WVA has waded into the debate (I didn’t know there was one) over whether to introduce ticketing at major road races. He told the Belgian newspaper De Tijd that asking fans to pay a small fee does not betray cycling’s tradition as “a sport for the people” — pointing out that cyclocross events already charge entry, and still retain a grassroots atmosphere.

Cyclocross is different, races are held in parks that make entry easy to control and manage. How are you going to do that along 200+km of Flaandrian countryside? It’s also largely supported by hardcore Dutch and Belgian fans who would go off their nut if the charges were extortionate – as will happen in road cycling if this policy was introduced.

Van Aert argues that cycling remains financially fragile under the current model, which depends almost entirely on outside sponsors. He believes the sport could benefit from more diversified revenues — such as modest spectator fees, TV-rights revenues, and structured hospitality — reducing teams’ exposure when a sponsor withdraws.

Yes, protect the riders from shady sponsors but don’t put it on the back of spectators. Put that on the pro riders union and the UCI. VIP areas at major races already exist where the wealthier ‘fans’ sit about eating prawn sandwiches and supping overpriced booze, and they can have it – who wants to see Paris-Roubaix from under a tent on a big screen anyway? If this happens – pricing for spectators – imagine what Dutch Corner on Alpe d’Huez will be like? It will be full of daytrippers, ticket scalps and bouncers on entry points, with many fans priced out.

_{What price a ticket for P-R?}

Greed will set in, it won’t be five euro for a spot all over the route – the best spots will be much more expensive, and our troubled yet wonderful sport will be just like all other sporting venues, where the quality of view and comfort depends on your wallet. Scalpers will be at the front of the queue buying tickets en masse, ready to take advantage of desperate fans.

WVA’s remarks come as voices across the peloton and organisers debate the issue. While some former pros turned organisers — like Filippo Pozzato and Jérôme Pineau — have supported ‘paid-access’ models as necessary modernization, others remain opposed. The new head of AIOCC, Javier Guillén, recently dismissed ticket-ing for road races, saying “cycling takes place on open roads … we must keep it accessible.”

Javier is right. One of the most amazing things about cycling is the accessibility of the action, of the stars.

This is unique in professional sport.

It must be cherished and protected.

Better to look to the organisation that fleeced the sport for decades and at best dragged its heels with regards to the use of banned drugs and at worst encouraged it, to now support pro cycling better, not the fans who have stuck by it through thick and thin.