A breakaway cycling league
Is the concept of a renegade World Series Cycling gaining momentum?
The embryonic World Series Cycling league might be coming closer to hatching, perhaps as early as 2014. Originally proposed by the London, England marketing company the Gifted Group and in development since 2011, the WSC would involve 10 four-day stage races across the globe. The league events would slot in between Grand Tours, Monument Classics, the Amstel Gold and the World Championships.
At first Pat McQuaid and the UCI were dismissive of the idea, but in November cycling’s governing body sent out a press release declaring that it had signed a Declaration of Understanding with Omega Pharma-QuickStep’s owner Zdenek Bakala, who would fund the league.
Gifted Group’s chairman Jonathan Price has stated, “We want it up and running in 2014. We’ve already had discussions with broadcasters, we’re confident there’s a real appetite for this product.”
So far, eight ProTour teams – Garmin-Sharp, Cannondale, Movistar, Omega Pharma, Blanco, RadioShack-Nissan, Saxo-Tinkoff and Vacansoleil – have revealed their interest in the WSC.
The format of the WSC races would be “Grand Prix” style from Thursday to Sunday. There would be a flat stage, a hilly stage, a mountainous stage and a time trial at each event.
