Britain still doesn't understand road racing...

[Dalakhani]

A few hours after Cavendish's win on Sunday, the Guardian had a drool-piece where their cycling correspondent wrote:

"nothing, not even a yellow jersey in Paris, stands higher among cycling's achievements"

Oh, dear.

Steve

 

[simo1733]

A few hours after Cavendish's win on Sunday, the Guardian had a drool-piece where their cycling correspondent wrote:



Oh, dear.

Steve

Oh dear never mind.I noticed on the BBC web site that Cavs win was only 4th on the sports stories.Behind ,Tiger getting a new caddy,and Van Persie is not discussing a new contract with Arsenal.
WTF

 

[Moondance]

Well, I will forgive Britain one dumb journalist. If we are truly going to measure the know-how of a nation based on the intelligence of it's journalists... Well, we'd all still be cavemen.

 

[will10]

The media are the most knowledgeable authorities on sport aren't they.

not.

 

[hatcher]

I fail to turn up to one meeting of the British people and look what happens.

To be fair to the writer, I imagine the point he misunderstood was that the rainbow jersey is arguably more venerated than the yellow jersey, not that the winning of it is more important.

 

[spalco]

That's stupid, but better they hype it up unnecessarily than ignore it I guess.

 

[Kvinto]

it's of course a nonsense to say this but I also find it a bit natural when you're exaggerating your domestic rider's achievements, it's an example of why a fan can't be unbiassed

 

[Anonymous]

Dont see a problem with that line, yes, to a lot of cycling fans the yellow jersey is more important, but wearing the world stripes all year is also pretty important.

And as he was just trying to up cavs victory a bit and make it sound glorious, dont see a problem. certainly not one worth starting a thread over.

 

[ParfaitAmour]

A few hours after Cavendish's win on Sunday, the Guardian had a drool-piece where their cycling correspondent wrote:



Oh, dear.

Steve

I saw that & groaned !

But as others here have said, a piece such as this will be aimed at new, or non-fans, so I guess it's placed in the context of the yellow jersey as a frame of reference.

Although I don't understand why anyone would only watch the TdF, or Wimbledon...why not the other fixtures in the same sport ?

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

Its a metaphor to highlight to the uneducated masses in Britain who read about cycling a couple of times a year just how important the rainbow jersey is in world cycling terms. Its not literally true but it does convey the significance of winning the world championship.

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

Another gem from a different paper; "Yet for cycling nuts there is no great distinction between Cavendish’s achievement (green jersey) and that of Cadel Evans, the overall winner" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ot...reat-Britains-greatest-current-sportsman.html

As a cycling fan it's great that the sport is getting more and more exposure, but some of what you read in the mainstream media ...

 

[just some guy]

Another gem from a different paper; "Yet for cycling nuts there is no great distinction between Cavendish’s achievement and that of Cadel Evans, the overall winner" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ot...reat-Britains-greatest-current-sportsman.html

As a cycling fan it's great that the sport is getting more and more exposure, but some of what you read in the mainstream media ...

Which includes a lot of Cycling Journalists - here is looking at you SBS Australia.

I really think the thread should be renamed Journalists who write on the sport of cycling in general do not understand road cycling, especially from the Anglo world.

 

[hrotha]

Personally I'd rather win the WC than the Tour.

 

[El Pistolero]

Personally I'd rather win the WC than the Tour.

Me too when looking at the palmares of both races

 

[hrotha]

Me too when looking at the palmares of both races

Screw the palmares, I just want to wear that fancy rainbow jersey without random schmucks judging me on the road!

 

[El Pistolero]

Screw the palmares, I just want to wear that fancy rainbow jersey without random schmucks judging me on the road!

I get judged on the road by random schmucks wearing a rainbow jersey

You'd be surprised at how many rainbow jerseys you see up the roads in Belgium

 

[Bavarianrider]

Well i don't think this is a particular cycling related thing.
Britains are simply the most chauvinist country out there in general.
Really there's no other country were self perception and reality differs as much then among the British.
They still think this is the 19th century or something.

 

[hrotha]

I get judged on the road by random schmucks wearing a rainbow jersey

You'd be surprised at how many rainbow jerseys you see up the roads in Belgium

But, that being Belgium, are we sure all those people aren't in fact former world champions?

 

[hatcher]

Well i don't think this is a particular cycling related thing.
Britains are simply the most chauvinist country out there in general.
Really there's no other country were self perception and reality differs as much then among the British.
They still think this is the 19th century or something.

Good stuff, Bavarianrider.

 

[Winterfold]

(warning post may contain irony)

Bavarianrider was quick to celebrate Tony Martin and Mark Cavendish's sporting achievements

 

[Benotti69]

Well i don't think this is a particular cycling related thing.
Britains are simply the most chauvinist country out there in general.
Really there's no other country were self perception and reality differs as much then among the British.
They still think this is the 19th century or something.

Unlike the Italians who still think that the Roman Empire brought civilisation to the world, but that is disputed by the Greeks, never mind the Ottoman empire oh and dont forget it was the Spanish who discovered the new world etc etc

Let's not label nations as we can all find stereotypes that are not flattering even in greater Bavaria

 

[El Pistolero]

Unlike the Italians who still think that the Roman Empire brought civilisation to the world, but that is disputed by the Greeks, never mind the Ottoman empire oh and dont forget it was the Spanish who discovered the new world etc etc

Let's not label nations as we can all find stereotypes that are not flattering even in greater Bavaria

The (Byzantine) Greeks saw them self as Romans actually. The Ottoman sultans saw them self as the natural successors of the Roman emperors and used the title Caesar in their name.

Besides Great Britain got nothing on France

Italy doesn't count, they're HC with Il Cavaliere. Don't think a single person can get more chauvinistic then that.

 

[Dalakhani]

I admit, I'm struggling with the "it's not true, but..." comments.

Surely the job of a journalist - even a flag-waving one - is to put things in the proper context.

There's an NFL match in London in a few weeks time. Should the UK papers say that winning that match is more important than winning the Superbowl?

Steve

 

[Midnightfright]

Well i don't think this is a particular cycling related thing.
Britains are simply the most chauvinist country out there in general.
Really there's no other country were self perception and reality differs as much then among the British.
They still think this is the 19th century or something.

I think its hard to comment on a nations self perception until you have lived there and spent a great deal of time amongst its people and tbh I you did spend a great deal of time ( in guessing you haven't) you would probably be surprised at what the British people perceive themselves and there nation as. I myself have been living in the UK for 8 years now but am Irish born and I would say if anything Irish self perception differs more from reality ( obviously I'm generalzing) and these are the only 2 nations I've spent length of time so can comment on with any confidence. Altough I'm not entirely sure why I typed my spiel as its fairly obvious your baiting ppl.

 

[hatcher]

I admit, I'm struggling with the "it's not true, but..." comments.

Surely the job of a journalist - even a flag-waving one - is to put things in the proper context.

There's an NFL match in London in a few weeks time. Should the UK papers say that winning that match is more important than winning the Superbowl?

Steve

And a regular season NFL game is hardly comparable to the World Championships.