Article by: Dennis Kweku Moore, Public Relations officer, Ghana Cycling Federation, Journalist, Paracycling advocate, Writer, cycling commentator, Ghana.

In a cited article on the UCI website ” www.uci.ch”, which read ” UCI rules new track cycling series a forbidden event and threatens to fine riders “, I shook from my wooden seat, yawned, and shook my head on both sides in extreme astonishment.

The first question I asked myself was ” What offense or sin at all has African Riders committed”? I stressed ” African Riders” because they are the most vulnerable in cycling as a sport and is the UCI aware of that?

DERBYWHEEL EMERGENCE
It was during the middle part of last year that I encountered this unique entity after my over 15 years in the Cycling industry as a writer, commentator, and administrator for the Ghana Cycling Federation and other African national federations.

And indeed after being educated on the vision and mission of Derbywheel into the African scope, I smiled in tears because the world and suffering of African Cycling had ended at least to some extent.

I read with keen optical lenses the vision of Derbywheel which ” is a new Global Pro Keiren event focused on globalizing historic Professional Keiren Track Cycle Racing which currently is organized largely as a domestic enterprise in Japan and Korea.

The mission was to create an open Professional Keiren League with equal accessibility available for the entire cycling family providing benefits, venues, and other stakeholders across the globe.

The second visionary point is eve far refreshing
” They will be establishing an annual calendar hosting Derbywheel events each week across multiple territories which would be distributed as Sports betting content to legitimate bookmakers across the world. This is where UCI says it had problems. I will come there.

DERBYWHEEL INTENTIONS
We all know at this stage that Derbywheel intends to provide a new foundation to the vulnerable track cyclists’ ecosystem that will help make the economy model of the sport more sustainable and facilitate growth.

Secondly, these events will provide significant additional earning potential for riders at all levels making the sport sustainable for existing riders and providing a pathway for new riders to enter the sport.

Thirdly, Derbywheel would initiate talent development through the creation of Keiren academies, and working in tandem with National Federations to complement this effort.

Fourthly, Derbywheel plans to utilize Velodrome across Africa and the globe providing important sources of revenue and content.

Lastly, Derbywheel plans to invest in charitable and community initiatives to create a positive impact.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
I read with deep concern in that article that UCI says any rider who competes in the Derbywheel racing could face a fine of up to 10,000 CHF (£9,164) and a suspension of up to six months.

We can read the Derbywheel report outlining the integrity measures that will be undertaken particularly with competition manipulation and anti-doping. This report, I further read, was submitted on the 6th of December 2023, and shared with other key stakeholders.

UCI, in this instance, should be a bit considerate and understand that the ultimate interest in every Sporting discipline is to make money to sustain oneself, especially in Africa.

For over two decades, the 54 African countries have had only one standard velodrome, and Riders have suffered the most in their quest to live up to their dream in the Cycling sport. How much does an African Rider earn even in a year? Few countries could be mentioned here, Rwanda, Algeria, Eritrea, South Africa, or Morocco where the Gross Domestic Product of their economies slightly soars over others like West Africa and Central Africa.

Tagging an event as forbidden is too harsh especially as that event tends to change the lives of the riders involved. We cannot compare cycling in Europe, Oceania, or the Americas to that of Africa. That is a fact.

So I ask- what is the problem? The welfare of the athlete is paramount and that clause being quoted has no role here.

Derbywheel has not stated they are in to topple the activities of the UCI or to take over from the world body. It rather seeks to facilitate the welfare of the riders by infecting more financial assistance into the game – something the UCI itself knows has been deficient in for so many years.

African Riders have to struggle to attend programs abroad due to financial woes. They are ” forced” to squeeze water out of stone for championships, pay for exorbitant hotel fees and more painfully secure their air tickets just to compete in calendar events.
Most often, embassies are denied visas to travel to compete in the name medal just because most riders’ statements of their accounts do not meet the standards of visa requirements of some countries, hence their denial of visas.

More disturbing is that for most of the championships, there are no financial prizes at these events. So how does a National Federation accrue the losses made in participation at such events? Very sad.

How many African countries can boast of a velodrome? And so how do we perform in track events? The UCI has failed in this chapter by not accepting to assist in this exercise in Africa.

This is why Derbywheel has come to assist in complementing the efforts of the world body (UCI) by making the sport more attractive.

Look, over a hundred sporting events have betting on them, including Football. And who says there is no integrity in football because of betting?

The salvo in quoting regulations/constitutional causes on betting etc cannot be a hindrance to the welfare betterment of riders. In any case, Derbywheel has clearly stated its stance.

I believe UCI and DerbyWheel should consider riders’ welfare in cycling as a sport.
This should be refreshing.

If the UCI referred to integrity measures as a basis for “forbidding” the launch of the Derbywheel event in April, it should reflect on the previous cheating stances of some elite riders like Lance Armstrong, etc despite the existence of that clause in the regulations.

WHAT WE WANT
Followers of the Sport in Africa want to express our disappointment from the corridors of the UCI on this particular subject matter.

The battle against Derbywheel will not serve any good purpose in the prime interest of the Sport. The UCI should sit by the table, realize and recall its bitter and ridiculous fine of 10,000 CHF ( 9,164) on riders should they partake in the Derbywheel event in April.

The UCI should know that Derbywheel is in to raise the hopes of riders, to use the Sport to create a better living for African Riders especially.

What is the essence of competing in an event? Riders stand the chance of sustaining injuries, no better nutrition, etc.

These weekly events by Derbywheel and the monies to be made are simply adorable. Why wouldn’t over 400 riders across the globe subscribe to it? Something is missing.

The UCI knows that African Riders are very vulnerable when it comes to Air ticketing. Yet they are forced to look for money to transport their riders no matter what events.

UCI must understand that Governments and corporate bodies in Africa are less interested in financing a sport like cycling for reasons I cannot tell.

FINAL WORDS
As a senior journalist in Ghana and an advocate in African cycling, I have every conviction that the Derbywheel initiative is the savior at this moment and that the lives of riders would receive a better change of life.

UCI should realize that the regulations were made by man and that the welfare of the riders is paramount.

Sanctioning riders to that ridiculous tune of an amount cannot hold water. How many Doctors and Lawyers in Africa even make such an amount for a living a month? It is a “killer blow” for African Cycling and should be looked at.

Imposing such strong sentiments on African Riders amounts to suppressing the whims and caprices of the riders and subjecting them to an “either you take it or you leave it attitude”. That is not fair.

The level of employment Derbywheel brings to the table is beyond measure and that is the spirit of the Sport. We do cycling to gain and not to lose.

It is even interesting to note that world-class riders like Sir Chris Hoy once explored Oro Keiren Japan and that has contributed to him who he is now.

I am utterly optimistic in the not-too-distant future Derbywheel would be attracted to over a thousand riders across the globe.

The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Leonel Messi, etc. are rich because of the sport they play in. What can cyclists boast of?

I think Derbywheel is a savior. The welfare of the riders matters. Support Derbywheel to do more for global cyclists.

We shall continue to discuss the product of cycling as a sport(Riders) of their take on this juncture

Dennis Kweku Moore