Vuelta Update

It’s half way through the Vuelta and today’s stage is a monster! With  6 categorized climbs and a summit finish, we’re bound to see some serious time gaps open/close. Who’s relishing it and who’s dreading it?

Peloton prepare for monstrous day in the mountains at Vuelta a España

Will Pro Cycling Be Bought?

One of China’s richest men just bought the World Triathlon Corporation and with it the Ironman. Will cycling be next?

Steve Maxwell and Joe Harris write in VeloNews:

Dalian Wanda now has access to more than a quarter-million licensed triathlon participants, and is well-positioned to spur innovation and capitalize on a global marketing initiative to grow the sport even further. Ironman already has rock-solid and protected intellectual property rights, which includes the right to host its own world championship in Kona, Hawaii. It has a proven monetization model and virtual control of the sport’s strategic direction.

On the other hand, pro cycling is still as financially fractured and economically unsustainable as it was 50 years ago. There is no consolidation of events into a coherent business structure, and only a small handful of top-level WorldTour events make any money at all. This financial uncertainty and lack of coherent exposure puts the sport in a perpetually unstable situation. Sponsors whose teams don’t make the cut for the single iconic and profitable event — the Tour de France — are quick to exit. Teams and races come and go with alarming regularity.

Read full article: Triathlon Sprints Ahead of Pro Cycling