Less than two thousand participants on the “Garden Ring”! They say attitudes towards cyclists are changing

On Sunday May 21, the Spring Cycling Festival will take place in the capital, it will take place along the Garden Ring. Participation in the bike ride is free, you just need to pre-register. At noon, a festival city will open on Akademika Sakharov Avenue, where competitions will be held, food courts and stalls of festival partners will operate. And the bike ride itself starts at 13:00 (Moscow time).

How this important story for cycling develops, we spoke with CyclingRace.ru project manager Danila Gribanov.

— The event will become more open this year, even more convivial for everyone. This year we have added a group for beginners! Thus, participants will compete with people who are closest to them in terms of strength. It is important to see the benchmark and to understand that we can progress, believes Gribanov. – Also this year the number of participants in the category “Cycling” increased – more cyclists came. And that’s in addition to the athletes we’re still waiting for.

– How many participants were there in the first “Garden” of its new edition?

– About 800 people started at the first relaunch, now there are two and a half times more.

– How do you explain this: people are more attracted to cycling, the triathlon brings in people… What are the main reasons?

– Many reasons. In general, sport is developing, attitudes towards sport are changing and interest in major events is growing. All of these things are interconnected.

– And a major event in the center of Moscow with road closures is certainly not an easy task.

— It’s a very difficult task, a whole team is working. There are many nuances at every stage of road approval, even the development of the starting camp.

Do you feel the hatred of people who curse you for blocking the roads? Or have people become more tolerant?

— It seems to me that there will always be dissatisfaction with any road closure. It doesn’t matter what sport it is for.

But in general, in recent years, the image of the cyclist has become more positive and people have started to respond better to him. They used to say: why all this, only a hundred people ride. But now there are two thousand at the start, and when people see the finish of the race, they are interested. Of course, not everyone will want to become a racer, but maybe someone will have an interest and just want to ride a bike for their own enjoyment.

– Is there competition between you and other sports in organizing such important amateur competitions?

– Do not think. But the organizers of cycle races are trying to compete with each other from a positive point of view, we offer a greater number of new activities, eliminating some shortcomings. In general, we try to develop in this direction.

– There are snobs like me who will say that amateur sport in Europe is on another level. That they pass some of the coolest multi-day events and generally there is more fun, there are more attendees.

— I think if our race were to precede an important cycling event, although it is such an event in itself, it would certainly be very cool. For example, before the “Tour of Russia”. But, unfortunately, we have big races which are usually very rare. There is, of course, something to work on. This year we plan to organize a multi-day event from Moscow to St. Petersburg, the two regions have agreed. There, on the first day, we plan to organize a race in a format similar to the Garden Ring. I think if everything goes well, and we do our best for it, snobs like you will change their minds (laughs).

There remain two most important questions. The romance and atmosphere of city racing is complicated – you can’t grill a barbecue on the side of the road, as happens on the Grand Tours. And here we are not talking about the “gingerbread” center of the old town, but about the course of the metropolis. What is the thrill?

— In the atmosphere and the festive atmosphere. About the barbecue – I think this story is already in the past.

– Alright, let’s replace barbecue with barbecue or grill in the sentence.

— (laughs) We have food trucks, but there is more demand for healthy foods. Again, the main thing is the mood, the mood. During the awards ceremony, everyone will already eat, communicate, share emotions.

We have arrived at the main. Should beer be served to riders on the side of the road like in Alpe d’Huez?

— Yes, beer in cycling, especially in Europe, is a popular story. By the way, we also had beer companies as sponsors. Then we had a non-alcoholic tasting!

How did you get into this group yourself?

– I saw a man on the street on a bicycle with very narrow thin wheels. I have never seen such bikes before. Become interesting. Found information, bought a bike. And so on. He was very young!

What was your first race?

– I went in 2014 on the Krylatskoye cycle path. As an amateur, of course. But that doesn’t negate regular training. Then I was invited as a sports expert to work on a series of “Sputnik” criteria, I started to participate as an organizer.

– Did you start the Garden Ring yourself?

“I was just going to do it, but then I was just hired to organize the race. The following year, the pandemic began. So I haven’t passed yet: the event is responsible, employment is high, it is impossible to drive alone. But I’m taking part in the Winged Hills race!