FanPost

German six day races: some leaving, some returning (and schedule)

Six day racing in germany has been hit hard by anti-doping sentiment (transfered, somewhat ironically, from the road racing world, despite the even longer history of substance use in track racing itself, which is consistently and conveniently ignored). Well, really, it's not the moral issues, it's the related--and/or unrelated--drop in six day attendance at some of the major events. Thus, goodbye for this season, and forever, to Munich and Dortmund, as reported about a year ago.

However, there's also a push to bring back six day racing at some of the abandoned sites (Hanover and Köln, next season and the one after, respectively). Places where the old is new again, and the local population may welcome the chance to "stand up" for the heady mix of cycling, so-bad-its-good disco glam, hokey-folky nostalgia acts and derney fumes. Köln, in particular, seems like a place where any excuse for a party can bring a colorful crowd, and where the last 6 day was run....looks like ~1997-98 season. Sounds great (hope it'll happen). Will this be a larger track or a smaller temporary like Herne (in a tent, hope there's no windstorm!)? Anyone know more?

On the sport side of the spectacle, the doping controllers are showing up early, and making their presence seen, and known--either they're fans, and want to watch the racing, or they're making a not-so-subtle point to both the riders and the fans. (And then the fans can get thoroughly smashed with the comforting conviction that the riders, at least, are tolerably/passingly clean. Or maybe when the disco ball lights up, nobody cares.)

So, discuss--will these new ventures launch? Will they succeed? It's a relatively cheap ticket for a very long show, which has got to be a selling point in tough economic times. Will a new generation of indoor cycling fans help to re-launch a taste for road racing in Germany? Do you feel the same way about doping in six day racing as you do for road racing? Will the IOC be proved wrong in cutting track races?

Links to upcoming races: Bremen Jan 13-18 , Berlin, 27 Jan-Feb 1 (no link for Herne). Calendar here.

If anyone has better links for dates / broadcast info for other six day races this season, (Peter) Post 'em!