Cookson is worse for cycling than McQuaid

[the sceptic]

It needs to be said.

These tour stages in britain confirms to me that there is a huge cycling boom going on there. Every cat 4 climb looking like alpe d'huez.. its too much.

And as with any religion, the people need to believe. A sky positive would mean the british cycling empire goes down the drain, so Im sure Cookson will do everything in his power to prevent that.

And before people start talking about change. What change? Everything is the same as it has always been.

 

[go crazy]

I think it's hilarious how Britain plays second fiddle to America in everything, including their own doped up superhero rider. Thanks to Wiggins and Froome, Britain is in the same early stages as American fans were with Armstrong when he started winning. So now the roadside is filled with noob cycling fans who have no idea how to conduct themselves on the road, and a blissfully naive public who believe their disease-stricken pack filling rider magically turned himself into the world's greatest rider through "marginal gains". It's almost a complete carbon copy of the Armstrong saga, but with a Brit in charge of the UCI, they've got their own McQuaid/Verbruggen to ensure their champion remains clean as a whistle.

The comments from the Sky/Froome fans, for the most part, are extremely naive and show a general lack of understanding of how bike racing works, or how doping works. As an American who went through the Armstrong saga, I can understand the mindset. It took me until his 5th or 6th title to finally realize what was going on, despite the way the American media never even sniffed the subject. Britain is going through the same thing, and I'm fairly sure their media is not doing anything either. The story will end the same way, because Froome is even more ridiculous than Armstrong, and *someone* will figure it out...at least that's what should happen. I could live with the slight plausibility of Wiggins, he's actually world class in some disciplines. But Froome is just a bad science experiment.

So yes, I don't see the UCI uncovering any wrongdoings with Sky. The TUE thing was already bad enough, imagine if it was something more shady.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

I could live with the slight plausibility of Wiggins, he's actually world class in some disciplines. But Froome is just a bad science experiment.

A myth perpetuated by small track cycling fields with not a lot of depth. On the road he was nowhere before 3rd at the TdF in 2009, amongst some of the most successful dopers around.

 

[blackcat]

A myth perpetuated by small track cycling fields with not a lot of depth. On the road he was nowhere before 3rd at the TdF in 2009, amongst some of the most successful dopers around.

plus big budgets of UK and Australia track teams.

big is relative, still tiny tiny budgets. But if all Euro cyclists had the same opporunites, and not the opportunity cost of taking up a lucrative roadcycling pro contract, then lets see how many gold medals the anglophones take. they would be shown for the chumps they are

 

[purcell]

I think it's hilarious how Britain plays second fiddle to America in everything, ....

We found the Ugly American.

 

[blackcat]

Cound
i dont this chris really unnerstood that vino doped cos millartime says he was so disspoints
Froome cuckold
no i knew john robertson told me at barlo
Cound
no, you did not fully know cos i never told you so stfu

just luv this sig

 

[DirtyWorks]

From the UCI's perspective, this is going great. ASO got paid 10x more than the last Grande Depart remote location and the taxpayers appear to be racing toward paying ASO for a multi-day race. Any idea what the budget is like? The number has grown dramatically every time I checked on it.

What I don't know is what the broadcast audience metrics are like for these stages.

It's about producing a show and Cookson seems to be doing well in this regard. To be fair, much of this (TdF 2014) was probably in the works under McQuaid anyway.

 

[blackcat]

^^^yeah i may have used licence

uci licence

 

[blackcat]

From the UCI's perspective, this is going great. ASO got paid 10x more than the last Grande Depart remote location and the taxpayers appear to be racing toward paying ASO for a multi-day race. Any idea what the budget is like? The number has grown dramatically every time I checked on it.

What I don't know is what the broadcast audience metrics are like for these stages.

It's about producing a show and Cookson seems to be doing well in this regard. To be fair, much of this (TdF 2014) was probably in the works under McQuaid anyway.

it will likely be a Tour of France0Britain for an entire week in the future GBP counts

 

[blackcat]

I think it's hilarious how Britain plays second fiddle to America in everything, including their own doped up superhero rider. Thanks to Wiggins and Froome, Britain is in the same early stages as American fans were with Armstrong when he started winning. So now the roadside is filled with noob cycling fans who have no idea how to conduct themselves on the road, and a blissfully naive public who believe their disease-stricken pack filling rider magically turned himself into the world's greatest rider through "marginal gains". It's almost a complete carbon copy of the Armstrong saga, but with a Brit in charge of the UCI, they've got their own McQuaid/Verbruggen to ensure their champion remains clean as a whistle.

The comments from the Sky/Froome fans, for the most part, are extremely naive and show a general lack of understanding of how bike racing works, or how doping works. As an American who went through the Armstrong saga, I can understand the mindset. It took me until his 5th or 6th title to finally realize what was going on, despite the way the American media never even sniffed the subject. Britain is going through the same thing, and I'm fairly sure their media is not doing anything either. The story will end the same way, because Froome is even more ridiculous than Armstrong, and *someone* will figure it out...at least that's what should happen. I could live with the slight plausibility of Wiggins, he's actually world class in some disciplines. But Froome is just a bad science experiment.

So yes, I don't see the UCI uncovering any wrongdoings with Sky. The TUE thing was already bad enough, imagine if it was something more shady.

no one see the irony

wigans was left at ome for room temperature ale when the tour of france came to britain.

wigans should do wunna those twitter ride thingies that lance used to do before everyone was told he was a fraud

 

[blackcat]

jimmy saville

dont worry US had jerry sandusky and Australia had rolf harris.

 

[rhubroma]

I think it's hilarious how Britain plays second fiddle to America in everything, including their own doped up superhero rider. Thanks to Wiggins and Froome, Britain is in the same early stages as American fans were with Armstrong when he started winning. So now the roadside is filled with noob cycling fans who have no idea how to conduct themselves on the road, and a blissfully naive public who believe their disease-stricken pack filling rider magically turned himself into the world's greatest rider through "marginal gains". It's almost a complete carbon copy of the Armstrong saga, but with a Brit in charge of the UCI, they've got their own McQuaid/Verbruggen to ensure their champion remains clean as a whistle.

The comments from the Sky/Froome fans, for the most part, are extremely naive and show a general lack of understanding of how bike racing works, or how doping works. As an American who went through the Armstrong saga, I can understand the mindset. It took me until his 5th or 6th title to finally realize what was going on, despite the way the American media never even sniffed the subject. Britain is going through the same thing, and I'm fairly sure their media is not doing anything either. The story will end the same way, because Froome is even more ridiculous than Armstrong, and *someone* will figure it out...at least that's what should happen. I could live with the slight plausibility of Wiggins, he's actually world class in some disciplines. But Froome is just a bad science experiment.

So yes, I don't see the UCI uncovering any wrongdoings with Sky. The TUE thing was already bad enough, imagine if it was something more shady.

Sheer insolence. I know the type. I remember from 99 when I was telling folks his tale was just not credible...ohhhh the acrimony.

Though, yes, it is ridiculous that there is an Englishman at the helm of the UCI. I don't think he'll ever go down, too much at stake, which means it's just all about money.

 

[BroDeal]

It needs to be said.

These tour stages in britain confirms to me that there is a huge cycling boom going on there. Every cat 4 climb looking like alpe d'huez.. its too much.

And as with any religion, the people need to believe. A sky positive would mean the british cycling empire goes down the drain, so Im sure Cookson will do everything in his power to prevent that.

And before people start talking about change. What change? Everything is the same as it has always been.

"If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change." -- Giuseppe di Lampedusa

I think that was also Crookson's pitch to the insiders when he urged them to get rid of McQuaid.

 

[blackcat]

Sheer insolence. I know the type. I remember from 99 when I was telling folks his tale was just not credible...ohhhh the acrimony.

Though, yes, it is ridiculous that there is an Englishman at the helm of the UCI. I don't think he'll ever go down, too much at stake, which means it's just all about money.

come on rhub

jump on the train

gordonstoun rugby eton stiff upper lip chariots of fire muscular christianity oxbridge rowing head river

 

[Hawkwood]

It needs to be said.

These tour stages in britain confirms to me that there is a huge cycling boom going on there. Every cat 4 climb looking like alpe d'huez.. its too much.

And as with any religion, the people need to believe. A sky positive would mean the british cycling empire goes down the drain, so Im sure Cookson will do everything in his power to prevent that.

And before people start talking about change. What change? Everything is the same as it has always been.

It may be a boom, but we saw crowds like this in 1994 and 2007. In 1994 the whole of Canterbury high street was decorated with a Tour/French theme, the atmosphere was extraordinary. There's nothing new with what we've seen in Yorkshire. I've followed cycling since about 1976 and have seen it going from having no profile whatsoever in the UK, to where it is today. I think Boardman's gold at Barcelona in 1992 was the point at which the British public suddenly `discovered' cycling, hence by 1994 it was more than ready to buy into the Tour in the UK.

 

[doperhopper]

It needs to be said.

These tour stages in britain confirms to me that there is a huge cycling boom going on there. Every cat 4 climb looking like alpe d'huez.. its too much.

And as with any religion, the people need to believe. A sky positive would mean the british cycling empire goes down the drain, so Im sure Cookson will do everything in his power to prevent that.

And before people start talking about change. What change? Everything is the same as it has always been.

What shame for the sport! Cycling can't afford to lose another decade.

 

[the sceptic]

"If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change." -- Giuseppe di Lampedusa

I think that was also Crookson's pitch to the insiders when he urged them to get rid of McQuaid.

Im sure Cookson will milk the brits for all they are worth. The only question is if Froome is just too obvious to keep going like this. Too many french haters asking questions already.

I could see Froome doing a Wiggins and fading into obscurity rather than doing a Lance, but then im sure Cookson will have another brit ready to take over.

 

[hrotha]

I don't see how the UCI under McQuaid would benefit any less from (and have less of a vested interest in) the boom of UK cycling.

 

[mrhender]

Im sure Cookson will milk the brits for all they are worth. The only question is if Froome is just too obvious to keep going like this. Too many french haters asking questions already.

I could see Froome doing a Wiggins and fading into obscurity rather than doing a Lance, but then im sure Cookson will have another brit ready to take over.

Some say he doesn't even know he's doping..
Wonder if he becomes a replica of Andy.. Just not even knowing what hit him

EDIT: You mean nationalising a new guy... A Columbian maybe

 

[Race Radio]

It needs to be said.

No, it doesn't

 

[sniper]

No, it doesn't

i don't think a comparison with mcquaid is going to be very fruitful.
but isn't your intelligence the slightest bit insulted when you see sky and uci link up like that and then hear cookson talk the talk as if nothing happened?
something needs to be said.

 

[the sceptic]

i don't think a comparison with mcquaid is going to be very fruitful.
but isn't your intelligence the slightest bit insulted when you see sky and uci link up like that and then hear cookson talk the talk as if nothing happened?
something needs to be said.

Cookson had a tailwind, and Horner would have won the election.

 

[thehog]

Yes let's not talk about present day cycling, let's talk more about Lance Armstrong and what happened 15 years ago.

Much better idea

 

[pastronef]

Every cat 4 climb looking like alpe d'huez.. its too much.

why is it TOO MUCH? the crowds were awesome (dangerous too)
millions of people of the side of the road for 3 days. and that is too much?

 

[The Hitch]

Crowds were good. Seemed to be much more pro cycling than pro wiggins or pro sky like at the Olympics.