Cycling: On July 23rd and 24th, 2016, Stuttgart will be all about cycling. Professional and amateur races, closed roads for hobby cyclists and e-bikers as well as a large trade fair are intended to attract bicycle enthusiasts to the Baden-Württemberg metropolis. Velomotion spoke to Matthias Pietsch, the project manager of the event at the organizer Lagardère Unlimited Events.
Mr. Pietsch...
Please Matthew. I'm an avid mountain biker, so we'd better use the familiar first-name form of cycling.
Gladly. Matthew, the Velothon Stuttgart would like to combine competitive cycling with urban mobility, lifestyle and the current trend of e-bikes and pedelecs. Sounds like many different aspects.
We understand cycling to be more than just racing. The Velothon follows a holistic concept. In general, we want to encourage people to cycle and offer the right package for everyone, regardless of whether they are beginners, everyday and occasional cyclists, everyday racers or e-bikers - optionally on two courses of different lengths. One thing is the same for everyone: completely closed and secured roads. There will also be a professional race in UCI category 1.1, and we are also working on a criterion for licensed drivers. We want to give all participants, regardless of their category, the feeling of free cycling on a closed route. And in the finish area at the Cannstatter Wasen there is a large sports and bicycle fair with a focus on e-bikes.
Do you also want to use this to promote a more sustainable form of mobility? Stuttgart in particular is the epitome of the automotive industry and daily, kilometer-long traffic jams.
This topic is not a short trend that was laughed at until a few years ago, but a topic that is now taken seriously, and in many ways. Anyone who rides a bike protects the environment and wallet, lives healthier, is more vital and therefore more efficient. Especially in cities that are collapsing in terms of traffic, one is also more flexible and faster on the road. Copenhagen and Amsterdam show what is possible. Stuttgart may have a different, quite challenging topography, but in view of modern e-bikes and pedelecs, the question arises as to why one stands bumper to bumper in this country every day. We want to encourage people to use their bikes not only for the Velothon, but also in everyday life.
Then the target group of the event is not only the amateur racing scene, but potentially the entire population.
That sounds very big, but that's how it is in principle. We are open to all people who like to ride a bike.
But as a racing driver at the event in Stuttgart, I don't have to expect the individual groups to mix up?
Definitely not on the track, and that's where the appeal lies. The starts take place in blocks with a time interval, also in the respective categories, which are then also evaluated as a whole. Everyday bikes or e-bikes start behind the amateur racers. We have very high safety standards and have 20 years of organizational experience in races with large numbers of participants. For example, we organize the Cyclassics in Hamburg with a good 20.000 participants. No racer flying over the course at 40 km/h has to fear colliding with a group of Holland bikes. Nevertheless, all participants can and should be able to drive as they please, with due fairness and safety for themselves and others. We pay attention to this anyway during the race with support vehicles and cycling guides. At the cycling festival in the finish area, however, the groups should of course mix, which then creates the festival character.
Last but not least, the professional race is supposed to attract spectators?
The Velothon Stuttgart takes place on the last Tour de France weekend. The attention for cycling is already high at this time. We hope that this will appeal to a wider audience and we are considering including the TV images of the tour final days. Various teams have already made inquiries and we are in negotiations. We would like to have three WorldTour teams, about ten ProContinental teams and seven Continental teams.
What can the participants of the amateur race expect?
Very roughly, two race tracks of 50 or 110 kilometers each. A highlight is definitely the start at Schlossplatz in downtown Stuttgart. The route then leads out through the Neckar valley and includes many scenic and cultural highlights: the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz museums, Ludwigsburg Palace, the Bergheimer Steige to Solitude Palace and, of course, the finish line at the Cannstatter Wasen. The profile is wavy and has a few meters of altitude - an interesting race for sporty ambitious drivers. The 50-kilometer loop is less demanding and is aimed in particular at amateur cyclists and e-bikers.
When can you register for the event and how much does participation cost?
The start of registration is planned for the beginning of December, the prices are initially between 55 and 61 euros.
The spatial separation of start and finish increases the organizational effort for the participants. How does this happen and what support is offered?
Each participant can hand in a bag with clothing, food and other utensils at the start, which we will transport to the finish area. As far as parking is concerned: there are just five kilometers between the two places, so not a real distance for cyclists - especially since we hope that many will come by bike anyway. Why the separation? The Schlossplatz is a unique selling point of Stuttgart. Waiting for the starting gun in this setting and then rolling off is an experience for the participants. The heart of the event is the Cannstatter Wasen, where the trade fair and the supporting program also take place and where the best conditions for such a cycling festival prevail. We therefore offer two real highlights with the start and finish alone and are convinced that our participants see it the same way.
Critics complain about the increasing professionalization of the amateur racing scene, the big events draw interest and sponsorship money from licensed cycling. Can you understand such voices?
It is the task of the associations and clubs to create attractive offers for licensed races. We work closely with the Württemberg cycling association. This supports our plans very strongly. Our goal is to integrate a criterion for licensed drivers into the event. In addition, we have the professional race. We want to represent the entire range of cycling and create a platform, also for licensed sport.
There have recently been several doping cases in the amateur area. Does the organizer have a strategy for this?
We are working intensively on an approach or we have a legally sophisticated one that has been approved by NADA [National Anti-Doping Agency, i. Red.] advocated model are in the drawer. I don't want to go into detail just yet, because there are two things to consider. First of all, our amateur events have an absolutely subordinate competitive character: There is no prize money, no award ceremonies, no direct communication of the first place winners. Every finisher is a winner in our opinion. These are sporty socializing events where the focus is on having fun cycling together. However, with every measure we consider, we inevitably confront our entire field of participants with an issue that only affects a minimal fraction of the participants, i.e. the incorrigible. So people who primarily deceive themselves. The problem is that we would have to clearly indicate each measure in the tenders. You have to be aware that such a measure, which is well intentioned, might be doing cycling a disservice. Because evil spirits interpret from such an advertisement that we put our participants under general suspicion, which we by no means do. The discussion is not about the older participant who, in consultation with his doctor, takes a heart medication to reduce health risks during sport or the teenager who smears a cream containing cortisone on a pimple. Both would possibly be "positive" and would theoretically have to fear sanctions, because we cannot work with different tenders for the few "suspects" and the majority of normal fun drivers.
Sounds logical. And secondly?
Secondly, we have to thank our fellow organizers who work in the VDR [Association of German Cycle Race Organizers, d. Red.] are organized, and the BDR [Association of German Cyclists, d. Red.] Give us time to react to our proposal. We presented the idea to both associations this week and met with great interest. However, it has also been shown that there are still a few things to be considered, for which there must be further rounds of talks. We don't want to distinguish ourselves with such a measure, but seriously want to make a meaningful contribution. In this respect, it is important that we organizers approach the topic together in close coordination.
Another serious issue: the terrorist attacks in Paris are still very much alive. In May, the professional and amateur race in Frankfurt was canceled due to a concrete threat, and in 2013 amateur athletes were the target of an attack at the Boston Marathon. What does this mean for you as an organizer?
We develop a comprehensive security concept in close cooperation with all responsible authorities. This is an important part of every event in Germany, and no approval is given without it. We do our part to ensure that everything runs smoothly and safely. However, the responsibility for security lies with the local police, who of course coordinate their essential concept with us, but for good reason do not provide information about the measures in the background. In addition, the security standards in Germany are very high anyway, and are constantly being reviewed and adjusted, and not just since the most recent attacks, but since 9/11. However, there is no guarantee at any time in public space.
On the evening of July 24, 2016, you fall onto the couch at home. How do you feel?
Tired but very happy because the Velothon Stuttgart produced 7.000 satisfied participants, countless enthusiastic roadside spectators and a German winner in the professional race.
Velomotion is keeping its fingers crossed that the same will happen. Thank you for the interview.
Information and registration:
http://www.velothon-stuttgart.de/
