the appeal of cycling spans both continental and cultural divides.
Cycling is a sport where the differences between the top level guys and the day to day commuter or weekend warrior do not seem insurmountable; you can go into a bike shop and buy the same bike as the pros, you can have the same helmet, ride the same roads, climb the same mountains and feel the same pain. There are very few sports like cycling in this respect. You can’t image Manchester United letting a Sunday league team have a kickabout at Old Trafford, but you could take your bike down to the Alps and climb Alpe D’Huez. You wouldn’t be allowed to take a conversion at the Millenium stadium, yet you could ride the Paris-Roubaix route (if you were mad enough that is!).
The atmosphere at pro races is also at a point where you could queue up and get your favourite riders autograph rather than being pushed out the way by hired muscle as they dive into their waiting car.
One of the main reasons that I feel cycling is becoming an increasingly global sport, is the sheer accessibility and friendliness. Cycling is accessible to all, whether you’re an athlete at the peak of your fitness looking for a bit of cross training, or a parent trying to find a great sport for your family to enjoy together; it’s easy to get started. The recently introduced SKY Ride’s are a testimony to the universal appeal of cycling in the UK, and similar events look to be taking shape across the globe.
I’ll leave you with this quote which I feel sums up why cycling is so universally attractive:
“Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling.”
James E. Starrs
If you like this post, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter. It’s free and 100% awesome.
picture featured in the Daily Cycle Flickr Group added by S P I N W E L L
Have you perused our store lately?
