FACE PARTNERSHIP MD JAMES POPE LOOKS AHEAD TO REVOLUTION SEASON 10
Published 26/09/12
What's new for Revolution Series Season 10?
The big news is that we're hosting the first ever Revolution event outside of Manchester, at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow on 2nd February 2013. Manchester has been our home for the past 10 years and will remain so, but the chance to use this brand new world-class venue was too good to miss. The season finale will take place at the spectacular new velodrome in Glasgow, which has been built for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
What are your aims for the 10th season of the Revolution Series?
We want to improve the TV highlights shows from last season: it was our first year and we learnt a lot. We will be working hard to take the TV coverage to the next level. The live experience of Revolution has been so successful, cramming all the racing into an hour's highlights was always going to be a challenge, but we’ve learned a lot about how to do it.
We've also been working to develop the Elite Championship and have recruited more pro teams to make the racing more competitive.
Are there any specific rule or format changes for Season 10?
Yes, we've changed the format of the Elite Championship. Teams now consist of two riders per event which has allowed us to add new teams to the line-up including Endura-NetApp, IG-Sigma and Raleigh-GAC. This will also work better for the likes of Team Sky and Rapha Condor Sharp who can guarantee two top names per event. The Championship races will be the same at each event and will include a 200 metre TT, Madison TT, Points, Scratch and Elimination. The points system has also changed; it has been simplified, and recognises performance.
The Olympics and Paralympics was a huge success for Britain's cyclists - will the Revolution Series recognise that?
Absolutely. We're aiming to feature as many of our Olympic stars as possible and are planning the feature races at each event to facilitate this. We're hoping to get some of our Paralympic champions and elite women riders to the first two rounds before focusing on sprinting for the last two rounds.
Does the Revolution Series fit in with the performance plan for British Cycling?
We've always worked closely with the World Class Performance Programme [WCPP] coaches to align Revolution with their training plans. In fact, the Revolution concept was originally conceived in partnership with Dave Brailsford and the WCPP to create a competitive environment to develop talent.
We are pleased to have been a part of this and contribute to the success of British Cycling in a small way. Each year we speak to the coaches and try and select our dates so they fit with riders' preparation for the World Championships.
What are the plans for the event at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow in February?
It's exciting to take Revolution outside Manchester for the first time and we're really looking forward to being in a new venue and all it has to offer. Essentially it will see the continuation of the Elite Championship and Future Stars competitions but we'll also throw some elite sprinting in and try to line up some top Scottish stars to finish the season on a high.
Can you reveal any of the riders who'll be involved across the season?
We've confirmed Team Pursuit Olympic Champions Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Pete Kennaugh for the first event. We'll also see Team Sky riders like Alex Dowsett and Ben Swift, and we're also doing our best to coax Bradley Wiggins onto the track. There are more big names TBA but we are still in negotiations so you'll have to wait and see.
Will Revolution Series use the Olympic Velodrome in London in the coming seasons?
Yes, we are planning to host Revolution at the Olympic Velodrome as soon as the venue is ready following the legacy conversion process. Hopefully this will be next season. We've had several discussions with Lee Valley who will be managing the venue and we are working with them to bring the Revolution to London.
Revolution Series Season 10 dates:
Round 1: Saturday 27th October, National Cycling Centre, Manchester - SOLD OUT
Round 2: Saturday 1st December, Manchester - STANDING TICKETS REMAIN
Round 3: Saturday 5th January, Manchester - BUY TICKETS
Round 4: Saturday 2nd February, Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Glasgow - BUY TICKETS
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