Colombians in the Amgen Tour of California?

[avanti]

See http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-rules-could-put-colombians-in-amgen-tour-of-california

Another last minute change to rules - is the UCI trying to drive away race promoters and sponsers. Rules like this should be announced no later than September of the preceding year.

That being said athletes from countries south of the USA usually get good receptions in California events.

 

[jaylew]

I think that would be awesome, especially since they've finally added a true mountaintop finish.

 

[ingsve]

Perhaps they TOC will some to their senses and invite more than 14-16 teams then.

 

[hrotha]

I don't think it's a good idea to force organizers to invite teams they wouldn't want, but the ToC can only get better with these Colombian teams.

(Wait, are there enough climbs for them?)

 

[Escarabajo]

Henao in the TOC? We can really see his true potential.

 

[Eric8-A]

I think this will be a good idea. I see the Columbians doing better in the ToC than the American continental teams

 

[Ryaguas]

ohhhh now this is going to spice up the ToC...!

prepare for the "NonStopAttacking" colombian style... will be really funny to see the european climbers being dropped big time by the colombians... cant wait to see that hahahaha

in other topic... mmmm UCI shouldnt be forcing organizers to invite teams that arent in their programs... but this desicion is going to give more spectacle and will open the field a lot...

 

[La Pandera]

I don't think it's a good idea to force organizers to invite teams they wouldn't want, but the ToC can only get better with these Colombian teams.

(Wait, are there enough climbs for them?)

Teams should be rewarded for their successes by being able to participate in the premier events and ToC is a big event in the Americas. I just hope this doesn't turn into a big controversy and the Colombians end up not riding to pacify those that are in opposition. Very timely announcement considering the ToC was preparing to announce their list of teams.

 

[craig1985]

Crap decision for mine. Not that I have anything against the Colombians riding the ATOC, I'm sure they will make the racing very entertaining (especially up Mt Baldy), but as hrotha said, this rule should of been made during the 2010 season, for the 2011 season, not just before the organiser is about to list their invites. At the end of the day it's Messick's race and he should invite whoever he likes.

 

[DAOTEC]

UCI Americá Tour shake-up

That means Hospital for me ASAP when the starter-list for ATOC will be published with all them goodies ....

 

[luckyboy]

If this happens I may watch this for the first time ever.

Colombia es Pasion in the Vuelta would also be great. Pleease.

 

[jens_attacks]

sevilla,henao in this race?it will be so cool,the colombians team will spoil the party.

 

[DAOTEC]

90210

sevilla,henao in this race?it will be so cool,the colombians team will spoil the party.

Can you even imagine what will happen to me going there jens my dear.

 

[**Uru**]

I think this decision by the UCI could cause all the big US races to fold. Seems to me that part of the focus of these races is to promote and reward North American cycling, especially US cycling. Forcing them to invite 3 teams I doubt were in their plans is is just wrong no matter when they give the edict. Do the Columbian teams even compete on the US circuit? This is almost like the NFL insisting that the best Arena Football teams compete in the NFL play offs.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I think the UCI's idea is very good - unfortunately, the fact that the very different South American and North American cycling scenes are lumped together makes it problematic. It's about time they came up with an invites plan that rewards the teams that build from the ground up and do well in the smaller events rather than throwing them all out in favour of a big money pseudo-national team at season's end.

Anyway, what's to say that, if invited, these teams would take up the opportunity? May hosts the Vuelta a Antioquia in Colombia, which is quite a big race, and also the home race for the Orgullo Paísa team (Indeportes Antioquia).

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I think this will be a good idea. I see the Columbians doing better in the ToC than the American continental teams

this x2

.....

 

[flicker]

Definitley a wonderful thing to see Colombian athletes here. I would like to see other Latin Americans competing here also. They are so much a part of our North American culture, they deserve to be part of the competiton.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Definitley a wonderful thing to see Colombian athletes here. I would like to see other Latin Americans competing here also. They are so much a part of our North American culture, they deserve to be part of the competiton.

yes what has surprised me for many years is how so many mexicans live in the usa and especially in the south yet so few mexican teams get invited for american races. around 3 or 4 years ago some mexican teams like tecos, american beef and canels turbo where invited to ride some american races and they won them all. tecos rode vuelta bisbee in 2008 and filled the complete final podium and few days later won the final gc in tour of the gila also. I suppose the american organisers didn;t like it that much how the american cyclist got exposed majorly in the mountains.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

to give you an idea of how bad it was. here was the prologue, which was a mountan climb for vuelta bisbee 2008

1 158 LADINO VEGA, Gregorio MX Tecos 0h 09' 36'' 0 0
2 119 LOPEZ, Carlos MX P&S-Specialized @ 0h 00' 15'' 0 0
3 155 MUNOZ, Fausto M E MX Tecos @ 0h 00' 31'' 0 0
4 157 TEPOZ, Bernardo C MX Tecos @ 0h 00' 35'' 0 0
5 152 OYARZUN, Carlos I O MX Tecos @ 0h 00' 39'' 0 0 (now with movistar!!)
5 156 NAVARRO, Francisco M MX Tecos @ 0h 00' 39'' 0 0
7 146 REIJNEN, Kiel AZ Team WM @ 0h 00' 45'' 0 0
8 150 COLUNGA, Luis G MX Tecos @ 0h 00' 55'' 0 0
9 151 DIAZ, Omar C MX Tecos @ 0h 00' 55'' 0 0
10 14 135 LIVINGSTON, Adam CA Team 5 Star WV @ 0h 00' 57'' 0 0

every bolded name above was a latin american rider racing for a mexican team and in this case apart from ladino and oyarzun all mexicans.

perhaps mexican fans in the usa would like to see more.

 

[flicker]

to give you an idea of how bad it was. here was the prologue, which was a mountan climb for vuelta bisbee 2008

1 158 LADINO VEGA, Gregorio MX Tecos 0h 09' 36'' 0 0
2 119 LOPEZ, Carlos MX P&S-Specialized @ 0h 00' 15'' 0 0
3 155 MUNOZ, Fausto M E MX Tecos @ 0h 00' 31'' 0 0
4 157 TEPOZ, Bernardo C MX Tecos @ 0h 00' 35'' 0 0
5 152 OYARZUN, Carlos I O MX Tecos @ 0h 00' 39'' 0 0 (now with movistar!!)
5 156 NAVARRO, Francisco M MX Tecos @ 0h 00' 39'' 0 0
7 146 REIJNEN, Kiel AZ Team WM @ 0h 00' 45'' 0 0
8 150 COLUNGA, Luis G MX Tecos @ 0h 00' 55'' 0 0
9 151 DIAZ, Omar C MX Tecos @ 0h 00' 55'' 0 0
10 14 135 LIVINGSTON, Adam CA Team 5 Star WV @ 0h 00' 57'' 0 0

every bolded name above was a latin american rider racing for a mexican team and in this case apart from ladino and oyarzun all mexicans.

perhaps mexican fans in the usa would like to see more.

Totally great to see Mexican teams racing in the US,=== more fan base for the sport. I do not follow the Mexican and Latin American races but in the fotos the guys look darned fit and professional.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

yes it's very professional although the loss of tecos was hard. there are many pro riders in mexico and pro teams.

 

[Eric8-A]

I've also wanted to follow South American cycling. I think the fact that they don't get too much exposure is what most appeals to me, also the fact that my parents are Mexican.

If this does happen, I wanna see EPM UNE ride the ToC

 

[Sum_of_Marc]

It seems a bit flawed though. The South American races come first, so the South American teams get the rankings points, and so the North American races are obliged to invite them - before the North American teams have even had a chance to score points themselves.

 

[royalpig180]

I think this decision by the UCI could cause all the big US races to fold. Seems to me that part of the focus of these races is to promote and reward North American cycling, especially US cycling. Forcing them to invite 3 teams I doubt were in their plans is is just wrong no matter when they give the edict. Do the Columbian teams even compete on the US circuit? This is almost like the NFL insisting that the best Arena Football teams compete in the NFL play offs.

I see what you're saying and it definitely could cause some smaller races to fold. As far as the ATOC, I just think this solidifies the fact that it will seek to become part of the world tour in the next 1-2 years. Then some ProTeams that want in won't be forced to miss it (and though maybe they don't all want to, you know that some teams that request a spot won't be able to get one). Also, they wouldn't be subject to this rule and would be able to invite the teams they wanted, though it would force more American teams to go proconti.

 

[craig1985]

Why should Messick be forced to invite teams? It's his race and invite whoever the **** he likes.