Give us training and give us our due, say organisers

In the fourth part of our series on the domestic scene, we examine solutions to UK road racing's challenges

- James Shrubsall

Over the past three weeks we have examined the challenges faced by road racing in the UK.

Race entries are down, while logistical and financial issues are up. Races are being cancelled and even lost altogether in the face of problems that often seem insurmountable. But what are the solutions? There was a general feeling among the grassroots organisers we spoke to that they were being overlooked by British Cycling in favour of big national events - and that it needed addressing.

British Cycling's West Midlands region road lead William Fotheringham, an event organiser himself, told CW: "I realised when I started doing the role in the West Midlands that you have to really nurture and care for your organisers. It's a lot of people and a lot of hours." Like other organisers we spoke to, Fotheringham felt that the regions and their grassroots organisers were sometimes let down by BC HQ. He gave the example of the Lloyds sponsorship of the Tour of Britain. "If you're negotiating that deal, why not say, 'OK Lloyds, that's fantastic, can we have half a million for the regional side and we'll plaster your logos all over the races, all over the regions?' But I haven't seen evidence of that," he said.