JENS VOIGT
The loss of the Tour of California in 2020 has Jens thinking how we can all help cycling
Our race columnist on the latest events
This past season was full of highlights. A lot of youngsters and women and men performed well and kept us viewers entertained and fascinated. We saw world records and great racing all year round. We saw a younger generation rattling at the gates to superstar heaven and I almost believed that all is good in our sport. Until I heard the sad news that the Tour of California is off the calendar, for at least next year. That made me realise that while technology is developing incredibly fast with carbon everywhere, electronic shifting, aero jerseys and aero helmets, while we see faster speeds at all the races and a changing of generations of riders, we are still stuck with that big old problem. Cycling totally depends on single, large sponsors or government funding, like we saw at the Tour of California, the Tour Down Under or even the Tour de France. And if the government decides to put their budget somewhere else or the sponsor changes interest it means, often, the end of that event or team.
If we compare the budgets, profits and TV money from all the races we would see the Tour de France on the highest step of the podium, but then we would not see anybody else on that podium. We would not even see another competitor in the top 10. There is simply not enough money in our sport, not enough revenue and not enough profit in it.
How can we improve this situation? This is where we all come into the picture. From kids riding to school, to students, workers, women, men and juniors, everyone who rides a bike or loves the bike is an ambassador for our sport. So here is my Christmas wish: please everyone help our sport to make it better, safer and bigger. Behave like an ambassador at all times. That means don’t run red lights, don’t ride five abreast on the roads, use bike paths when they are there. Don’t yell at aggressive car drivers, don’t give ’em the finger. Instead, kill them with kindness. Surprise them, make them feel guilty for
We saw great racing all year round. I almost believed that all is good in our sport. Until I heard the sad news that the Tour of California is off the calendar
yelling at you. Stay friendly, correct and likeable. Win them over. Be vocal about your love for bikes, tell people and be active about it. Take friends and family on bike rides, make them fall in love with the bike. Lead by example and trust in the fact that every friend we can win for us is a new ambassador and advocate in the future. It’s a long way, but we can all walk this way. I certainly will. And if Christmas comes and you feel like donating money, why not choose a bike-related charity, such as World Bicycle Relief, or any kids or high school programme which will help kids to ride bikes.
Of course, we need the UCI to make good decisions, we need all stakeholders in cycling to work together and not argue in public. We need guaranteed and stable conditions for partners and sponsors and we need our sport to stay clean. We need strong support from fans, viewers and followers. We need everyone to do one little step. And a million small steps in one year will have a positive effect on our beloved sport.
Jens Voigt retired in 2014 following an 18-year career as one of the sport's most loved and attacking riders. He held the Hour Record for 42 days. Commentators never did agree how to pronounce his name.