In the autumn of 1965, the organ of British cycling, Cycling & Mopeds, called upon the nation's cyclists to make a concerted effort to get the apathetic British public to recognise the phenomenal achievement of Yorkshire’s Tom Simpson’s victory in that August's World Professional Road Race Championship in San Sebastian, Spain.
The plan of action was simple. The Editor reproduced BBC Sports Personality nomination forms in Cycling & Mopeds and urged everyone to complete and submit as many as possible to the programme. The result was a resounding victory for Simpson who was named the 1965 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The question now is, will Mark Cavendish, following his victory in this year’s Championships in Copenhagen, get the same commitment to gaining him recognition at home as Simpson did? The goal this time around is definitely not quite as daunting.
Today, unlike in 1965. cycling has won some degree of recognition thanks to the medal-winning exploits of Britain’s Olympic track cycling team in Beijing. Cavendish has also received some fleeting newsreel attention thanks to his stage and green jersey victories in this year’s Tour de France.
There’s another BBC Sports Personality accolade that cycling could attain as a direct result of the World’s victory: team performance of the year. That’s right ,"Team Performance". Many people are ignorant of the fact that road cycle racing is a team event and the epic performance of the entire GB team throughout the race was majestic. Although all rival competitors knew well in advance what the British race plan was, they were all powerless to do anything about it. The Brits controlled the race for over 6 long hours and delivered Cavendish to within a kilometre of the finishing line in perfect position for him to deliver his blistering sprint finish to untouchable effect.
Unfortunately the general public may not be able to buy the latter proposal as during a race in excess of 250 kilometres a viewer would find it hard to appreciate the varied facets of team work that goes on in a tightly grouped bunch of riders.
So, will any of today’s sporting cycling journals be taking a leaf out of Cycling & Mopeds’ book and be resurrecting the campaign of 46 years ago? If so they’ve got a double whammy to go for, not only the individual title for Mark Cavendish, but also the team title for the whole of the GB team on that memorable Sunday in August in Copenhagen 2011.
