New Black Cyclones: Racism, Representation and Revolutions of Power in Cycling

by Marlon Lee Moncrieffe

Overview

Ex-international cyclist Marlon Lee Moncrieffe examines how the cycling industry is tackling racism within the sport today. By interviewing key players in the professional cycling business he examines the present and future of cycling in light of the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020.

He plans to gather evidence and interviews from across the cycling spectrum, including British Cycling, and professional bodies in the US, Europe and the African continent. The book will heavily feature the voices of elite and professional riders, commentators, grassroots riders and activists.

The book asks the question - what transformations, if any, towards race equity and equality in ethnic representation are we witnessing in the world of cycling - and particularly at the highest levels of the sport. What has been the force of the new Black Cyclones (Black cyclists) in disrupting the white narrative norms of power in the sport - for challenging the status quo?

Each chapter takes a different recent pivotal event that highlighted racial issues in cycling - and examines how it changes our understanding of Black cyclists within the industry, and asks what has changed since?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399405560
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	02/18/2025
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.35(w) x 9.55(h) x 0.85(d)

About the Author

Dr Marlon Lee Moncrieffe is a former international bike racer - national, European and World Championships medal winner in track sprint cycling. He currently works at the School of Education, University of Brighton. His debut sports book, Desire, Discrimination, Determination - Black Champions in Cycling was longlisted for the 2021 William Hill Sports Book of the Year.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. How far can the bicycle take you?

2. Jesus Christ of the Black cycling community

3. Black squares In white circles

4. When Tao took the knee

5. 'Go back to your own country!'

6. The Biniam BOOM

7. Representing the entire human race of Black women

8. Visiting Velokhaya

9. (Dis)graced in the red, white, and blue

10. European illusions in African dreams

11. 'They'll be crowning white kings and white queens of world cycling – in Africa!'

12. Internationale Vélo Force (VIF 2020)

13. The Diasporic Turn

14. New Black Cyclones

15. One Love

Acknowledgements

References

Index

About the author

Editorial Reviews

Revolutionary ” —Sir Bradley Wiggins, British Tour de France champion

“[Moncrieffe] explains why the sport has been historically inaccessible to many Black people, suggests practical solutions, and draws on exciting new models of cycling emerging all over the world.” —The Guardian, Nesrine Malik

“Powerful ” —Rahsaan Bahati, USA cycling champion

“Imaginative and inspiring” —Ese Lovina Ukpeseraye, Nigeria's African continental cycling champion

“Cycling as never told before” —Nicholas Dlamini, South African cycling champion

“... raises some challenging questions about the ways in which we might rid cycling of its colour bar.” —Podium Cafe

From the Publisher