British cycling has never been better placed

In today’s 2011 edition of the race, Great Britain were again seen riding at the front, only this time in unison and right up until the finish line when Mark Cavendish crossed the line first to become world champion. It was a monumental effort by the British team, who lead the peloton virtually all day, shepherding attack after attack by other nations hoping to secure one of cycling’s most prestigious achievements.

Such a transformation shows just how far British cycling has come in recent years. Cavendish is not first British rider to win the World Championships – Tom Simpson was victorious in 1965 – but the idea of a British world champion just seven years ago was unthinkable. Back then Britain was just a minor nation in road cycling, with only David Miller and Roger Hammond capable of picking up the occasional decent wins. Now, with a whole host of talented and successful riders, Britain has become one of the most prominent nations in the Peloton.

Mark Cavendish’s bursting on the scene was an early sign of the changing fortunes. In 2007 he announced himself as a major talent, winning a record number of races for a first-year professional, but few could have predicted what he’d achieve in 2008. At the tender age of 23 he won even more races including a magnificent four at cycling’s biggest event, the Tour de France. As his success continued in 2009, Bradley Wiggins suddenly came good with an unexpected 4th place finish at the Tour, equalling the record of highest finish by a British rider.

Britain’s new found success on the road led in 2010 to the formation of a large budgeted British-based team, led by Dave Brailsford and sponsored by Sky. Brailsford had already enjoyed much success leading Britain in track cycling – he was the mastermind of the huge medal haul of the Beijing Olympics – and outlined his desire to win the Tour de France with a British rider within five years.

Despite initially sounding wildly optimistic, the outcome of the 2011 Vuelta a Espana – along with the Tour de France, one of the three ‘Grand Tours’ of the cycling season – suggested such a feat could well be possible. Bradley Wiggins again showed his class by finishing third, but it was 26-year-old Chris Froome who impressed most, coming from out of the blue to finish 2nd, the equal-best finish by a British rider in a Grand Tour. Froome looks to have all the attributes necessary to win the Tour de France, and with a team of strong riders built around him with the shared goal of helping him win, he will be a major contender in years to come.

All this has contributed to a gradual increase in the popularity of cycling in the U.K. There is now more television and radio coverage, with the BBC and ITV occasionally broadcasting events alongside Eurosport’s year-long airing of races, as well as Sky’s increased interest following their sponsorship. The local event the Tour of Britain, held every September, is also attracting more and more crowds with every passing year, and in 2007 London hosted the beginning of the Tour de France, featuring huge crowds reported to be around 3-4 million. And with Cavendish a favourite for next year’s Olympic Road Race cycling will no doubt be cast yet more into the public eye.

Having won the World Championships, Cavendish will all next season wear the coveted rainbow jersey. With the attractions of him honouring the jersey by racing aggressively to win several races, the exciting development of youngster such as Ben Swift, Ian Stannard, Peter Kennaugh and especially Geraint Thomas, and lastly Froome and Wiggins setting out for victory at the Tour de France, next season make sure to follow the fortunes of the British contingent as they look to become the leading nation of road cycling. They’ve come a long way since that 2005 debacle.

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