OFF TRACK SPOKES Pro cycling will endure


Cycling’s profile has been on a rollercoaster ride this year, but there’s no question that it will persist far beyond the Lance Armstrong scandal, writes Carlton Reid…


PINOCCHIO’S PROPENSITY for telling porkies means he’s the poster boy for the sin of lying. Having Carlo Collodi’s wooden puppet as the official mascot of the UCI’s road cycling world championships in 2013 therefore seems oddly appropriate. When the news leaked out, like many people, I assumed it was a spoof. Indeed, wags were quick to add blood infusion equipment and syringes to the logo. But dig deeper and the choice of


Pinocchio isn’t quite so odd. For a start, the world championship course climbs up to Parco di Pinocchio, a dated, run-down theme park devoted to the Tuscan character. And forget the Disney film, for Italians, Pinocchio is a symbol of hope, not lying. The race website – toscana2013.it – says: “Our Pinocchio is proud that his land, Tuscany, has been chosen as the venue for hosting the World Championships. The silhouette is athletic and slender like a true racer. Ours is a Pinocchio attached to his land, proud, and attentive. His attention is fixed on the horizon, expressing an optimistic attitude, projected into the future.” And you have to admire this optimism. It’s a flash of light in a blackout. After cycling’s fantastic profile during the Olympics we came back down with a bang when USADA’s evidence against Lance Armstrong proved to be as convincing as long promised. The UCI could do nothing but ratify USADA’s demand for Armstrong to be stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, and more. Armstrong may never admit to his doping – anybody else notice his nose is now longer than it was in 1997? –


but such was his high profile it’s largely Armstrong being attacked and lampooned rather than cycling as a whole. As many have pointed out, cycling is now probably one of the cleanest professional sports on the planet. This might be despite the UCI rather than because of it but, nevertheless, weeding out not just current riders but also former dopers in administrative roles, as Team Sky has done, is a long overdue purge that, at long last, levels the playing field. When Trek, Nike, Oakley, and others,


eventually distanced themselves from Armstrong, it was clear to even his loyalist supporters that the man was damaged goods. When he was


riding high (quite literally, it can now be said without fear of


retribution) he raised the profile of


cycling, and brought many new people in as riders and as fans. Replica Trek Madones flew out of the door, thanks to Armstrong flying up French mountains. Will there now be a corresponding sales dip, for all road bike companies not just Trek, as


folks jettison road cycling? There are no signs of such a backlash. Rabobank may have pulled its cash from the sport, and other sponsors may do so in the coming months, but going from the social


media buzz generated by the unveiling of the 2013 Tour de France route, pro


cycling has lost little of its allure. Pro cycling will endure. Should the UK get the opening stages of the Tour de


France in 2014 (or, more likely, 2015), spectators will line the roads in their millions. Armstrong is damaged goods, but cycling isn’t.


EDITORIAL: 01992 535646 | ADVERTISING: 01992 535647 | FAX: 01992 535648


Executive Editor: Carlton Reid Carlton.Reid@intentmedia.co.uk


Editor: Jonathon Harker Jonathon.Harker@intentmedia.co.uk


Deputy Editor: Mark Sutton Mark.Sutton@intentmedia.co.uk


Sales Manager: Carly Bailey Carly.Bailey@intentmedia.co.uk


Design: Dan Bennett Dan.Bennett@intentmedia.co.uk


Production Assistant: Alice Sanz Alice.Sanz@intentmedia.co.uk


Publisher: Lisa Carter Lisa.Carter@intentmedia.co.uk


Managing Director: Stuart Dinsey Stuart.Dinsey@intentmedia.co.uk


Marketing & Circulation: Lindsay Banham Lindsay.Banham@intentmedia.co.uk


Finance Director: Hilary Cole LATEST NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR MOBILE | BOOKMARK US: MOBILE.BIKEBIZ.COM 78 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER


Editorial Saxon House, 6A, St. Andrew Street, Hertford, Hertfordshire. SG14 1JA


BikeBiz is mailed FOC to 4,000+ trade addresses every month ISSN 1476-1505


SUBSCRIPTIONS UK: £50 Europe: £60 Rest of World: £90


BikeBiz is published 12 times a year by Intent Media – Saxon House, 6a St. Andrew Street, Hertford, Hertfordshire SG14 1JA


Intent Media Subscriptions Department PO Box 35, Robertsbridge, TN32 5WN Tel: 01580 883848, Fax: 01580 883849


If you or one of your colleagues would like to request a subscription to BikeBiz, please email bike.subscriptions@c-cms.com or call 01580 883848. Please note that this is a controlled circulation title and subscription criteria will be strictly adhered to.


Intent Media is a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation and the Periodical


Publishers Association


© Intent Media 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. The contents of BikeBiz are subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval systems. Printed by The Manson Group, AL3 6PZ


Wondering what the Twitterati have been up to this month? Look no further...


@BristolCouncil are banning all cycle events on council lan


now that bike funding is used up. It must be 1964 in their heads. @copenhagenize


From the Intl Herald Tribune: "Would you bike more if there


was better infrastructure?" Err, yes, say most people...


@citycyclists


Just apologized to someone for cutting her off in the bike lane


ten years ago and she said it wasn't her. So much for hanging onto guilt.


@ellyblue


While building up a bike for a customer, Cap just


dropped a bombshell – he's never had Fish and Chips.


@TartyBikes


England manager expects players to jump on a bike


& cycle to training if they have to. #Pinarello sales to soar I wonder? @Thebikerecycler


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80