UCI Cycling World Championships.
At the beginning of August Glasgow hosted the UCI Cycling World Championships.
This was the first time that all the various cycling disciplines were rolled into one big event.
Like a Cycling World cup or a Cycling Olympics.
Now that it has been a few weeks since the end of the event I have had the time and space to consider how it all went.
I come to the same conclusion that I did at the time.
To me this was the best major event that has ever been held in Scotland in my lifetime.
For a few reasons not least of which that the race went through my home town.
Nothing ever happens in Denny & Dunipace.
Everything always went around us.
We wouldn't even get a name check on the TV weather maps until recently.
And about 99% of people I meet have no idea of where I am actually from.
I have spent a long time documenting things happening in the town.
Our efforts to have the centre redeveloped, the demise of landmarks and the opening of new ones.
So I absolutely needed to be there for this.
It was an incredible thing to witness.
We've never hosted a World Championship of any kind. I describe this as like having Real Madrid playing against Dunipace FC at Westfield.
The race went down the Glasgow road, past Denny cross. Onwards to Stirling street and round onto the spine road before taking a right turn past Stripside and Stoneywood, then up the Corthy Brae towards Fankerton and Carronbridge.
It was this point on the map that I thought some action would happen.
The road from that point takes a steady upward trajectory as it meanders towards the Campsies.
I wasn't wrong.
But for an unexpected reason. It was on this road that the race was disrupted for more than an hour by protestors.
I doubt any of the riders will ever forget their visit to FK6.
The time trials in Stirling were also incredible to witness.
The fan zones were great fun and the route brought the action close to you.
My only complaint was that you couldn't see the finish or the medal ceremonies.
On these three days the Top of the Town was busier than I have ever seen it.
Stirling probably hasn't seen so many Belgians since the 16th century when it traded with the low countries.
I aimed to photograph this from the point of view of Stirling hosting something and I wanted to create a hero photograph and have others that included local landmarks
To me the shot was an image showing the riders with Stirling Castle in the background.
Photographing bike racing is tough.
They move much faster than they appear to do on video or television.
Camera autofocus systems can often grab on a background subject rather than the rider in front of you.
Positioning matters.
Sometimes a great place to watch actually makes a boring photograph.
Also the best riders are sometimes the worst to photograph. Especially when it comes to time trials.
The top riders are instantly tucked into their aero positions which means you can't see their faces.
I gave the family a crash course in photographing bike racing and got them to help me photograph things. Having 2 or 3 cameras pointing at the action really helped. especially on the Women's Road Race as we attempted to get to the finish. I have said it before but Women’s races are frequently more exciting than the Men’s.
I also made some video and shot a few rolls of film throughout the week.
These races did also cause a lot of disruption. I can understand that maybe not everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. Even though my street was closed for a week and my journey times to go to Edinburgh for Fringe work were extended because I had the entire Belgian Men's team blocking my path.
I heard stories from the businesses around me that they had problems with deliveries and I heard from friends telling me of their work phone calls being disrupted by the rattle of cowbells and shouts of "Allez Allez Allez" from outside their windows.
Could the organisers have done more to mitigate disruption?
Maybe.
But at the same time we've known this was happening for about 3 years.
They sent us letters with maps explaining how the road closures would take place.
I think some people just don't want to listen.
After an event like this there is always talk of legacy.
In relation to the UCI World Championships this talk seems to concentrate on getting people out and about riding bikes. And while I have no objection to that it does feel like missing the bigger picture.
What made this good was that for the first time a major event was spread out to give everyone a little moment in the spotlight.
The legacy for me should be about future events. Bringing visitors, commerce and work to all the areas that took part.
If you’d like to see my photographs of each race you can find them on my Instagram.
Men’s Elite Road Race
Men’s Time Trial
Women’s Time Trial
Women’s Road Race