WHAT'S NEXT FOR STEVE PEAT?
What can be said that hasn't already been said about Steve Peat? One of the most successful downhill racers of all time, Steve's passion for mountain biking inspired a generation to hit the trails with their bikes and opened the floodgates for every other UK racer who followed in his footsteps to the top of the podium.
After sending ripples through the mountain bike community with last week's announcement and with the end in sight to a career spanning 25-years, what's next for Peaty? As busy as he was dealing with the fallout from last week's news, we managed to grab the big man from Sheffield for a few minutes and ask a few prying questions...
You’ve set the precedent for how to make a long and successful career in mountain biking. Do you think other riders will follow suit, like Greg for example, who’s 35 and still at the top?Greg has already had a great innings in this sport and I think he will carry on for a long time to come. He’s always been smart with his training and seems focussed to stay around for a while yet.
So, the retirement question. You must have heard that a few times leading up to last week's announcement?I’ve been hearing it for the last 5 years! Ha-ha! It doesn’t bother me really, it was always going to be my decision and on my terms so it’s almost funny when people kept saying, “Will it be this year?"
With a space possibly popping up on the Syndicate team in 2017, who would you like to see step into your shoes?We have such a good crew on the Syndicate, it's hard to picture who could fit in. I have a few in mind, but it's not all my decision at the end of the day.
What are your plans to get the 30-points you need to race World Cups next year?Go points chasing of course, that or bribe the UCI like Lance would have!
2015 must have been a hard year for you, watching the sport you love from the sidelines. Having some time away from competition, did it give you some perspective and if so, what did you think about?I mainly thought about my injury and focused on trying to get back on the bike, but it was a really tough one for me as I kept getting setbacks with hamstring tears. I have never had an injury take so long to get sorted, but watching from the sidelines only confirmed how cool my sport is and it was awesome being able to be a fan for a change, and check it out from a different angle. That said, I was always itching to be back on the bike though.
Can you tell us about this Sheffield 'walk of fame'?The walk of fame is right outside the town hall in Sheffield's city centre and it was a huge honour to be recognized by the people of Sheffield and join some of the greats that are already there. Loads of Sheffield legends in one place.
With all the great things you’ve done and achieved for mountain biking in the UK, lots of people have mentioned your name with regards to a being recognized for an MBE for example. Would you like to be Sir Steve Peat? Ha, I guess that is one title you can’t go out and compete for. To be honest, it's not something that I've thought about at all and I’m happy with what I’ve achieved, and the people that I've helped through mountain biking. I feel like I’ve had plenty or recognition for this already to be honest.
What do you think of British Cycling and the way they have been supporting downhill in recent years? I feel quite strongly about the lack of support we get from British Cycling. We get a few paid-for flights and hotel rooms at world championships for example, but that does not do any justice to the medals and the championships that downhill racers have won for the UK.
They have also just withdrawn money from the national series (BDS) so we can’t gain any UCI points at national races now as well, and considering how strong a nation the UK is for DH racing, this is only going to backfire massively. What’s the point in any of our world-class guys and girls racing at a national event now? They need more points than ever to be at a World Cup, but they can’t get any in their own country. It's just crazy.
Does it ever cross your mind that you inspired a generation of riders to not only race downhill, but also become engrossed in MTB as a whole? It’s not something that I am conscious of really. I just go out and ride my bike and have fun, it’s as simple as that and I just try to pass this on to other people. I really enjoy what I do and I'm glad people can see that.
Where do you see things going with regards to the internet, social media and self-promotion for professional athletes?In my eyes, this isn't changing and it's always been this way. When I used to work with MBUK and the rest of the UK mags, I always had the results to back up the press I was getting and I always saw the videos, magazine shoots and self-promotion as a part of getting my sponsors and also keeping them happy. I do agree that social media has changed things a fair bit of late, but it's the same principles and a combination of all the above.
Do you think DH racers get paid inappropriately for what they do for their sponsors? What would you like to see change for professional riders in the future? Yes, in a one-word answer. When you look at the effort and skill-set that a DH racer has compared to many other sports where athletes get well paid, it is certainly annoying. I don’t know how this can change drastically to the level it needs to be at, but hopefully the sport will keep growing and the guys will start getting paid appropriately.
Post 2016 World Cup season, will you continue to work with Santa Cruz and what, if any plans have you got for 2017?Yes, I will continue to work with Santa Cruz and I’m really looking forward to being a fan on the sidelines at the World Cups.
So, Vallnord, 2016 and the World Cup finals. Are we going to see the party to end all World Cup parties?Let's get planning!
Cheers Steve!Cheers!
Not applicable to me but this is utterly shocking if true. .
I understand amateur roadies are like golfers, they spend tons of $$. However, I am tired of UCI/USA Cycling, British Cycling, etc. stealing money from gravity and BMX sports. I don't buy the BS the new UCI director says about road supporting MTB. If that is the case, WHY are they taking what little funds away from non-XC MTB/BMX disciplines? They should have just plenty from road $$ to support any Olympic efforts they need.
The dream is there....
Here is your answer why..
Bottom line is that BC see the BDS as a private business and have therefore took the stance to start withdrawing funding the BDS. Why should there members subsidise a series that is a commercial entity is their main question.
This has lead to BC looking into who scores the points at BDS UCi events (top 10 or 15 depending on the level of UCi event), (with the new UCi policy being 30 points to enter a World Cup), that those that do score the points already have a wealth of them and are not fighting to scrape 30 points together. There are only two riders that would have benefited this year but they still would have scored very low UCi points at the BDS (For example 10th place scores 1 point at a UCi cat 2 event).
The BDS Team will still put on high level national events on in 2016 with increased services for the riders, spectators and global fans.
To put on a UCi event is costly and possibly only benefits a couple of riders in a small way. It of course impacts UCi Elite Teams as it means they would no longer be entitled to a free entry. Plus does not help with the development of BC Commissaires coming up through the ranks.
UCi events cost:
£1k registration fee
£2-3k additinal prize money
£1k in UCi elite team entries (they get free entries to UCi events so an organiser looses revenue from paying customers)
£2k in commissaire fees (need several of them and you have to pay mileage, hotels, food etc).
Plus a few more hoops to jump through so in total add £7k to the cost to put an event on to have it on the UCi calendar. Therefore you could even suggest that it would be way more economical to gift a few riders an Easy Jet package holiday to the Sri Lankan National Championships next year to gain those needed UCi points.
Bottom line is that BC see the BDS as a private business and have therefore took the stance to start withdrawing funding the BDS. Why should there members subsidise a series that is a commercial entity is their main question.
This has lead to BC looking into who scores the points at BDS UCi events (top 10 or 15 depending on the level of UCi event), (with the new UCi policy being 30 points to enter a World Cup), that those that do score the points already have a wealth of them and are not fighting to scrape 30 points together. There are only two riders that would have benefited this year but they still would have scored very low UCi points at the BDS (For example 10th place scores 1 point at a UCi cat 2 event).
The BDS Team will still put on high level national events on in 2016 with increased services for the riders, spectators and global fans.
To put on a UCi event is costly and possibly only benefits a couple of riders in a small way. It of course impacts UCi Elite Teams as it means they would no longer be entitled to a free entry. Plus does not help with the development of BC Commissaires coming up through the ranks.
UCi events cost:
£1k registration fee
£2-3k additinal prize money
£1k in UCi elite team entries (they get free entries to UCi events so an organiser looses revenue from paying customers)
£2k in commissaire fees (need several of them and you have to pay mileage, hotels, food etc).
Plus a few more hoops to jump through so in total add £7k to the cost to put an event on to have it on the UCi calendar. Therefore you could even suggest that it would be way more economical to gift a few riders an Easy Jet package holiday to the Sri Lankan National Championships next year to gain those needed UCi points.
If we take on a national event sanctioned by the UCI we can end up severely out of pocket or out of business should something come up like a fire ban. We can end up in a situation where we still have to pay all the costs of running the event but get no race fees.
For many clubs / race series organizers this simply isnt a risk that is worth taking.
Just ask any of the major brands about what sells more bikes it gets more people riding, someone winning the tdf or someone being a legendary, heavy drinking and partying rider that wins a load of races.
I like Steve Peat, he's a riding God, and I've wanted a GT LTS DH since I saw him on one on the MBUK team. Still do, but to suggest he's inspired more riders than wiggo is ludicrous.
Sir Steve Peat
Time the UK got a National Mountain Biking organisation, to look after MTB interests, not as some after thought add on to some Track & Road centric organisation. Perhaps Peaty could be the President ????
Both legends all the same :-)
boom, headshot
One word: Legend!!!!
And I don't have my fingers on the pulse of the industry by any means, but I think Trek gave up on the 29er DH platform sometime ago. Anyhoo........
(mike drop)
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