2018 Giro to start in Israel

[MatParker117]

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/giro-ditalia/giro-ditalia-route-192184

Probably means no Bahrain or UAE for political reasons, congrats to Androni on there return to the Giro.

 

[hrotha]

Very questionable move, for political and logistical reasons.

 

[BigMac]

Disgraceful.

 

[Red Rick]

I know 1 better option than Israel.

Not Israel

 

[RattaKuningas]

In my opinion it's a good idea.

 

[markjohnconley]

The zionist propoganda lobby wins again.
It's the 'Giro de ITALIA!!!!' for heaven's sake, am disgusted, love the tour but not watching it next year if this happens

 

[markjohnconley]

Hold it , just read the article, the event starts in Jerusalem, that's not within Israel's legal borders, that's not Israel

 

[spalco]

Re:

Even if the Giro restarts in the south of Italy, the caravan would face a six-hour flight from Tel Aviv. As with recent editions of the Giro d’Italia, an extra travel rest day is expected to soften the journey.

Huh? It's about 3 1/2 hours from Tel Aviv to Rome, Israel isn't next to Kazachstan.

Anyway, I don't mind the politics, but the security issue is worrying.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Re:

The zionist propoganda lobby wins again.
It's the 'Giro de ITALIA!!!!' for heaven's sake, am disgusted, love the tour but not watching it next year if this happens

Wow, what an amount of hate and nonsense in just two sentences. So sad.

 

[bassano]

I am also not fan of this kind of starts, tradicion should be more, I can understand Ireland, Belgium or Poland e.g. but Israel is worst country ever where it could start, they should think a little more about it

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Re:

Anything to make a quick buck. Can't say I'm surprised after the whole Discovery / Eurosport fiasco.

Wonder what they'll do next to further damage their brand.

 

[rghysens]

Re:

I am also not fan of this kind of starts, tradicion should be more, I can understand Ireland, Belgium or Poland e.g. but Israel is worst country ever where it could start, they should think a little more about it

Th€y probab£y hav€ had €xt€n$iv€ thought$ about it.

 

[LaFlorecita]

*** that.
Now I don't want Berto to ride the Giro.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Maybe the can start in Palestine instead.

 

[Ramon Koran]

Disgraceful, who thought this was good idea, especially now when a lot of the new teams are funded by money from the middle east? Security is another major problem, and there's the fact that it is no where near Italy ridiculous decision.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Re:

Disgraceful, who thought this was good idea, especially now when a lot of the new teams are funded by money from the middle east? Security is another major problem, and there's the fact that it is no where near Italy ridiculous decision.

RCS Sport currently seem to be all about big short-term profits, while simultaneously driving their business into the ground.

They know exactly what they're doing, IMO.

 

[Robert5091]

Ridiculous! If the Israelis want a cycle race then organize one, Italy is geographically big enough for it's own race.

 

[Simurgh]

Disappointing because of political reasons (especially if the Jerusalem stage enters occupied territory...but the organizers are not that stupid..right? ), worrying because of security reasons, strange because of logistical reasons (then again, it isn't the first the race starts far away from the origin country).

In addition, I've never been a fan of Grand Departs in foreign countries every 2nd or 3rd year, it should be less frequent. We all know they are taking place solely for profit

 

[Eshnar]

Re:

Disgraceful, who thought this was good idea, especially now when a lot of the new teams are funded by money from the middle east? Security is another major problem, and there's the fact that it is no where near Italy ridiculous decision.

I don't know, but I guess if they go for it, it is because they know those teams will roll with it. Otherwise they won't. Simple as that.
As for the distance, Israel is pretty much as far from Italy as Ireland is.

Anyway. we have a thread for Giro rumours already, and this is still a rumour...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=33267

 

[spalco]

Re: Re:

Otherwise they won't. Simple as that.

Rather, *** them if they refuse participation for racist reasons, their loss.

 

[Eshnar]

Re: Re:

Otherwise they won't. Simple as that.

Rather, **** them if they refuse participation for racist reasons, their loss.

Yeah that's not how it works I'm afraid

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Congratulations to Cycling Academy Team on their first GT wildcard.

Certainly an "interesting" selection. From a racing point of view, it has the potential to be the most interesting overseas GT start in years (tho tbh I'd have stuck to Tel Aviv, Haifa and the coast for security reasons), but from other perspectives there's a lot to be questioned. The Israelis do seem to have some increasing interest in the sport (especially among the women, interestingly) and I would be interested in seeing a home tour they organized, however I am far from convinced of the wisdom of a GT start in the current climate.

 

[spalco]

Re: Re:

Yeah that's not how it works I'm afraid

I don't think cycling depends on Bahraini money.

 

[Ramon Koran]

Re: Re:

Otherwise they won't. Simple as that.

Rather, **** them if they refuse participation for racist reasons, their loss.

It's not a race issue, it's a political issue.

 

[spalco]

Re: Re:

It's not a race issue, it's a political issue.

I disagree. Chinese athletes don't refuse to compete with Taiwanese at the Olympics or Ukrainians with Russians or Indians with Pakistanis.