What Next For Pro Cycling? | The Cycling Race News Show

Is there about to be a big shift in professional cycling? EF Education First's new partnership with Rapha will see their riders take part in some very different events next year. The European season wraps up with Il Lombardia and the Tour of Turkey, there’s controversy in Hong Kong in the final of the Hammer series, and it’s a successful weekend of cyclocross for Mathieu Van Der Poel.

Next year, we’ve been told, we can expect to see the likes of Taylor Phinney not only competing in the traditional WorldTour races, but also at gravel and fixed gear events, presumably meaning the Red Hook Crits and Dirty Kanza etc, and they’ll be documenting their journey through video along the way. Why? Because they believe this will gain the riders more attention and more fans, and therefore bring a bigger return on the investment from team sponsors than is achieved through competing in 2nd tier pro level races.

There’s a strong sense that cycling fans are crying out for something different, the Red Hook Crit series is a very good example of that. On the weekend of the first of this year’s event in Brooklyn at the end of April, there were a total of 10 UCI sanctioned road events in Europe alone. It’s safe to say that the protagonists in Brooklyn enjoyed as much worldwide exposure as the winner of stage 2 of the 61st edition of the Vuelta Asturias that same day.

Talking of historical and beautiful races - it was the 112th edition of arguably the most beautiful, Il Lombardia on Saturday. In an effort to spice things up 8 years ago, organisers RCS Sport added the Muro di Sormano, a cruelly steep climb with an eye-watering maximum gradient of 27%. This year, it was the pivotal point in the race. Double winner Vincenzo Nibali went on the attack, and only Thibaut Pinot was able to match. And it would ultimately be the Frenchman who would snatch victory from the jaws of, well the Shark himself.

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[gcn]

What do you think of the new partnership between EF First Drapac and Rapha? Will it change pro cycling? Let us know 👇

[onederment]

I would like to say that Hank raised the bar @Milan red hook crit. That took an awful lot of guts. If he hadn’t crashed he could well be up there sparring it out. It’s almost like a gladiator sport. Well done. Gripping stuff. The filming was incredible and the presentation. I can understand why advertising wants to use an event like this as it’s so intense.

[christill]

I think it’s a good idea what Rapha and EF are planning on doing. It probably will pay off for them.

[mikemelbrooks]

Phil Gaimon has got more exposure as a retired rider taking on Strava records than he did as a pro. That's what sells bikes. Youtube is almost as important as TV for advertising is that right GCN? #buy GCN branded everything

[humbertoleandro]

The partnership between EF and Rapha is just brilliant. I just hope it produces all of the things you shared Si. I can't wait.

[GabrielFarseer]

It's a great idea. There are a handful of teams that take most of the prominent wins in the classics and grand tours, the rest of the teams are relegated to stage wins and secondary race wins (granted a stage in a grand tour is "kinda like" a monument). Still it's all about sponsors and getting the right riders the right amount of coolness factor. This can draw a lot more exposure to that rider then some more succesful, but less flamboyant (boring) rider and it's the exposure that draws in the sponsors.. In case riders aren't doing so now, then I predict that individual followings on twitter, instagram etc. will soon play a major role in salary negotiations.

[WmCRobison]

I am continually amazed at stellar pronunciation that all of the GCN presenters manage of riders names.

[robbchastain]

One of the great scenes in Breaking Away is when Dave races against the big Italian boys on the mighty Cinzano Team in a hometown race in Indiana. And who can forget how he freaked out when he found out they were coming? And so, truly, there is nothing not to like about the mighty EF-Drapac Team showing up for a duel on the road or gravel.

[Scohen]

I think it makes perfect sense to do what EF and Rapha are doing. The lesser known tour you mentioned I didnt even know was on. But from various YouTube videos including GCNs I saw multiple perspectives on Red Hook Milan. And event much smaller. There's a reason i'm such a fan of Mitchelton Scott. Their YouTube presence is amazing. Why not take advantage of non traditional media to garner more exposure. If not for YouTube content I wouldn't know anything about most teams here in the states.

[AndyVandy]

I find it interesting that a team like EF is breaking new ground by essentially going back to the roots of cycling racing. The TdF started a lot like some of the long endurance and gravel type rides.

[frazergoodwin]

Unbelievable that Mathieu van der Poel recovered in a day!
I saw the accident and thought "FINALLY! I'll now have something in common with him".
I would never match his strength, power, fitness, or skill on the bike. But with that swollen ankle and my broken foot at least I thought we'd share an immobilized lower right leg.
Can't even share that though....

[alexspinkbear]

Love them or hate them, Rapha make beautiful content that inspire a lot of us to get out on our bikes. I think it's the perfect match with a young exciting group of riders from EF. I for one am excited to see what they bring us, but also hope they don't go too far down the tattoo and bearded hipster route the red hook is known for.

[TomEnduro]

A fellow GCN fan, myself and two buddies from work did a 200km ride this weekend in Bavaria.. About 50km of which was gravel and single track woods... I used a 2017 Giant Defy Advanced 2 running 28's.. My buddy did it on 23's on his aluminium BMC... No punctures and no excuses!! More gravel sections in the road races with maybe a couple of single track wood stages would be fine!! 👍

[Neil_Mackie]

A mixed calendar of the monuments, grand tours, gravel, fixed and xc events would cover all the outdoor drophandle bike events. There is a high degree of repetition in world tour events as they are overwhelmingly tarmac based so this would encourage a full display of bike handling.

This would be akin to the enduro series for MTB that mixes the DH and CX disciplines.

[RJ_Taylor]

Good choice for Rider of The Week but I doubt you’d have gotten any complaints from us had you named Hank for that fantastic effort in the Milan Red Hook!

[troywillis]

I think every commentator/journalist wishes the EF & Rapha partnership is successful. Especially if the extra money means they can shorten their official team name...

[bjccr]

I know I will be watching the EF stuff. More cycling coverage is always good, especially with the addiction of the new races and locations.

[aaawwweeee]

Spring classics starting Omloop het Nieusblad to Paris Roubaix are the most exciting races to watch.

[tecnociclista]

A someone who has torn their outer ankle ligament three times (playing basketball) it seemed clear to me that Van der Pool had done the same thing to his ankle...so great to see it was only a sprain and he won that race the next day! Pretty amazing...

[martins.]

Great that you put the CX races on Facebook not. It would be even better if you put the women‘s races online for replay, too. These are mostly more thrilling than the men‘s races. Thanks!