The race has also been upgraded to HC category status. Not sure about this - if it means some British pro teams won't get an invite (if we have any left, that is)
Another year passes without it visiting northern Lincolnshire despite part of the budget to host using regional funding.
Now we're into year five for the race I like how that it is increasingly clear which municipalities do and don't want the Tour de Yorkshire. Scarborough has had a visit on all editions while Bridlington, Donny and Leeds are all onto their third appearance. Meanwhile Bradford and York have had it once apiece, Sheffield's only inclusion was at a shopping development at the very north of the city whereas Hull and Huddersfield haven't had it at all. Assuming they're keeping the women's race on Thursday and Friday would hazard a guess at the route being:
In terms of the British teams JLT-Condor and ONE are both stopping, it's rumoured Holdsworth are as well and the future of Team WIGGINS is unclear, so that's potentially only three teams for inclusion plus the national team. Doesn't HC status mean that maximum 50% of the teams are World Tour?
Unsurprised this week by Aqua Blue not paying their riders wages for September because they're attempting to draw down the bank deposit with the UCI which covers three months worth of wages. I can see they're trying to pull a fast one here.
Uttrup Ludwig goes a bit too early on the final climb to San Luca in the Women's Giro dell'Emilia and is caught in the last 200 metres by Lithuanian champion Leleivytė.
Do we know who footed the TdY bill for Fox Valley? I understand that the council usually backs the bid financially, but this could also come from other sources?
There does seem to be a pattern emerging regarding local authority interest in cycling; whilst Huddersfield is happy for races to pass through, Kirklees Council isn't interested in hosting a start/finish (which is why neither Hudds nor Dewsbury has bid). East Riding will back the event (Brid, Beverley) but City of Hull won't. York got their fingers burnt financially with TdF and the first edition of TdY and aren't keen at the mo - hence Gary Verity's disappointment at their reluctance to get involved with the 2019 WC.
I've heard that it was funded privately, which is why the finish was billed as "Fox Valley Sheffield". East Riding Council has an arrangement with the organisers to hold a stage start and finish every year incidentally.
One of my favourite races of the year this afternoon, Paris-Tours. They've introduced some gravel sections in the closing stages, kind of expect this is a dummy run for putting it in the big race. Probably the last race I'll watch this season too, if it could avoid clashing with the Arc I'd be delighted.
For those who may be interested, I saw two new cycling books at my library. One sorta short history of the Giro, one about Fignon v LeMond for the 89(?) Tour de France.
Just looking at the results in full, I see Fabio Aru's attempt to save his season turned out well. He's down to do that race in China this week, presume the team are sending him as punishment.
There's still some uncertainties about the British Pro Cycling scene, but @DennyCyclist on Twitter reckons:
Confirmed: Madison Genesis, Canyon Eisberg, Vitus Pro Cycling, Ribble Pro Cycling (applying for UCI Continental licence for 2019).
Uncertain: WIGGINS, Holdsworth + unnamed new team, possibly sponsored by a major British cycling brand.
Disbanded: JLT-Condor, One Pro Cycling
Four British UCI Conti/ Pro-Conti teams would be the lowest number since 2009. Also 95 British riders with contracts for 2018 UCI-registered teams are (publicly) still without a contract for 2019.
I presume there will be some level of BBC coverage but can't find any info on it.
I *think* the Beeb are only going to show the London leg in December with the others on ES, but I'm just going on Wiki and can't find any confirmation either.
Yeah, I was sure the BBC would make a big thing of the London leg but it seems strange to not show the whole series for context, even if the rest of it is on the red button/website.
That said, I didn't realise there were six legs to the World Cup this season not the three I'm used to - they appear to have added one a season since 2015/16 and I hadn't noticed.
Yes, definitely on Eurosport - there was a promo for their coverage during the snooker yesterday afternoon.
Thought the number of rounds in the World Cup varies based on the fact that the UCI sometimes struggles to find host venues and essentially anywhere that wants to stage a round gets one.
Is British Eurosport showing the whole WC event this weekend? Finnish ES doesn't have it, meaning I have to watch the UCI feed on Facebook/YouTube, but they only broadcast Sunday's racing.
I see Sky have signed Filippo Ganna. Would it be overly cynical of me to wonder if they've done that to try to nobble his chances on the track in Tokyo?
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