GLOCAL DOOR’s Post

Another week, another crisis in the professional cycling ecosystem, and to be fair this one is significant for the UK. For as long as most can remember Eurosport has been the "Home of Cycling" supplemented with ITV covering the Tour de France and Tour of Britain and the BBC covering track and road World Championships. The closing down of Eurosport in the UK is therefore a huge blow to the avid cycling fan, especially as the content will move to TNT Sports Premium Package and therefore an increase in subscription cost from £6.99 per month to £30.99 per month. So, why have Warner Bros. Discovery made this call? Well, they're banking on the fact that fans of cycling are probably fans of other sports that they hold rights with such as football and rugby, and this new bundle of sports acts as a tipping point to get people to now take that £30.99 per month subscription that they otherwise wouldn't have taken, and that more than offsets the loss of the £6.99 per month subscribers that are literally only interested in their cycling content. In essence if I lose 3 £6.99 subs but get the next person to trade up from their £6.99 sub to £30.99, as a business I'm still up on revenue. Personally, I think that's how it'll play out, but clearly that's not the whole story, as whilst this may work for Warner Bros. Discovery it'll probably mean less eyeballs on the sport in the UK and that can affect sponsorship values for teams. That said, in the greater scheme of things the UK doesn't have anything like the fanbase for pro-cycling versus countries like France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and The Netherlands, so will the total media value for teams sponsors really decline that much because of this. It's obviously impossible to tell, and to be honest I suspect the Tour de France not being on 'free to air' television from 2026 in the UK has a bigger bearing on this. Lots to unpick, but fair to say the 'golden age' of professional road cycling in the UK may be coming to an end. #cycling #sportsmarketing #sponsorship #sportsponsorship #sportsbiz #broadcastrights https://lnkd.in/ekp9nbK8

2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Comes to Scottish Borders..... Cycling is in our blood in South of Scotland. We've played host to some of the worlds biggest and brightest cycling hero's as well as creating a theatre of dreams for those who are learning their competitive craft. Brilliant announcement yesterday confirming Tour of Britain will once again return to our region. The race kicks off on Tuesday 3rd September in the scenic Scottish Borders, with an opening stage starting and finishing in Kelso’s cobbled market square. This stage will feature a finishing circuit, providing spectators a chance to witness the action unfold. It takes an army of the willing to make events like this happen and secure them for our region. Congratulations to all involved in securing this and supporting our ambition to be Scotland's Leading Cycling Destination. Events are a key Priority Theme within the 10 year South of Scotland Cycling Partnership Strategy. More on the aims and objectives of the strategy below 👇 The South of Scotland Cycling Partnership Strategy was launched in September 2022.  It was a key action within the South of Scotland Regional Economic Strategy and aims to our region becomes Scotland's leading cycling destination. Cycling has evolved from being a recreational activity to a fundamental component of our rural fabric. With its numerous benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, improved public health, decreased traffic congestion, reduced fuel poverty, increased skills and job creation and a catalyst for inward investment. Our region is the first region in Scotland to achieve the UCI Bike Region Label, which recognises the commitment to both elite cycling competition and cycling for all. https://lnkd.in/dx5xhQZw #scotlandstartshere #cyclingdestination #southofscotlandcycling #tourofbritain #lloydsTOB #scottishborders #roadcycling #ucibikeregion

🌍🚴♂️ hansgrohe x Pro Cycling: A Perfect Match? Definitely for me! I joined Hansgrohe Group three years ago because I love road cycling. For the brand, though, the decision to start cycling sponsorship was a very rational one: - Professional Cycling is International: It's broadcasted globally with more than 300 race days per year. - High-Value Audience: Cycling fans have high net incomes and love investing in top-quality products (just like me! 😄). - Title Sponsorship: Unlike many sports, cycling allows us to be a title sponsor, not just a name on a banner. Our team name may be long, but it's the wins that count, right? 😉 - Passionate and Emotional: I believe the Tour de France is the most challenging sporting event in the world. Disagree? Watch the Netflix documentary "Tour de France: Unchained" (especially episode 2 where we have the yellow jersey – yay!). - VIP Experiences: Hosting VIP clients, employees, and press events around cycling creates strong community bonds. Stay tuned for our once-in-a-lifetime event at the final stage of the TdF in Nice this year! As CHECK24 Vergleichsportal showed during this #EM, #sponsorship can take many successful routes. What do you think about #sponsoring? Any other best practices that come to mind?

Irish Road Scene is dying & Cycling Ireland are aren’t helping! It’s hard to believe that the iconic Mondello Race Series, a cornerstone of Irish cycling for 15 years, has come to an end. This grassroots series, run by an incredible group of volunteers who gave their time freely for the love of the sport, is now gone. How can Cycling Ireland let this happen? With a mandate to promote cycling in Ireland, how can they not step in to support a low-staff, closed-circuit series with such a rich history? What is the funding from the Irish government for 2025 being used for? How many license holders are paying into the system, and where is that money going? This isn’t just about Mondello. Over the last decade, we’ve watched the Irish road cycling scene crumble: Suir Valley, Ballinrobe 2 Day, Tour of the North, Bogman 2 Day, Starsky Series, and even the Rás losing UCI status. If Ger Campbell steps back, we could lose another 5+ races, including the Rás itself. At what point do we say enough is enough? The destruction of Irish cycling isn’t just unfortunate—it’s systemic. It’s time to ask hard questions about how our sport is being run. Photo: Sean Rowe

Cycling Austria is revamping its strategy with new measures to boost elite and recreational cycling, including appointing a women’s national team coach, a training coordinator, and a sports director 🇦🇹 https://lnkd.in/dAieB2FW

The global cycling community is gearing up for a truly historic event: the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, which will take place from September 21 to September 28, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda🇷🇼. This will mark the first time the prestigious championships are held on the African continent, offering a world-class platform for elite cyclists to compete on the challenging roads of the “Land of a Thousand Hills”. With multiple climbs and high altitudes, Kigali’s terrain will push competitors to new limits. Anticipation for the event is already building in Rwanda and among competitors, who will have a chance to ride new heights and take their place in cycling history. For Rwandans, cycling is more than a sport—it is an essential part of everyday life. Across the country, bicycles serve as a primary mode of transport, helping people commute and transport goods across the hilly terrain. Visitors are often struck by the endurance and ingenuity of Rwandans who navigate the country’s roads carrying heavy loads on their bikes. The 2025 UCI Road World Championships are not just significant for Rwanda, but for the entire African continent. This event will showcase Africa’s readiness to host major international sporting events and inspire the growth of cycling across the region. ••• [RDB-Kigali]

A strategic error? The excellent post below from Martin Merryweather highlights the kind of challenges many business face. And we don’t always get them right. As a former strategy director at British Cycling, Martin highlights very effectively the challenge many businesses face in balancing short term gains with long term profitability and sustainability. The action below may fix the balance sheet for the next year or two, but should the number of viewers - and ultimately the number of cycling fans in the UK - drop off, then there may be significant challenges ahead. Another option could be to grow viewer numbers rather than revenue per viewer… And in a world of emerging AI, it may even be possible to deliver a “premium viewing experience” at a more accessible price point. An interesting challenge to consider… #saveUKcycling

USA Cycling and COR BMX Park in South Jordan, Utah, have renewed their partnership through 2025. The facility will remain the hub for U.S. National Team training camps as athletes prepare for the 2025 UCI World Cups and World Championships. The partnership will emphasize athlete development, creating opportunities for up-and-coming riders to hone their skills on one of the most advanced courses in the world. Related Stories USA Cycling Extends Partnership with COR BMX Park USA Cycling Reveals Schedule for 2025 National Championships USA Cycling’s Brendan Quirk Elected Chair of the National Governing Body Council USA Cycling Creates Junior Gravel National Series Frederick to Host 2025 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships “This facility has been a game-changer for our BMX Freestyle program,” said Jim Miller, chief of sports performance at USA Cycling. “The world-class facility and the partnership with COR-Athlete enabled our team to push their limits and perform at the highest level on the world stage. We’re thrilled to continue this collaboration and build on the success we achieved in 2024.” In early 2024, USA Cycling and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee partnered with with COR-Athlete BMX Park to create the country’s first BMX Freestyle Olympic Training Facility in South Jordan. COR BMX Park features an 18,000-square foot course that includes the largest ramps in the U.S. and every feature riders might encounter in elite competition. Among the athletes who trained at COR is Perris Benegas, who won the silver medal in women’s BMX Freestyle at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. “COR-Athlete is thrilled to continue with our partnership with USA Cycling and the BMX Freestyle team here in our facility,” said Joe Sirlin, COR-Athlete founder. “Our facility has continued to evolve since the training course was built and now, we have a state-of-the-art training ground for the USA Cycling team along with opening our doors to the development of all levels of the riders.” https://lnkd.in/efjKf9aj

The numbers don't lie. Women's sport delivers better sponsorship value. #cycling #cyclingcommunity #sportsindustry #womenssports #womeninbusiness #pioneers #changemakers #sportsbusiness #sportsmedia #eventbroadcast #audienceengagement #audiencedevelopment #socialmediaengagement #brandbuilding #brandawareness #sponsorship #brandactivations #ROI #communitybuilding #adrevenue #advertisingrevenue #businessmodel #growthstrategy #growthopportunities

It is with great sadness that I repost the news that Saint Piran Professional Cycling Team will not be registering its British-based Continental Cycling Team in 2025. I know how hard Richard Pascoe has worked to keep this dream alive and create a pathway for athletes onto the World stage, including Africa’s very own African Road Champion Alexandre Mayer 🇲🇺😢 This news comes off the back of Q36.5 Pro Cycling announcing that it too would be closing down its Continental Road Cycling structure - home to many African Road Cyclists now scrambling for teams. Having co-owned and funded Africa’s top Continental Road Cycling team, I know how difficult it is to secure sponsorship and investment at this level of the sport. The current cycling system - that has not changed in over 150 years - is so ripe for disruption. This is a clarion call for stakeholders to come together and find solutions to this challenge. At The Podium Pursuit Collective - ProTouch™️ Africa we are committed to solving the funding challenge not just for cycling but 36 sports, across 54 African nations - we can no longer depend on the traditional model and old way of doing things to build a sustainable development pathway for top talent. Richard Pascoe and Kevin Campbell you should both be very proud of everything you have achieved. The solution lies in disrupting the model and leveraging technology, to ignite a fan base globally to support the ecosystem. Let’s chat! https://lnkd.in/g_hV3ZeB