A Brief Photoreview of Revolution 16 (Jan 2007)
Every Revolution was first a thought in one man’s mind. That’s actually a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, but it’s true. Revolution didn’t spring up overnight, and it didn’t just exist as a way to make some money on ticket sales.
Way back in the old days of the mid-2000s, Manchester had a world-class velodrome. It was the only world-class velodrome in England, no matter what the penny farthing riders will tell you about Herne Hill.
Great Britain also had world-class track riders. Nicole Cooke excepted, the track was the only domain in which Great Britain was dominating the cycling world.
The twain rarely met though… at least not for competition. Besides the odd World Cup round, all Manchester velodrome action took place behind closed doors. When British riders wanted to compete against the best in the world, British Cycling had to fly them out to foreign countries.
This situation wasn’t ideal. It cost a lot of money. There was no path for the young kids to race at a high level, nor in front of a crowd. The National Cycling Centre went neglected.
But what if you could host a world-class event yourself, and use the money you’d spend sending your riders abroad to instead attract the best riders in the world? And host an entire series to develop young riders? And build excitement in the sport with a Six Day style party atmosphere and ultra-slick branding? And gate receipts would more than cover it?
Revolution was important. It entwined with British cycling in the discipline where it was strongest, and gave avenues of growth for the sport, the federation, and its riders. It arrived at the perfect time, at an inflection point for the sport in the UK, and was one of the foundations upon which Team Sky and the first British Tour de France victory was built.
Independent but intrinsically linked to the fate of the sport in the UK, it flew free, providing the spectacle that the endless repecharges of the dreary World Cup rounds couldn’t offer.
The first event was a sell-out. And so were all subsequent events, season after season. Soon we had the Champions League of Cycling™ on our hands, and then a road team packed with champions, Revolutions in every city, a Six Day in London. “Revolution today is taken for granted, and in consequence becomes rather dull,” said Wyndham Lewis, quite presciently.
“I have been ever of opinion that revolutions are not to be evaded.” – Benjamin Disraeli, and also us. We worked the Revolution series for years from its very first event, later pivoting to journalism, and then to drinking wine in the VIP area while trying to get people to give us free Soreen.
Exactly 14 years ago, on January 21, 2007, we were at Revolution 16. So happy fourteenth birthday to this write-up that doesn’t actually mention any racing whatsoever.
A Brief Photoreview of Revolution 16
Published 21 January, 2007
It’s hard to believe that the Revolution series has now lasted for over 16 events. The once glamourous programme girls are now haggard and horrific, ravaged by Father Time. And Victoria Pendleton has suddenly reached almost-old-enough-to-be-your-mum age of 26. Oh youth, why are you deserting us so rapidly?
Revolution 16, then. We say this every time now, but this actually was the best Revolution event ever. The racing is always much better when there aren’t any road racing superstars or old folks doing silly things. Even the 60 lap scratch race was utterly fascinating.
There were lots of horrible children running around, mind. One of them will probably end up being the next Chris Hoy, but we still wish they’d express their youthful vitality somewhere we don’t have to see or hear them.
At the end of the night we managed to see Arnaud Tournant naked from the waist down, which is the most French type of nakedness there is. Vicky Pendleton was walking around in knee-high boots too, which reminded us a lot of a wonderful dream we once had.
Verdict
This Revolution: 9/10
Whole 2006-2007 series: 9/10
South Bank Grill: 4/10
Boardman’s Bar: 6/10