The International Journal of the History of Sport

Cycling History

CALL FOR PAPERS: Special issue of The International Journal of the History of Sport on the history of cycling.

Editor: Thomas Ross Griffin (Qatar University)

Research on cycling more often than not focuses on the Tour de France, as undoubtedly the most prestigious and well-known cycling event in the world. But there exists a cycling world beyond the Tour and its iconic yellow jersey. The sport has evolved in recent decades to recognise the importance of women’s cycling, and more nationalities than ever before are represented in the most significant races of the season. Other forms of cycling such as mountain biking and cyclo-cross garnered the appreciation they deserve within the sport’s ecosystem. The end-result is an upsurge in cycling in many countries as the sport expands outwards from its traditional European base. Bolstered by the introduction of cycling-specific infrastructure, more and more ordinary people are turning towards cycling for recreational, racing and commuting purposes. However, both the longevity and growth of cycling have brought their own challenges in terms of diversity, funding, and ethics.

This special issue of the IJHS will explore the storied history of cycling. Moving beyond specific histories of the Tour de France, which abound for cycling, this special issue will consider the world beyond Le Grande Boucle. Dr. Thomas Ross Griffin invites proposals for papers with a broad focus on the history of cycling, including, but not limited to, sport history, cultural history, diplomatic history, global history, environmental history, or media history.

Potential topics include:

• The evolution of the Grand Tours and Monument Classics.
• National identity and international rivalry in road racing.
• The intersections of cycling, politics, nationalism, diplomacy, and state power.
• Histories of women’s cycling, including participation, professionalization, governance, media representation, and activism.
• Race/ethnicity, colonialism, and postcolonial perspectives of cycling history.
• Histories of cycling beyond Europe.
• The history of doping and anti-doping in cycling, including medical ethics and cultures of performance enhancement.
• The history of sports science, data analytics, nutrition, and the historical evolution of cycling performance.
• Histories of amateur cycling, including club culture, recreational riding, and other forms of grassroots participation.
• Histories of track cycling, mountain biking, Cyclocross, BMX, and para-cycling.
• Cycling and social class; urban and rural cycling cultures.
• Fans, spectatorship, media, journalism, and broadcasting in cycling history.
• Museums, archives, memory, heritage, and public history initiatives related to cycling.
• The history of bicycle technology and bike engineering.

Papers including intersectional analyses of cycling, or focusing on gender and/or sexuality, race and/or ethnicity, media, and politics are particularly welcome.