BRITISH RACING'S FINANCIAL BLACK HOLE

As historic British races fall off the domestic calendar at an alarming rate, Chris Marshall-Bell sets out to find out why races are struggling and what can be done to fix it

When racers of all levels meet on the start line for the early season races of January through to March they’ll often hear the question: “How was your winter?” If that question was asked of Britain’s elite-level races the answer would most likely be rather bad, leaving them in a perilous state.

In January, iconic races like the Eddie Soens and Lincoln Grand Prix were in danger of being scrapped (the two have since been saved after an outcry from supporters heralded new investment).

In February, the East Cleveland Klondike GP scrapped its women’s race due to monetary concerns, while E/1/2 races the Tour of Sussex and Bourne CiCLE Classics both announced that they would not continue in 2020 due to similar concerns.

Cycling Weekly spoke to race organisers of the National Road Series and British Cycling, with all agreeing that the future of elite racing in the UK is at risk.

We found the average cost of running a race is between £45,000 and £65,000 — with four of the 10 National Road Series races from 2019 that we spoke to still needing to find additional sponsorship for this season’s events. Many organisers also admitted investing their own savings to ensure the races went ahead.

More high-profile races, the Tour of Britain, Women’s Tour and Tour Series — all organised by Britain’s biggest race promoter Sweetspot — are without title sponsors for this season.

The number of non-UCI races has constantly fluctuated throughout the past decade and the scene appeared in rude health last season. But economic uncertainty — largely attributed to the unstable political and economic climate — is blamed by many for the sport’s present ills. All organisers that CW contacted reveal that local businesses have little interest in sponsoring a bike race due to the uncertain direction the country is headed.