The creation of the new Hammer Series format of racing by the Velon group of teams aims to shake up the traditions of professional cycling and search for new revenue sources, with Velon CEO Graham Bartlett telling Cyclingnews of plans to expand the series to between eight and 10 events each season.
However, Bartlett insisted that Velon and Infront is not trying to replace the historic race organisers such as ASO, RCS Sport and Flanders Classics, who organise the Grand Tours and many of the one-day Monument Classics.
Velon announced on Wednesday that that the first Hammer Series race will be held in the Limburg region of the Netherlands in the Limburg Sportzone complex, between June 1-4 this year. Velon and Infront confirmed that all the Velon teams and other major teams from the WorldTour and Professional Continental division will take part. The Hammer Series will be part of a weekend of cycling events, with a bike expo, mass-participation ride, family events and even concerts, with organisers hoping to creating a festival-style atmosphere.
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Instead of a traditional stage race format, the Hammer Series says it will focus on the strength and success of teams. There are no individual winners, with results based on rider placings as a team in three different events on three different days – the Hammer Sprint, the Hammer Climb and the Hammer Chase – each held on an 8-10km circuit to enable the public to see the action multiple times. The Chase, a team time trial, follows a handicap format, with teams setting off according to their results from the opening two rounds and the first across the line being crowned overall winners.
Infront and Velon have worked together on the innovative race format concept for more than a year, and claim to have the full support of the UCI. The traditional major race organisers such as ASO, RCS Sport and Flanders Classics have yet to react to the creation of the Hammer Series.
“We’ve been working hard for a long time to create a format that people can really get hold of. We tested ideas with the fans, the media and broadcasters. We obviously also involved the riders and teams,” Bartlett explained to Cyclingnews during a lengthy interview.
Embracing new concepts
Expect to pay to watch in the finish area
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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