List of Mtb races with good prize money

[nathrix]

Nothing at all against event organizers and the hard work they put in, but prize money in cycling is absolutely crap and I'm not only talking about the local races.

 

Cycling is one of the hardest endurance sports to compete in, how is it possible that there is so much more prize money in e.g. golf or tennis?

What needs to be done/changed to get the same prize money in cycling.

[Skubarra]

Nothing at all against event organizers and the hard work they put in, but prize money in cycling is absolutely crap and I'm not only talking about the local races.

 

Cycling is one of the hardest endurance sports to compete in, how is it possible that there is so much more prize money in e.g. golf or tennis?

What needs to be done/changed to get the same prize money in cycling.

 

I say this as a fan of the sport, but for a few notable exceptions cycling in general doesn't make for great TV. Unless we can find a way to change that I don't see that changing

[Pure Savage]

That is absolute BS

Being an event organiser you should know this!

All you have to do is host a good event and Really Good prize money and your event will grow. You will attract all the pro riders you need.

However event organisers forget about the rest of the field competing for top honours in their classifications. These people also matter offer good prize money to the non professionals and your event will grow even more.

Simple concept if you think about it

Not sure if this post should be in italics.... hmmm

[Pure Savage]

I'm going out in a limb here, but it sounds like you haven't organised a race yet.

 

The pros don't bring in the moolah, the masses that enter brings the moolah, and they don't give a damn about prise money or what pro is racing.

Pros ask for money to attend your event, to bless them with your presence. 

[gummibear]

10 + sponsors that put in well above $10bar

 

Like rolex ,tag ,Jaguar ect...

Tag is getting more involved with cycling.

[nathrix]

Ok, so now we getting somewhere...

 

We need to make cycling more exciting to watch for EVERYONE!

 

How do we attract a much larger television audience which will in turn allow bigger sponsors to inject more money into cycling events for the prize money to increase, how and what do we change to make cycling events a lot more exciting to watch?

 

Let me start with the first problem, the UCI and just one example; this year's 2017 UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE MARATHON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Absolutely no coverage!

YES, almost zero coverage on the many FREE social media platforms (twitter, instagram, youtube, etc). Huge opportunity missed to promote cycling!

 

There are many lost opportunities to promote cycling and I think the UCI is a very good starting point, they are doing a terrible job.

[BigDL]

I love cycling. I love watching cycling. I love talking about cycling. I, like most of you, am not one of the majority.

 

As the guys above have said, how do you squeeze exposure for non cycling related sponsors into longer events, with the obvious exception of the big tours and the major road events? Cricket, rugby, soccer etc - you get an audience looking at the same area for a fixed time. MTB marathon - not so much.

[Long Wheel Base]

I don't know much about what you need to do to make cycling a living, BUT according to your strava profile, I can see that you work hard-consistently. Keep at it!

Is he the dude that said "last ride on strava" on the 29th July and then went and rode on 30th July?

[Kalahari Vegmot]

Is he the dude that said "last ride on strava" on the 29th July and then went and rode on 30th July?

I remember the "Last ride on Strava" on one of his rides. So probably...

[nathrix]

Perhaps we should start FRESH, creating something new and exciting e.g. a combined on+off road criterium/cross country/cyclocross type lap racing?

 

http://68.media.tumblr.com/27971624c6b1d308dc311a5d73d3bb35/tumblr_otp3b5b1pD1qzrroto1_500.png

 

The audience will be looking at a smaller area that is static, it will be much easier to cover these type of events and make for exciting viewing.

 

http://www.milanofixed.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/frappe.jpg

 

Cover these events thoroughly from inception

 

http://www.milanofixed.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/tour-1000x1250.jpg

 

on all the social media platforms with the goal of having live feeds on YouTube, the tech is freely available, we need to use it and watch it grow.

 

http://www.milanofixed.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/dirt.gif

 

http://www.milanofixed.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/chiappucci.gif

[jamiepenfold3]

Send a link to your Twitter and instagram. 

 

Sponsors dont really care if you podium or are the last oke over the line. They want to align their brand with someone that supports their brand image. Even if you get a sponsor to cover entries, the prize money would be lekker on top. 

 

Most races only offer up R500 max as prize money. 

Hi thanks for the message. I dont really have a twitter account but here is a link to instagram and face book: 

 

https://www.facebook.com/jamie.penfold.92

https://www.facebook.com/JamiePenfoldATHLETE/

https://www.instagram.com/its_jamie_penfold/?hl=en

[jamiepenfold3]

If you want to do some European racing in BeNeLux area let me know and i can give you a place to stay

Thanks very much I am hopefully going to race next year so I will take up the offer if I can race.

[jamiepenfold3]

Hi everyone thank you so much for your input I really appreciate it. I am going to use everyone's advise except for the parts about stopping cycling.

 

Unfortunately I am not using Strava anymore as I have gotten a power meter and I dont want people to see all my numbers for obvious reasons.

[LeoKnight]

I would also recommend twitter, as people can follow you, and would be another mechanism for you to give exposure to those that support you.  Think there are a few riders that have increased their profile this way

[Kalahari Vegmot]

Hi everyone thank you so much for your input I really appreciate it. I am going to use everyone's advise except for the parts about stopping cycling.

 

Unfortunately I am not using Strava anymore as I have gotten a power meter and I dont want people to see all my numbers for obvious reasons.

You could just use Strava without a premium account. You need a premium account to be able to see power data AFAIK.

 

#justsaying

[rudi-h]

Jamie, just an idea...

 

If I were you I'd start a new thread.  In the first post, give us a run-down of your planned overseas trip with a complete itinerary.  Tell us where you'll be going, what races you'll be doing, who's going to accompany you, how long you'll be out there etc.  A lot of us never had a chance to cycle competitively in school would love to live "through" your experience.

 

Then give us a budget...  how much you think it will cost and how much you've managed to secure so far in the form of savings and/or sponsorships.  Then you can update the post weekly or monthly or whatever to show what progress you've been making.

 

Getting a full blown sponsorship will be difficult, but maybe guys on here might give you a loose buck here and there to pay for a night's accommodation or an entry fee to a race.  A friend of mine recently got married, and they used a web-based platform where they listed their complete honeymoon itinerary.  From the website you could "buy" them certain items on their "wishlist" ranging from say a lunch for R300 up to a night at a 5-star hotel for much more.  Worked really well and they ended up getting almost their entire honeymoon paid for.

 

I'd gladly be your first mini-sponsor and pledge you a few hundred bucks given than I can see where the money will be going and that it's a serious effort to get some international racing exposure rather than just a "fun time" overseas.