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Global Cycling Network

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Global Cycling Network
Websitewww.globalcyclingnetwork.com
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2013–present
GenreCycling
Subscribers3.18 million[1]
(September 2023)
Total views1.115 billion[1]
(September 2023)
NetworkPlay Sports Network
100,000 subscribers
1,000,000 subscribers
Last updated: 10 Jul 2022

Global Cycling Network (GCN) is a cycling-related YouTube channel which was launched in the United Kingdom in 2013. It was part of the cycling-themed multi-channel network Play Sports Network, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery through its TNT Sports unit until 2024.[2] The channel is presented by 2008 Vuelta a Extremadura winner Daniel Lloyd, Under-23 British National Mountain Biking champion Simon Richardson,[3] Oliver Bridgewood, Alex Paton, Welsh former track cyclist Manon Lloyd,[4] 2018 Irish national road racing champion Conor Dunne, and James Lowsley-Williams. It is headquartered in Bath, Somerset under its parent company. They are also correlated with Global Mountain Biking Network (GMBN), a channel who have featured riders in their short form content such as Elliot's MTB, and Global Triathlon Network (GTN).

History

On 1 January 2013, Global Cycling Network was launched by SHIFT Active Media founder Simon Wear,[5] under Google's now-defunct YouTube Original Channel Initiative, as part of its multi-channel network media strategy.[citation needed] Wear's original objective was to create a "network of quality cycling video content creators and give cycling global promotion through an official channel".[6] The YouTube channel also provides a media channel for the promotion of the parent company's client brands.[6]

In 2015, the channel was awarded Best Vlogger/Best Use of Video during the Cycling Media Awards 2015 awards night, which aims to recognise the best of UK cycling media.[7] In 2016 the parent company's multi-channel network division was spun off as Play Sports Network, and management of the channel was transferred to the new company.[8] On 18 April 2017 the channel broke the 1 million subscriber mark.[citation needed]

On 27 February 2017, Discovery Communications, the owner of Eurosport, announced the acquisition of a 20% stake in Play Sports Group, the company that owns the GCN channel.[9] In 2019, Discovery Communications acquired a controlling interest in Play Sports Group and the GCN franchise, increasing holdings to 71%.[10]

In February 2018, GCN announced the addition of time trial and duathlon world champion Emma Pooley to the team.[11] On 24 March 2019, Pooley announced that after presenting for a year she would be leaving the channel to concentrate on engineering.[12]

On 3 July 2018, GCN announced another new presenter, cycling journalist and PhD graduate Oliver Bridgewood,[13] who previously worked as a writer and video producer at Cycling Weekly.

On 26 July 2019, GCN introduced Jeremy Powers,[14] a former professional racing cyclist who has won over 90 UCI victories, four USA Cyclocross National Championships, the 2015 Pan-American UCI cyclocross championships,[15] and the most cyclocross races by any American male.[citation needed]

On 24 December 2019, GCN announced the addition of former Welsh track cyclist 2016 UEC European Track Championships team pursuit bronze medallist Manon Lloyd as a presenter.[16]

On 29 October 2020, GCN announced the addition of Alex Paton as a presenter on their GCN Tech channel.[17]

On 13 June 2024, it was announced that Warner Bros. Discovery had sold the channel back to Simon Wear.[18]

Content

Global Cycling Network's content tends to be predominantly road cycling-related, with regular sections consisting of instructional videos, including videos on bicycle riding, maintenance and tech news, how-to videos, and a weekly news bulletin, "The GCN Show". The channel also features interviews of professional cyclists and coverage of international professional cycling events, including the Tour of Beijing, Dubai Tour, and the three Grand Tour races (the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España). Occasionally, the channel also creates videos on cyclo-cross and less frequently, mountain biking (mostly covered on Global Cycling Network's sister channel, Global Mountain Bike Network).

The channel also produces a "Road Bike Party" series of videos featuring former trials rider Martyn Ashton performing stunts on road bikes. It was a continuation of Ashton's independently-created first video, Road Bike Party 1. As of April 2017, Road Bike Party 2 had received more than 15 million views.[19][20]

In 2014, British Cycling partnered with Global Cycling Network in the creation of its Racesmart campaign, which aimed to promote safe cycle racing in Great Britain.[21][22]

Presenters

Global Cycling Network

GCN en Español (Spanish-language, since 2018)

GCN en français (French-language)

GCN Italia (Italian-language, since 2019)

GCN Japan (Japanese-language, since 2019)

GCN auf Deutsch (German-language, since 2020)

Former presenters

References

  1. ^ a b "About globalcyclingnetwork". YouTube.
  2. ^ Sutton, Mark (23 April 2021). "Discovery Inc takes full ownership of Play Sports Group". Cycling Industry News. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Richardson retires on top after aggressive Tour of Britain". Cycling Weekly. London: Time Inc. UK. 20 September 2012. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  4. ^ "GB track and road racer Manon Lloyd is new presenter at Global Cycling Network (GCN)". 2 January 2020.
  5. ^ Koon (25 December 2013). "An interview with Global Cycling Network!". duckingtiger.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Shift Active Media Partner With Google To Create Global Cycling Network". triathlete-europe.competitor.com (Media Release). SHIFT Active Media. 13 December 2012. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  7. ^ "www.cyclingmediaawards.com". www.cyclingmediaawards.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Channels – Play Sports Network". playsportsnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Discovery Buys 20 Percent Stake in Digital Cycling Video Firm Play Sports Group". hollywoodreporter.com. The Hollywood Reporter. 27 February 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Play Sports Group Joins Discovery to Form Unique Global Cycling Platform". bicycleretailer.com. 8 January 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  11. ^ Thompson, Anna (9 September 2014). "Emma Pooley wins the world duathlon title at first attempt". Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  12. ^ Pooley, Emma. "Pooleyemma". Instagram. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Chris Froome & Sexual Health - The GCN Show Ep. 286". www.youtube.com/. GCN. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Cyclo-cross Legend Jeremy Powers - Meet The GCN Presenters". www.youtube.com/. GCN. 26 July 2019. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Jeremy Powers claims Pan Am Continental Cyclo-cross crown". cyclingnews.com. 1 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  16. ^ The Do's & Don'ts For Cyclists At Christmas | GCN Show Ep.363, 24 December 2019, archived from the original on 6 September 2020, retrieved 24 December 2019
  17. ^ We've Got A New GCN Tech Presenter! | GCN Tech Show Ep. 149, 29 October 2020, archived from the original on 2 November 2020, retrieved 4 January 2021
  18. ^ Adam Becket (12 June 2024). "Founder buys back GCN from Warner Bros". cyclingweekly.com. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  19. ^ Jonathan, Wells (2 July 2015). "Paralysed stunt rider Martyn Ashton is back in the saddle". The Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group Limited. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  20. ^ "10 things you didn't know about Martyn Ashton's Road Bike Party 2". bikeradar.com. Immediate Media Company Ltd. 18 December 2013. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  21. ^ "British Cycling has today launched a new awareness campaign to promote responsible racing on Britain's roads". britishcycling.org.uk (Media Release). British Cycling. 10 June 2014. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  22. ^ Brett, Mat (10 June 2014). "British Cycling release new technique video series + videos". road.cc. London: Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  23. ^ "Global Cycling Network launches Spanish channel with host Óscar Pujol". 2 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  24. ^ Broughton, Robbie (30 April 2018). "Matt Stephens Leaves GCN". ridevelo.cc. Archived from the original on 12 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  25. ^ Opie, Chris (1 August 2020). "Chris Opie, Cycling Questions Answered, Why I Left GCN". youtube.com. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
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