Sun 26 May 2013 | 
Changing times for track
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Enlarge textThe future of track cycling as a spectator sport may be at the crossroads given the light turnout at the Australian Championships at Adelaide's Superdrome.
Track cycling may be a victim of too much cycling choice (John Veage/Cycling Australia)
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The future of track cycling as a spectator sport may be at the
crossroads given the poor turnout at the Australian Championships at
Adelaide's Superdrome.
While there is lots of enthusiasm by those attending, I couldn't help but notice the empty
seats that filled the arena during the six-day carnival for an event
which highlights the best talent this country has to offer in the
velodrome.
Although Australia's track scene is currently going
through a generational change following its failure to produce medals
at the last Olympics, I would have thought the appearance of our
cycling queen Anna Meares would have been enough to entice more numbers.
Apparently not.
I'm
starting to wonder whether sitting in a velodrome is such an attractive
proposition for paying customers in an era when fans are being treated
to a variety of choice from cycling's other disciplines.
Adelaide's
Superdrome cannot be questioned as a top class venue, its location is
no more than 15 minutes from the city centre and within reach of most
parts of the suburban areas - so where were the fans?
Maybe the
timing of the nationals is a source of concern, particularly this year
as it was held just eight days after the final stage of the Tour Down
Under where a record crowd of 144,000 were witness to some of the
world's best pro-riders.
Don't get me wrong - track cycling can
provide an enormous amount of entertainment - at times more
entertainment than the odd stage of the Tour de France, for example.
But
as Australians are bombarded by the big European stage races and
one-day Classics by way of live television and internet streaming,
(which will only improve with every passing year), is the regular visit
to the track going to be a thing of the past?
The Olympics track
cycling programme holds our attention every four years, but I reckon
the time gap between Games is far too long.
Can you remember
what you were doing when we cheered on the likes of Brett Aitken, Scott
McGrory Ryan Bayley, Anna Meares, Graeme Brown and Stuart O'Grady (to
name a few) as they chased elusive gold at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004?
Sadly,
apart from the Olympics it seems there's little else that grabs the
imagination of the track events for cycling's demanding public.
Even
the World Championships held exotic locations such as Spain, France and
Denmark in recent years has struggled to fill stands to capacity.
Perhaps
marketing and presentation of track events must be reviewed by the UCI
and Cycling Australia in order to bring fans back to the track.
It's not to say that track cycling is dead and buried.
Just
look at the events of the Revolution series in Melbourne - with a
little foresight and vision it's a glowing endorsement that stands can
be filled at track events with the correct promotional tools.
Maybe setting up a TAB agency on location with bars and TV screens may be the way to go for the future.
Adelaide is "the centre of the cycling universe" during the Tour Down Under.
I
think basing the nationals in Adelaide during the TDU and running the
track finals at night to give the fans something to do in the evenings
would bring an even bigger cycling festival feel to the week.
It
would be a chance for organisers to make the most of the captive market
that has travelled to South Australia from all parts of the country and
the world.
Australia's track cycling history dates back to the
days when Penny Farthings were featured in carnivals at venues such as
the SCG and MCG, where up to 50,000 people packed the grandstands to watch
an exciting new form of sports entertainment.
But as we enter an
era when youngsters are inspired by Tour de France heroes and lure of
the big bucks which pro-cycling has to offer in Europe and North
America, I dare say it might be case of the times they are-a-changin'.
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Comments (18)
Previous 10 |
21 Feb 2009 16:40 AEST
From: Adelaide
--
Here here Kate. Cycling's publicity machine is non-existant! There are so many wonderful stories that are simply not being told. The publicity the likes of McEwen, O'Grady and Evans get is through no effort of Cycling Australia.
20 Feb 2009 9:41 AEST
From: Yass
More promotion needed... Not just for the events but for the athletes!
I'd like to know why magazines like Woman's Day and New Idea have endless issues with the swimmers on their covers when we have a Queen of Cycling - Anna Meares that has such an amazing story.... But nothing!!!! Cycling Australia needs to have office members that are passionate about the sport and making it bigger and better than ever before... Track Cycling needs more promotion and not just for the events but for its phenomenal athletes as well!!!
20 Feb 2009 9:35 AEST
From: Melbourne
Let's face it if you want to be a track cyclist you certainly don't do it for the money... But for the love of the sport...!
I completely agree about bike riders heading to Europe for the big bucks... Let's face it if you want to be a track cyclist you certainly don't do it for the money... But for the love of the sport...! Where the likes of Robbie McEwen and Stuey are being paid millions to ride in Europe some of our Beijing Olympians are still only just getting by... Track cycling is such a wonderful spectacle its time we got the media behind it and placed it on a pedestal like that of swimming!
16 Feb 2009 14:17 AEST
From: Bayside
re-think on events needed.
by that I mean maybe most spectators or potential track cycling event watchers are a bit peeved that the latest round of events only want to encourage the elite riders to ride and they have dropped most events that encourage the club riders(
15 Feb 2009 12:43 AEST
From: Forest Hills
--
I'm watching the track titles on SBS and, apart from the commentary, there doesn't seem to be any sound. Is it my Tv set or the lack of numbers at the venue...
14 Feb 2009 13:48 AEST
From: Bendigo
--
Track cycling at the crossroads - what a load of rubbish. Have a look at what the Brits have done with the track scene in the last two years. They are the best in the world and have proven that with decent money and promotion track cycling can be bigger than the pro road scene.
13 Feb 2009 8:52 AEST
From: Sydney
--
Cycling Australia's publicity machine needs to seriously be reviewed. The Australian Swimming Championships aren't held until middle of March yet already there's publicity being generated in the media. Reading the comments by your readers it seems very few knew about the track cycling titles. Why is it swimming receives so much coverage over cycling when both sports enjoy similar international success to each other and similar federal government funding
12 Feb 2009 16:55 AEST
From: Adelaide
--
I am a member of the Norwood cycle club in Adelaide and had no idea the track titles were on. What does that tell you???
12 Feb 2009 16:26 AEST
From: Eastern Suburbs
--
Hi, Would have gone but due to the Tour Down Under being on and financial commitments being a little stretched, was not able to go. Sometimes I feel like when these events are run that there is not enough publicity out to the public. Like you can put it onto the radio, t.v. but promotion needs to be out in flyers, word of mouth, schools, education, cycling shops, all businesses with flyers distributed, businesses getting behind such events so that people can take time off to attend this event during the week. Sometimes events are held during the week and most people are working or cant get time off due to work commitments or school or work themselves. If people were prewarned that such events were on, maybe there would be more attending to these events. Publicity for these in general is poor from what I have seen of some of the events I have gone to compared to an event that had attracted many people. Need to go back and see what they had done previously and what needs to be done. Maria Szczerba 11/01/09
11 Feb 2009 15:55 AEST
From: Encounter Bay
--
I would have gone also if I knew it was on. Given BicycleSA advertised the upcoming Coast to Coast Ride in the goodie bag they handed out at the end of the Challenge Tour Ride, this would have been the perfect opportunity to include a flyer detailing the upcoming Track event with times, programme and cost. Simple isnt it
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