UK clubs and organisers must keep working ever harder to preserve racing on the open road and stop it slowly slipping away – that is the view of Lancaster Grand Prix organiser and former UCI president Brian Cookson.
Changes introduced over the years have combined to make road racing far more expensive and onerous to promote than it once was, he points out, but it was a challenge that organisers and clubs need to rise to meet.
“If we want racing on the road to continue, we have to adopt new standards, we have to adapt, and we have to find funding sources to allow us to do it. Otherwise the future will be bleak…” Cookson said. “I think it’s so true of so many things – if you want something to happen, you’ve got to make it happen. Don’t leave it to other people. You know, get yourself organised into a group of people, get an organising committee.
