The Giro was huge for Ireland, and the week-long World Road Championships could be even bigger if staged here (Photo: Toby Watson)
Author, journalist and cyclist, Graham Healy examines what Ireland would gain by staging the UCI World Road Race Championships and asks if the time is now right to start preparing a bid.
Back in 2001, the Irish Government established a special unit tasked with attracting major international events to the country in a bid to increase tourism numbers. Amongst those international fixtures considered was the 2004 World Road Cycling Championships.
The projected cost of running the Worlds here back then would have been about €6 million; half of which was to be met by the Government.
The plan was for the event to take place in Killarney, though in the end the bid never went ahead.
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Jim McDaid was the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation at the time and he outlined the reasons why it was decided the plan should be dropped.
“Unfortunately, in recent years cycling has not been exactly playing ball," he said.
"I refer to the drugs situation. As it is my number one priority, I, therefore, have reservations regarding this event.
“I understand, however, the UCI, the international body with responsibility for cycling, has been doing its utmost to combat drugs in this sport. It has decided at long last to introduce a test for EPO. I will, therefore, keep the matter under review."
The 2011 World Championships won by Mark Cavendish were a huge financial success for Copenhagen and Denmark generally.
Ireland's appetite for professional cycling has always been huge. And with the sport booming here now, the Worlds would perhaps be even better received than the Nissan Classic or the Kellogg's criteriums ever were.
One only has to look at the success of the Giro d'Italia north and south earlier this year, and the economic windfall it brought, to appreciate how a place like Kerry could benefit from a full week of racing.
Aerial shots of the Irish countryside being beamed all over the world during the broadcast of the races globally would bring publicity for Ireland that money simply could not buy; vital exposure as the worst of the global recession has passed and potential tourists to Ireland begin to see their disposable incomes nudge a little higher.
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The helicopter footage of the countryside so synonymous with cycling would really suit Ireland – and in particular the Kerry or Wicklow regions - leading to tourists arriving here long after the event had departed.
The economic argument for staging the Worlds is clear.
In 2009, the hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race in Galway generated €55 million, despite the cost coming it at well under €10 million. And the same figures applied when the race returned three years later.
Riders like Ryan Mullen are coming through to join more Irish established names; wouldn't it be great to see them in World Championship action in Ireland?
The 2015 World Road Cycling Championships have been awarded to Richmond, USA. According to Richmond 2015’s executive director Tim Miller, the bid cost $12.2 million.
The Americans have estimated the economic benefits of winning the right to stage the Worlds to be in the region of $135.5 million; with 450,000 people visiting from 70 countries.
The organisation ‘Sport Event Denmark’ studied the effects of the 2011 world championships in Copenhagen and concluded that the Danish economy was boosted by a very considerable $39.6 million from tourism; with a live audience of 545,000 people attending the races.
The turnout and economic return were both much greater than anticipated in the run up the Worlds.
With Ireland suffering economically, and the sport having gained ground on the drugs issue, is the time now right for Ireland to reconsider making a Worlds bid?
We have a number of Irish cyclists at the top level of the sport, with hopefully more coming through in the next few years. Wouldn’t it be great to see them competing in Irish jerseys on Irish roads?
Philip Deignan was just one of three Irish riders to get a fantastic reception from the home fans when the Giro came to Ireland back in May (Photo: Toby Watson)
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