Two veterans of the U.S. cycling industry will launch a new professional bicycle racing series in 2015 that attempts to revive the sport of velodrome track cycling in North America.
Called the World Cycling League, the venture is the brainchild of David Chauner and John Vande Velde, who both represented the U.S. at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics. Their eventual plan is to create 12 televised velodrome events spread across a six-month season in the U.S. The two will kick off the league March 12-14 with a three-day event at the Island 200 velodrome in Pittsburgh.
They have designed new rules for traditional track cycling events — such as the Keirin, Madison and pursuit — which they say make the races friendly for TV viewers. They call the format Speedtrak Cycling and believe that innovations such as on-bike cameras and real-time rider statistics will attract casual cycling fans.
“We want to produce an exciting show,” Chauner said. “The goal is to create the best possible television production and use all of the technology we can bring to it to new viewers.”
The league faces an uphill battle. While track cycling has deep roots in U.S. sports history — Madison Square Garden housed a velodrome in the late 19th century — it has existed in the shadow of road cycling for decades. Track cycling events rarely appear on television, even during the Summer Olympics. And amateur participation in track cycling is also much smaller than road cycling. According to USA Cycling, the sport’s national governing body, there are only 28 velodromes in the U.S.
So far, the league has just one velodrome, but the league hopes to create partnerships to use other velodromes in the U.S. and Canada.
The league has found an important ally in Bob Gottlieb, a Pittsburgh-based aluminum-recycling entrepreneur who is also an amateur competitive cyclist. Gottlieb financed the construction of the $15 million Island 200 velodrome, which will be completed in January.
Gottlieb is listed as league president. He has helped fund some of the $500,000 seed cash for the kickoff event in March.
“I want to leave a legacy for the cycling community here in Pittsburgh,” Gottlieb said. “This venue could help us produce some world champions.”
Chauner and Vande Velde are relying on the first event to jump-start interest as well as operating revenue. While the eventual business model revolves around gate receipts and sponsorship sales, the group has yet to sign a television deal or any sponsors. Chauner said the league is working with Colorado-based sponsorship firm KOM Sports Marketing to attract sponsors.
To finance the league’s first year, Chauner and Vande Velde are pitching the idea to venture capital firms and private investors, recently holding a pitch meeting in New York City. They hope to raise $3 million, which Chauner said would cover the first year’s expenses.
“We’re reaching out to high-net-worth individuals who also have a passion for cycling,” Chauner said. “It’s to get us off the ground until we start bringing in operational revenues.”
Gottlieb said he realizes that the league faces sizable challenges in its first year, and said the plan hinges on the league’s ability to find suitable venues like the Island 200 velodrome. He cited velodromes in Toronto and Southern California as possible sites.
“The challenge is to get people who are unfamiliar with track cycling into the velodrome to experience it,” Gottlieb said. “Once they see it, they get it.”
Fred Dreier is a writer in Colorado.
