Where in other sports you have to dig deep into your pocket for a ticket, as a fan of road cycling you can (in most cases) cheer on your heroes for free. But according to former rider Jérôme Pineau, that could change. In the French podcast Grand Plateau by RMC Sport, he presents a striking proposal.
Pineau advocates introducing an entry fee system for certain races or stages. Spectators who want to support the riders on iconic climbs like Alpe d'Huez in the future would have to pay. "I might shock some people, but in the upcoming Tour de France they finish twice on Alpe d'Huez. Let’s then cordon off the last five kilometers of this climb, privatize it."
"Then it will be possible to charge an entrance fee," continues the now 45-year-old Frenchman. "Let’s also host VIPs. Let’s create something to generate revenue!" Pineau is thinking about the bigger picture: the money should flow to the cycling teams. Currently, the teams see very little of the income that ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation) manages to generate from the Tour de France.
Unsustainable
“Cycling has traditionally been a popular sport, free and accessible to everyone. But in the end, there are only a few riders left because only two teams manage to survive: Bahrain Victorious and UAE Emirates XRG. And then it’s less fun, isn’t it?” Pineau is alluding to the financial imbalance in the peloton and the emergence of superteams.
photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
"Hospitality areas are set up during the Tour and other major races, but it is ultimately the organizer who profits from this, not the people who put on the show. People pay to be in the VIP zone, but the revenue goes to ASO. The riders and teams see none of it. That’s not right. That’s simply unsustainable," Pineau believes.
Marc Madiot is against it
Marc Madiot, longtime team manager of Groupama-FDJ, was also a guest on the podcast. Like Pineau, he sees the financial problems currently facing the sport, but he does not agree with Pineau’s call. "I am in favor of free access. Cycling is the last major sport that is free, and that is one of our strengths. We have to be realistic; we won’t solve our problems by offering more VIP zones."
