Getting into competitive cycling has never been cheap. Bikes and kit are just the start; for the parents of ambitious youngsters who want to travel to high-quality junior or youth races, there is also fuel, accommodation, entry fees, and time off work. It all adds up. For families supporting young riders, the financial strain can be overwhelming and many can only manage by making sacrifices. For others the costs are prohibitive - and they don't even attempt it.
The result, according to those at the grassroots, is a shrinking talent pool. Anecdotally, fewer children are racing, and from the people we speak to, cost is cited again and again as the main barrier. As another season approaches, Cycling Weekly spoke to three families in the UK to understand what youth cycle racing really costs - and what that means for the sport's future.
