If rumours are to be believed, several of the sport's top teams, including
Jumbo-Visma and the
INEOS Grenadiers are trying to change the sport of cycling by creating a new 'Super League'.
In his analysis for Sporza, Renaat Schotte can understand why some teams feel the need for change. "Currently, racing is something from the last century," Schotte explains. "Something has to happen if cycling wants to continue to mean something globally. Cycling must not continue to surplace or even go downhill."
Richard Plugge of Jumbo-Visma recently explained the need for change, saying; "Cycling is a sleeping giant. The sport deserves a modern business model, especially for the teams," and this something that Schotte agrees with as he cites the dwindling interest in some of the historic cycling nations.
"In Italy, cycling was sport number 2, after football. That is no longer the case," he says. "I think it is indicative of the situation in which cycling finds itself. And it is a great pity, because cycling remains a fantastic sport."
The relial on billionaire financiers is not sustainable according to the Sporza analyst. "Each and every one of them is sports or cycling enthusiasts, on which the race currently depends. But they also remain businessmen," Schotte warns. "They also want a return on investment in the long term. That is why Zdenek Bakala (Soudal - Quick-Step) is considering selling his shares."
"Something has to be done, because the businessmen are not a long-term guarantee for cycling," he concludes. "One day the day will come when all parties will be obliged to work together."
I can't stand these whiners!
I've been hearing about how cycling is "unsustainable" for 2 decades now. Guess what? It's sustaining and even growing.
These people are just mad that they actually have to be entrepreneurial in finding sponsors and they have to compete with other teams, in that they have to win, in order to continue to survive.
Well, welcome to the free(ish) market, where producers have to keep providing what the consumers want or they go out of business.
These people want to rest on their laurels and still make money. Well, too bad, that's not how things work. Not unless you take the "American approach", then you can be the Cleveland Browns and be famous for losing!