What if tomorrow you had to pay for your ticket to watch the Tour de France peloton pass by the side of the road? The idea is gaining ground.
Jérôme Pineau has thrown a wrench into the pond these days by suggesting the introduction of payment for tickets for the public on the route of the Tour des France. For example in the last five kilometers of Alpe d’Huez. In the “Grand Plateau” podcast, the former runner said to himself “ very worried about (s)our sport “. Economically speaking.
Review taxation, adopt a salary cap capable of erasing the inequalities between the different teams in the peloton… so many avenues to be studied urgently in fact while the little queen suffers from a structural problem of redistribution of the income generated. A vision of things shared by Filippo Pozzato.
“We are the only sport without tickets”
Via Cyclingpro, the former Italian champion who has become a race organizer at home on the other side of the Alps, agrees with Jérôme Pineau. “ I think this is the only solution to ensure our future. We are the only sport without tickets. Cycling can no longer afford to wait to survive. The more self-sufficient and sustainable we become, the more we will progress. »
As part of the Veneto Classic, Filippo Pozzato claims to have already tested this system of paid places along a climb taken several times by the competitors. “ When I implemented this concept, I was insulted. People told me I was elitist. To go see an amateur football match, you pay 15 euros, so why not pay to see the best cyclists in the world? »
10 euros per place, beer included
The first time he dared to take the plunge, the person concerned sold his tickets at the price of 10 euros, with a free beer. Today, no more beer, but the experience for the public is enhanced by entertainment with giant screens and DJs. “ We must raise awareness among the public so that they understand that they are not wasting their money but that we are offering them a service, beyond the simple spectacle of the race. », moving Filippo Pozzato.
“ The current business model is unsustainable because a team gets nothing in return. We invest millions, and what do we gain by winning a race? It is clear that cycling is not a stadium sport, but we must have our own economic model », concludes the Italian.
