DerbyWheel CEO James Pope has published an article on LinkedIn describing ‘the initial 5 steps (he) would take to try and fix track cycling’, presenting Pro Keirin as the foundation of a pyramid supporting UCI events.

With track cycling in something of a crisis, with the termination of the Track Champions League, and the failure to deliver a full Track Nations Cup schedule, Pope brings a very timely note of optimism, with notes of conciliation peeking out between the lines.

Choosing his words with undoubted care, he avoids using the DerbyWheel name at any point, referring instead to a Pro Keirin World Series (capital letters).

Nor is there any mention of life-changing prize money or gambling income: only references to new revenue streams. You might almost think it was a completely new proposal, until you see the reference near the end to ‘successful business models in Japan and Korea’.

The article is notable also for its constructive tone regarding the UCI. Development of ‘the middle / bottom of the Pyramid’ would contribute positively to the UCI events above them, ‘feeding talent to the top tier while making major events more streamlined and cost-effective.

‘The UCI may already be working on these issues,’ he writes with evident diplomacy. ‘If a strategy exists, I’d love to see it or at least get an understanding of the long-term vision.’

The five steps he describes are:

• Understand the Challenges Comprehensively: ‘a meaningful dialogue not just of Federations but also athletes, venues, partners, broadcasters, event organisers and fans’
• Create a Strategy to Reform the Event Calendar and Structure, creating ‘a consistent calendar with a clear, engaging sporting narrative throughout the year’.
• Invest in Content to Engage and Grow the Fan Base, with a focus on direct-to-consumer channels, specifically YouTube, but also namechecking Greenfly who specialise in ‘short-form media created for consumption on mobile devices, usually in portrait view’ – so clearly we’re also looking at Instagram, TikTok and the like. Pope proposes centralised production resources, athlete partnerships, content sharing and digital platform optimisation.
• Standardise the Format and Presentation of Major Events, by which he clearly means UCI events.
• Embrace New Commercial Models, warning that ‘track cycling is still essentially an ‘amateur’ sport… (it) must adapt rapidly and innovatively to survive and thrive.’

He closes by suggesting the ‘potential solution’ of a Pro Keirin World Series, with bullet points which will be instantly familiar to anyone following the initiative – but avoiding any contentious language.

It would take a much longer document than Pope’s 1,000 word article to fill in all the detail one might wish for. But his identification of the key themes must surely be correct.

We detect a welcome desire to move beyond the current impasse. The UCI has been unable to sustain its track calendar. DerbyWheel has been unable to get its independent operation off the ground. Neither is currently strong enough to move track cycling forward alone.

This article reads like an attempt to open a new chapter of discussion, reflecting the new circumstances, to save the sport and set it up for success.