Colombians in the Amgen Tour of California?

[Ryo Hazuki]

cafe de colombia applied for a wildcard here but where denied. can you believe that??!! I hope uci steps in here because a pct team should always get advantage over a ct team.

 

[**Uru**]

I think the ATOC should invite who they want to invite. If they do not want Columbian continental teams, it should be their choice.

 

[Escarabajo]

I am so impressed at the Continental teams that they are planning to invite. There is no way that the Colombian Continental teams can beat those other teams.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/teams-ready-for-amgen-tour-of-california

UCI Continental: Bissel Cycling (USA), Jamis - Sutter Home (USA), Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda (USA), Kelly Benefit Strategies - Optum Health (USA), Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder (USA)

I know some of you guys believe that the Director should invite whoever they want for his race and I respect that, but I am just doing my part by showing my displeasure.

How in the world the Colombian teams are ever going to be exposed like in the 80's?? I am starting to believe that the economy is screwing us up big time. On top of that the teams have to pay for expensive doctors and clinic stuff that we can not afford.

 

[Ryaguas]

....

OMG I'll advice the Colombians to dont go the AToC!!!! They will be dropped in the first hill by those ultra overpowered teams!!! No Chance for the Colombians!

 

[kurtinsc]

I don't really care one way or another if the Columbians are invited.

But I will say that enforcing the rule as written would likely hasten the end of the TOC.

US cycling events have very short lifespans. Look to the Tour of Georgia or Tour of Missouri or any past US cycling event. When they try to move up to become international races... they end up failing in the end.

This will likely happen to California sooner or later regardless... but taking away spots from US and Pro Tour teams and replacing them with Columbian teams that even the hard core cycling fans in the US don't know or care about will speed up the decline.

It's really not a question of how good the teams are. Columbian teams likely are better then the US based teams at the same level. The question is advertising dollars and fan interest. The Columbian teams don't help in any way with that in California.

 

[Michele]

But taking up at least one colombian team (if they are interested...?) would be great to keep things smooth (if the rule is confirmed).

 

[kurtinsc]

But taking up at least one colombian team (if they are interested...?) would be great to keep things smooth (if the rule is confirmed).

The rule would require them to invite three... right?

Regardless, the more teams they have to invite that won't help bring in sponsor dollars, the worse for the race. And I don't think it's in wonderful shape financially to begin with.

The US is a big country, but people who have ever watched a single second of cycling on TV is relatively small.

Then when you subtract the people who have only watched the Tour when Lance was in it... it becomes very, very small.

Of that tiny portion remaining, the majority are focused on US domestic cycling teams or the "big time" european cycling teams. I'd say the people who know ANYTHING about South American or even non-US north American cycling is almost non-existant. I'll admit my knowledge is pretty much encompassed by riders on the Pro Cycling Manager game (that's how I know about Duarte for example).

Inviting a Columbian team essentially brings NO revenue to the event... an event in desperate need of revenue. The Columbian teams are very good, and would probably make the race more exciting. But if that takes away a team that might generate a revenue stream for the race... it's just going to hasten the inevitable end of the TOC.

 

[profff]

so , it does not matter if the race is exciting or boring , if i understand correctly.
americans will watch california only because there is team jelly bellly or kenda....
i do not think that this is the best way to make california an interesting event, nor the best way to make cycling a popular sports.
in california there are many people which are coming from south and central america : are they not potential customers too?

 

[kurtinsc]

so , it does not matter if the race is exciting or boring , if i understand correctly.
americans will watch california only because there is team jelly bellly or kenda....
i do not think that this is the best way to make california an interesting event, nor the best way to make cycling a popular sports.
in california there are many people which are coming from south and central america : are they not potential customers too?

Two things you have to look at.

First is the list of sponsors for the TOC. This is where the event gets the lions share of their revenue.

You'll notice Kenda listed. Radioshack as well. Hincapie Sportswear. Rabobank. HTC. Spidertech. Jelly-Belly Sports beans. Cannondale. Trek. United Healthcare.


Now notice the teams that have those sponsors included in their team names invited to the event? Do you wonder why Jelly Belly and Kenda have spots? There's your answer.

The TOC needs the sponsor revenue to survive.


Is an exciting race a good thing? Absolutely. But in the US it's not like there are a ton of cycling fans who are choosing between different events. For US cycling fans... the TOC is it. There is very little else.

For the TOC to increase their fan viewership (and thus increase sponsor reveues), they need to increase the overall interest in cycling... not the interest in their event in particular. That's why they support US teams (in hopes of building them up to build up US cycling) and invite pro-tour teams (to show off "top" cycling in order to try to build interest.

South American teams apparently aren't sponsoring the TOC. They aren't "big name" pro-tour squads. And they aren't part of the US domestic cycling scene. The TOC has no financial interest in helping them. And with cycling the way it is in the US... they need to try to get every dollar they can in order for the event to avoid slipping away like every other major US cycling race.

 

[Escarabajo]

Two things you have to look at.

First is the list of sponsors for the TOC. This is where the event gets the lions share of their revenue.

You'll notice Kenda listed. Radioshack as well. Hincapie Sportswear. Rabobank. HTC. Spidertech. Jelly-Belly Sports beans. Cannondale. Trek. United Healthcare.


Now notice the teams that have those sponsors included in their team names invited to the event? Do you wonder why Jelly Belly and Kenda have spots? There's your answer.

The TOC needs the sponsor revenue to survive.


Is an exciting race a good thing? Absolutely. But in the US it's not like there are a ton of cycling fans who are choosing between different events. For US cycling fans... the TOC is it. There is very little else.

For the TOC to increase their fan viewership (and thus increase sponsor reveues), they need to increase the overall interest in cycling... not the interest in their event in particular. That's why they support US teams (in hopes of building them up to build up US cycling) and invite pro-tour teams (to show off "top" cycling in order to try to build interest.

South American teams apparently aren't sponsoring the TOC. They aren't "big name" pro-tour squads. And they aren't part of the US domestic cycling scene. The TOC has no financial interest in helping them. And with cycling the way it is in the US... they need to try to get every dollar they can in order for the event to avoid slipping away like every other major US cycling race.

Can't argue with these Good points.

Sad that for the Colombian participation in big events always come down to money.

 

[**Uru**]

As commented by Joe Lindsey on Bicycling.com, the UCI requiring the ATOC to invite three Columbian teams is an example of being tone deaf. I have to say, I agree.

http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2011/02/01/is-the-uci-losing-the-sport-part-ii/

 

[Escarabajo]

As commented by Joe Lindsey on Bicycling.com, the UCI requiring the ATOC to invite three Columbian teams is an example of being tone deaf. I have to say, I agree.

http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2011/02/01/is-the-uci-losing-the-sport-part-ii/

I was reading the article and they were making good points but the lost me when they said the following:

The TOC has certainly had a broad variety of competitive ability in past events, but other than Pro Conti-registered Colombia es Pasion, can you really tell me that any of the South American teams are going to provide more entertainment – more competitive racing – than a motivated U.S. team?

OK. Show me Henao or Sevilla in one of those teams. Has this reporter ever heard of the Tour of Colombia? I take it that He (or She) does not know much about the Colombians racing.

Listen, the previous forum member made a good point so don't over do it with this extra information.

Thanks.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

completely stupid indeed.

 

[karlboss]

I can see I invisage 3 solid colombian teams turning up and ruining the race from a sponsors point of view. Much like the TDU wasn't the spectacle it was last year.

TDU last year a guy reputed to be the 2nd best sprinter in the world turns up and wins and is challenged by the world champ, Vuelta winner, one of the best one week stage racers going around and some young Slovak upstart.
Or this year, where it went back to resembling some aussies carrying some summer form while everyone from europe was along for the ride.

Last year's TOC saw 3 recognizable english names, from 3 different US teams fighting it out for the win. If the strong colombian teams turn up noone can soft pedal up big bear and there is a chance riders only the hardcore fans recognise are fighting for the win. The racing may be better, but how many people will recgnise it.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

they'd better get used to it since colombia will be dominating the mountains also in europe fort the next 10 years.

 

[Jamsque]

they'd better get used to it since colombia will be dominating the mountains also in europe fort the next 10 years.

Isn't that what people were saying about the Colombians ten years ago?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

they'd better get used to it since colombia will be dominating the mountains also in europe fort the next 10 years.

big call, i highly doubt it tho.
they are poised to have more of an impact though.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Isn't that what people were saying about the Colombians ten years ago?

nope


./'';/

 

[theyoungest]

they'd better get used to it since colombia will be dominating the mountains also in europe fort the next 10 years.

Starting with Soler, who will win the Tour 2011... isn't it, Ryo?

 

[lucybears]

Ever wondered how much it costs to host the Amgen Tour of California?

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2011/1/31...it-costs-to-host-the-amgen-tour-of-california

with some interesting info in the comments

 

[Escarabajo]

Isn't that what people were saying about the Colombians ten years ago?

OMG, where did you hear that 10 years ago?? cycling was almost finished for us back then. We just had a few renegades and a country trying to get out of its stupid war!.

Ryo, you are letting your emotions get the best of you. Let's wait and see. Remember that success is not only talent.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Starting with Soler, who will win the Tour 2011... isn't it, Ryo?

let's hope so

 

[flicker]

Ever wondered how much it costs to host the Amgen Tour of California?

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2011/1/31...it-costs-to-host-the-amgen-tour-of-california

with some interesting info in the comments

Sorry this is not true.

 

[lucybears]

Sorry this is not true.

Then enlighten us alll.....

 

[armstrong4ever]

they'd better get used to it since colombia will be dominating the mountains also in europe fort the next 10 years.

Keep dreaming. Colombia had 0 riders in Tour de France last year.

Btw. it's amazing how much people talk about Tour of California these days...