Welsh Cycling becomes Beicio Cymru in their rebrand as they roll out their cycling strategy for the period between now and 2030.
Beicio Cymru’s ‘Wales. Made for Bikes’ strategy launches and will see the Welsh cycling federation through to 2030. This strategy has been a year in the making following consultations with all stakeholders and a public survey.
This new strategy aims to do many things for many cyclists in Wales, whether they’re new to cycling or looking beyond Wales and to other talent development pathways. One area it has highlighted is a focus on doubling the number of womens’ participation in cycling at all levels.
A three-tier support structure that somewhat epitomises cycling governing bodies obsession with medals. The tiers are Bronze, Silver and Gold. The former offering a platform of suggestions of what cyclists can do in Wales, whereas Gold is all about supporting pro athletes.
Their ‘articulation of support’ table also highlights the medal-heavy focus of these tiers. Yes, funding will come from Commonwealth and Olympic performance so track and road/closed circuit doesn’t even see any silver which is unsurprising really given the wealth of Welsh talent at the global level. Downhill however sits between BMX Freestyle and Gravel in its relevant support level with a 50/50 split between Bronze and Silver.
Enduro doesn’t even get a look in. It’s not even mentioned. The table also includes a line that indicates more research is needed into virtual/gym-based cycling and ebikes but makes no reference of any kind to enduro at any level. This does beg the question as to the true nature of research and consultation if enduro slipped through the net…
Robin Grant, Founder & Chair of the UK MTB Trail Alliance had this to say about the new strategy for cycling in Wales:
“It’s refreshing to see such a progressive approach taken by an NGB to the development of a new strategy. It’s also great to see the outcome – with such a fresh new brand, forward-looking and inclusive purpose, vision and mission statements and importantly, a commitment to keep the conversation going.
Looking at the detail of their strategy, it’s promising to see the recreational aspects of our sport given attention alongside the competitive aspects, and given the crisis that mountain biking faces, with unofficial trails stuck in purgatory and official trails’ budgets disappearing, it’s good to see a pledge to collaborate with partners to influence policy decisions and secure investments for facilities.
However, I’m confused as to why Track and Road & Closed Circuit cycling are identified as priority disciplines, while cross-country mountain biking is relegated to second-class status, and downhill on an even lower third tier alongside cycle speedway – with no support for Enduro or E-Enduro at all, despite them being UCI disciplines. It’s hard to understand how this can be justified or fair, when mountain biking represents 42.7% of cycling participation, as compared to road cycling or racing’s 47.5% and track cycling’s 4.6% (figures from the Active Lives survey, Nov 23).”
