World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI)’s Post

Swiss roll: UCI Cycling Women's World Tour. The Tour De Suisse returned in great form. Taking in its usual, stunning route across Switzerland, this #unioncyclisteinternationale challenge is a highly anticipated, challenging stop on the women's world tour. As each year passes, the women's tour gains in popularity. Not just due to increasing fan numbers, but also greater cycling participation across the glove. Leisure cycling, and competitive riding. The latter has been helped by several initiatives directed at boosting the number of females cyclists on the road. Many of these programmes are targeted toward younger riders such as Liv Cycling in Bristol and the numerous girls' clubs in France and Belgium. These help improve stats as countries such as the UK find race participation is just 20% female. London Racing Academy is bucking the trend as the team was created to support older females get into road racing. But it's not all about in-saddle skills. London Academy develops handling skills, race tactics, transparency, access to bike fitting, and support within a growing network of like-minded women. There is also a mentorship programme built around ex and semi-professional riders. The focus is on building confidence and encouraging development to a competitive level good enough for local and regional B races. Then one day, the national series is the goal. As the world's elite race around the Swiss Cantons, it is good to be reminded that participation at all levels of sport is equally valuable. #UCI #cycling #istaa #istaaorg #sportstravel #sportshospitality #goistaamembers #strongertogether

Reflections on our work and what needs to be done to advance #African cycling development. This was disheartening but also a time to understand what needs to change. We're getting more #African cyclists to the world stage. However, especially for women, they are not up to the level, and the gap continues to grow in women's cycling. What can we do better? #womenscycling #africarising #attheworlds https://lnkd.in/g2jT6S63

So the sun has set on the first ever multi-discipline UCI Cycling World Championships 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Without doubt it provided 11 days of enthralling action, but how do you determine whether it was a success or not? I think from a cycling fan perspective it was great to be able to watch so much great racing over such a short period of time, and there's no question based on the TV pictures that yet again the British public showed their appetite for attending top level live sporting events (albeit many of them were free to attend). Commercially there will be analysis to be done. Only two sponsors of note came on board (Lidi and BigMat) who weren't already UCI sponsors, and I know the expectations of the organisers were more significant than this, especially as this was such an expensive event to put on. It'll also needs to be analysed that are you diluting your TV audience by condensing every discipline into a 11 day period. The 'standalone' Track, Road, BMX, and Mountain Bike championships all historically had their own TV coverage, and now we need to analyse whether the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Lastly, will it have created a legacy for Scotland both in terms of showcasing as somewhere to visit and cycle, and from a social perspective encourage more people to get on a bike. These things are longer term legacy benefits, but lets hope Scottish Government have already put in place the methodology to measure and report on. Personally, I thought it was a great event, and a credit to those who made it happen, especially as it was such a bold and new way of doing things. I look forward to reading the post-event reports. #cycling #sportsmarketing #sports #sportsbiz

The climax of the Tour de France gripped the world of cycling as the peloton dashed down the Champs Elysee earlier this week, bringing the cycling crown to Jonas Vingegaard for the second year in a row. The 21 stage race over 3,404kms was as nail-biting as ever but has never been far away from the safety concerns that are casting existential questions over the sport. Earlier this year Swiss rider Gino Mader died having fallen into a ravine and been found motionless in water in the 5th stage of the Tour de Suisse. His death adds further credence to the raising safety concerns around elite cycling. Meanwhile, consideration must be given to the spectators who, by all account make some pretty silly decisions about where to perch their picnic tables. Not least those who choose to sit on the outside of the turn, and specifically those on outside curve with a precipitous mountain edge behind. As a spectator it is incumbent on you to manage your own risk and there is plenty of footage of cyclists misjudging the bend, crashing through the crowd taking supporters with them. This is an easy risk to mitigate. So our question today is: Where in your business are are you sitting on the outside bend taking risks that could very easily be avoided? We'll leave you with that thought. #riskmanagement #tourdefrance2023 #mitigation

Romania is also the Future of Cycling 🚴 Romanian riders often struggle to gain visibility with pro teams and scouts, finding themselves outside the main team networks. This lack of exposure impacts their opportunities to secure pro contracts. Who will be the next Eduard-Michael Grosu? Grosu was a flagship Romanian rider with several years in a ProTeam, enjoying a fantastic 2019 season with 5 wins, including the Ronde van Limburg in Belgium. In recent years, Mihnea-Alexandru Harasim has been a standout, being the only Romanian rider to finish on the podium of UCI Junior races in 2021 and 2022, with five top 3 finishes. Now 20 years old, Harasim rides at the Continental level with Team Skyline. Another notable talent, Adi Narcis Marcu, shone at the U23 level but struggled to transition to a pro contract. This is why we believe in the potential of the Cambio platform. Here, riders can register for free, share their results, performance data, and articulate their ambitions. Supported by cutting-edge technology, Cambio offers Romanian riders a unique opportunity to be shortlisted by pro teams, paving the way for the future stars of cycling. Let's support and recognize the incredible talent coming out of Romania, and also all the efforts already made by the Romanian Federation. The future of cycling is bright, and Romania is ready to be part of it! 🌟 #Cambio #Scouting #Scout #Talent #RomanianCycling #FutureOfCycling #ProCycling #Romania #Cycling

Breaking Down Barriers: The Road to Olympic Success via 1% Improvements What if I told you Olympic gold was just 1% away? Let's explore this golden rule together. Sir Dave Brailsford's transformative leadership in British Cycling, marked by his application of the "marginal gains" approach, led to a remarkable turnaround in the team's performance. In 2002, British cycling had only one gold medal in its 76-year history, but by 2008, under Brailsford's guidance, they secured seven out of 10 gold medals in track cycling at the Beijing Olympics. They repeated this achievement at the London Olympics in 2012. Brailsford now leads Britain's first professional cycling team, which has won three of the last four Tour de France events. The success of the marginal gains approach can be attributed not only to the specific improvements but also to the culture it fostered. It created contagious enthusiasm within the team, as everyone sought ways to enhance performance. This approach, however, relies on full team commitment; if only some members buy in, it can lead to resentment. Brailsford believes the marginal gains approach can be applied effectively in various settings beyond cycling, including public services. He emphasizes that it's crucial to offer competitors legitimate, legal ways to gain an edge, as competition often leads people to seek advantages, sometimes resorting to illegal means. Providing access to top-notch training, nutrition, science, and technology can deter individuals from pursuing illicit advantages. Ultimately, people desire to win, but they prefer to do so fairly and squarely rather than at any cost. In conclusion, Sir Dave Brailsford's marginal gains approach, marked by relentless pursuit of incremental improvements, a culture of continuous improvement, and a focus on legitimate advantages, has proven successful in transforming British Cycling and holds valuable lessons for leadership and management in various fields. #marginalgains #leadershipsuccess #olympictriumph #continuousimprovement #sirdavebrailsford #cyclingexcellence #teamculture #performanceenhancement #goldmedaljourney #innovationinsports

🚴♂️[Sports Biz News]📣 UCI and BigMat announce a four-year partnership culminating in the 2027 UCI Cycling World Championships 🎉 The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and BigMat Group have announced a four-year partnership that includes seven UCI World Championships starting in 2024. This strategic partnership aims to support the growth and promotion of cycling worldwide, enhancing community engagement and sustainable practices. BigMat, a leader in building materials, will contribute to various UCI World Championships, including road, track, cyclo-cross, and mountain bike events. This collaboration not only highlights the synergy between sports and business but also underscores the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. By supporting these prestigious events, BigMat is demonstrating its commitment to health, sustainability, and community development through cycling. The partnership will begin with the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, and continue with the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, and the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, Canada. Other events include the 2024 UCI Track World Championships in Ballerup, Denmark, the 2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin, France, the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy, and culminating with the 2027 UCI Cycling World Championships in Haute-Savoie, France. This partnership not only supports elite cycling but also promotes cycling as a healthy and sustainable activity. By aligning with UCI, BigMat leverages its platform to advocate for sustainable practices and corporate responsibility. 🚴♂️  #glocalsportsnews #sportsmarketing #sportsnews #sportsbusiness #marketing #branding #pr #brandingstrategy #marketingstrategy #prstrategy #businessstrategy #advertising #cycling #roadrace #UCI #BigMat

Happier, healthier, and greener lives through cycling 🚴♂️🌿💚 Our new 5-year strategy launched yesterday 🚀📅 We have five ambitious and complementary strategic objectives that will ensure our efforts are focused on the areas that will have the biggest positive impact over the next five years: Improve perceptions of cycling so that everyone sees the benefits 🚴♀️✨ Boost the number and diversity of people who cycle 🌍🚴♂️ Make cycling an even more positive experience 😊🚴 Increase transport choice by enabling and encouraging more people to cycle local journeys 🚴♂️➡️🏘️ Achieve greater impact by becoming the best possible charity we can be 🌟 I can't wait to start delivering against these objectives and we have some exciting projects and behaviour change work to help achieve our vision. However, we can’t achieve our goals alone. We’ve always been part of a wider movement, collaborating and sharing to maximize our impact 🌐🤝. I would love to hear from old and new contacts on how we can collaborate over the next 5 years and beyond 🚴♀️🌿💚. #CyclingCommunity #SustainableTransport #DiverseCycling #CycleTogether #CyclingUK 

📢 Exciting News! European Commission presents its vision for a European Cycling Declaration 🚴♂️🌍 CONEBI welcomes the European Cycling Declaration by the European Commission! This landmark declaration serves as a strategic compass, listing principles, initiatives, and innovative approaches aimed at boosting cycling and maximising the EU's capabilities in this realm. It lays down a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing cycling infrastructure, encouraging public participation, and ensuring the safety and well-being of cyclists across the region. CONEBI also welcomes the industrial angle in the European Commission’s European Cycling Declaration: the valuable open dialogue and co-creation roundtable process that we are having with the European Commission DG Grow about public-private synergies for a resilient industry in Europe is reflected in today’s declaration. CONEBI is committed to continue working with the European Commission on the #MobilityTransitionPathway https://lnkd.in/eb2xhxft 🗣️ Manuel Marsilio, CONEBI General Manager: “The bicycle, e-bike, parts and accessories industries in Europe highly appreciate the Commission’s European Cycling Declaration proposal. Its implementation will help to further develop and grow the cycling sector as central partners in the EU mobility ecosystem and as a world-class European cycling industry. We look forward to continuing our political dialogue with the EU Institutions about our role in Europe’s economy and the delivery of an ambitious EU industrial strategy.” As active participants in the cycling ecosystem, CONEBI is elated to witness the collective effort and collaboration by all the EU cycling advocacy associations that went into shaping this European Cycling Declaration. This has paved the way for such a transformative development. Let us continue pedalling forward together and harness the tremendous potential of cycling for a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future! 🌱🚴♀️ 👉 Read the joint press release from CONEBI, European Cyclists' Federation and Cycling Industries Europe: https://lnkd.in/efrYZgaQ Jill Warren Kevin Mayne #CONEBI #Cycling #CyclingInEurope #EuropeBikeIndustry #EuropeanCyclingDeclaration 

Sports such as cycling (tennis and motorsports) involve many nationalities and competitions worldwide, so the demographic makeup of engagement is inherently disparate. There are also key moments to harness on any calendar that can be different from one channel to the next. If understood, this can be an advantage from a performance marketing perspective. Using the right channels at the right times, aligned with specific outcomes and KPIs. If not, then so much of the reach is either lost to an audience that isn't interested or a target market that isn't relevant to a sponsoring brand. If you're interested in learning more about how x+y can help, then drop me a note 🙂