British Cycling is 'not blind' to Shell criticism, says performance director
Stephen Park, British Cycling's performance director, says it "has been a difficult four years" for finding sponsors
British Cycling performance director Stephen Park has said the governing body is “not blind” to criticism surrounding its eight-year partnership with oil and gas company Shell.
Speaking to Cycling Weekly at the UCI Track World Championships last week, Park said: “We recognise the sensitivities of working with a company like Shell.
“Our commercial team are very conscious of that. I’m sure the board were very conscious of that as well."
The partnership, announced earlier this month, sees the energy company sponsor British Cycling in its efforts to reach net zero and to get more people with disabilities into the sport.
The Great Britain Cycling Team sported the company's logo on their jerseys at last week's Track World Championships.
“We need to have commercial partners to help support what we do,” Park said. “It’s been difficult over the past four years or so, and Covid has not helped.”
In 2020, HSBC UK announced it would end its eight-year partnership with British Cycling, exercising a break clause in their agreement and citing a shift in marketing priorities. According to Park, the organisation is still searching for a replacement headline sponsor.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“Running a programme of the size and scale and scope that we do within the Great Britain Cycling Team, where we’re trying to deliver medals across all of those Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, is not cheap,” Park said.
For the Paris 2024 cycle, the Great Britain Cycling Team received over £35 million in funding from UK Sport and the National Lottery, nearly £10 million more than it did for the games in Tokyo.
Park was eager to add that the Shell deal is "not all about the money" for British Cycling.
"Our riders and staff are actually really passionate about the environment, about sustainability, about our journey to net zero,” he said. “Shell provide us with an opportunity of doing that.”
Asked if he was surprised by the public backlash to the partnership, Park replied "no".
“I think you’d be naïve to expect it to be different,” he explained. “Of course there was an expectation that there would be sections of the population who fundamentally have an issue with lots of other partners we have, and indeed within the sport of cycling, and how they’re operating around the world.
“British Cycling is not blind to what some sections of the public perception is about what Shell do and how they do it.”
Last year, a Dutch court ordered Shell to reduce its carbon emissions by 45% by the end of 2030. It is estimated that the oil and gas giant's activities are responsible for around 1% of global emissions each year.
In a statement shared last week, Greenpeace’s UK policy director Dr Doug Parr called Shell’s partnership with British Cycling “brazen greenwash”.
“The idea of Shell helping British Cycling reach net zero is as absurd as beef farmers advising lettuce farmers on how to go vegan," the Greenpeace director added.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is the host of The TT Podcast, which covers both the men's and women's pelotons and has featured a number of prominent British riders.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides.
He's also fluent in French and Spanish and holds a master's degree in International Journalism.
-
'I used to be a bricklayer - I took a pay cut to become a cyclist': Brian Holm on his time in the peloton
The former Danish pro and well known sports director tells Cycling Weekly about his early days in cycling, including when he proved his school teachers wrong
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Arnaud De Lie diagnosed with Lyme disease after pulling out of Spring Classics
Antibodies for disease found in Belgian rider’s blood
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Laura Kenny, Britain’s most successful female Olympian, announces retirement
Kenny won five Olympic and seven world titles during her illustrious career on the track
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Former Ineos Grenadiers boss Rod Ellingworth becomes race director of Tour of Britain
"I feel a real responsibility to get this right," says Ellingworth about new role
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We'll have rounder wheels than everyone else' - Team GB confident in new Olympics tech
Updated Hope-Lotus bike won't feature until Paris, confirms performance director Stephen Park
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Jody Cundy Q&A: 'Strictly Come Dancing made me a stronger cyclist'
The Paralympic legend tells Cycling Weekly about almost retiring in 2012, the time he borrowed a Porsche, and how dancing can make us all better cyclists
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘It’s a performance thing’ - why riders are eating Calippos and Greggs steak bakes to fuel gold medals
Forget expensive gels, the best race nutrition comes from corner shops
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Emily Bridges says British Cycling 'violated' her human rights over trans participation rule change
National federation blocked transgender riders from competing in its female event category last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Local authority collaboration key to reinvigorating domestic racing, British Cycling task force says
Ed Clancy, task force chair, says 16 recommendations are ‘realistic and attainable’
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Extinction Rebellion protest Shell deal at British Cycling AGM
Group promises more action against governing body’s controversial Shell sponsorship
By Tom Davidson Published