The first major indication of real progress at DerbyWheel is likely to be the announcement and arrangement of a test event, listed on the company website’s calendar as an Exhibition Race.

This is expected to involve 56 riders – men and women, most likely more men than women – over three days at the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales in Newport. Prize money totalling US$ 500-600,000 has been mentioned previously.

Sadly, over the last year and a half, at least six dates have been suggested for a test event, and then cancelled. DerbyWheel have now adopted a policy of ‘silence until we’re certain’, avoiding the embarrassment of another postponement, but leaving potential participants in the dark, and testing their patience.