Cookson is worse for cycling than McQuaid

[Parker]

He is still on the British Olympic Association's executive committee, which is where British Cycling gets it's funding from.

No, they don't. They get it from UK Sport

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Cookson really shouldn't get involved in how teams run their recruitment as long as they operate according to the rules.

Having said that, the statement is sort of peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

 

[gooner]

He's perfectly entitled to his opinion and he is bang on the money too.

If they're all about developing young British talent, you prioritise it in acquiring them and have the right team set up allowing them to get the opportunities to perform. Clearly the Yates brothers didn't see that with the latter and following on from that no way should Edmondson be leaving with his potential far from from fulfilled.

Kennaugh only recently criticised the lack of opportunities he has been given and I think even Thomas should be doing more with his talent. For all their marginal gains talk not a huge amount of riders have developed hugely on their watch. I think this is what Kimmage was getting at himself at the Tour last year.

 

[Race Radio]

he may have sometimes leaned on teams to recruit a promising African rider developed by the UCI academy. But he never said where Nico Roche should be riding.

Wasn't McQuaid's home Fed Burkina Faso?

 

[DirtyWorks]

Ponferrada budget update:

http://www.diariodeleon.es/noticias...mpacto-economico-mundial-ciclismo_928765.html

Reading it through google translator, government is claiming 200,000 people spent 75 euro/day with the mayor using that number as revenue. The VAT is the only portion they keep.

I don't understand some of the other details.

There are two different "budgets" mentioned
11.5 million euro budget, 5 directly to UCI, 6 to produce the events.
another 27 million budget is mentioned as preparation???

 

[fmk_RoI]

Wasn't McQuaid's home Fed Burkina Faso?

Good point, well made.

 

[thehog]

He's perfectly entitled to his opinion and he is bang on the money too.

Errrr pardon the pun?

Cookson formed part of the body that set up Team Sky. He needs to demonstrate separation from that role in his new one.

Conflict of interest continually comes to mind with Brian (and son).

 

[fmk_RoI]

Kennaugh only recently criticised the lack of opportunities he has been given and I think even Thomas should be doing more with his talent.

But look at all the wailing and arm flailing from broadsheet hacks who can't cope with the idea that Froome might shun the Tour next year. That opens the door to the next group of riders to come through - Porte, Thomas, Roche, the rest - but instead of celebrating this, instead of praising Sky for giving that next generation a shot at the big one, Sky are getting shot to pieces for disrespecting the Tour.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Ponferrada story #2

This one is easier to read through the google translator.

http://www.leonoticias.com/frontend...Las-Cuentas-Del-Mundial-De-Po-vn157045-vst472

Seems the estimated budget in July was 7 million, but later came to 11 million euro. That's quite an overrun!

I don't know what this is talking about either.
He also acknowledged that there were 2.62 million euros in "expectation signature" through future agreements with other five or six large companies, whose name would not disclose.

 

[coinneach]

Cookson's entitled to his opinion, it's one I share, and I'd like to disentangle Sky from BC completely.
But surely the obvious question is why is Sky so bad at developing talent compared to other teams.
Most teams have goals, but are willing to make the best of their resources by developing them.
Sky are like some premier football teams that have no youth system, but buy in the best.
In their case, they even make themselves unattractive to their youth team players who then go elsewhere.
Cookson's expressing an opinion, not telling others how to behave.

 

[Digger]

“I’m reluctant to criticise Sir David Brailsford in any way because he has done amazing things with British Cycling and with Team Sky

that line is worse

 

[Hawkwood]

Good to know the new era UCI is unbiased and treats everyone the same.

Just to put it into context the whole part of that quote is:

“I’m reluctant to criticise Sir David Brailsford in any way because he has done amazing things with British Cycling and with Team Sky, but I feel that the team isn’t quite staying true to one of the reasons it was formed,” said Cookson.

I guess someone needs to stump up for a copy of Cycle Sport to get the whole interview, rather than just the taster quotes put up by the CW website.

 

[DirtyWorks]

That was on their to-do list, after getting a rider onto the top step of the podium and bringing him back again. And they're delivering on that next year with the development squad. They've a very talented Olympic hopeful lined up for that team, Bradley somebody or other...

As for Cookson "interfering" in who rides for what teams ... McQuaid occasionally blackballed certain riders - recovering dopers - and he may have sometimes leaned on teams to recruit a promising African rider developed by the UCI academy. But he never said where Nico Roche should be riding.

We know from JV1973 the UCI is involved in rider selection at the team level. So, the federation is very busy!

 

[sniper]

you gotta be kidding me. Omerta stuff from Brian.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-cookson-warns-tiernan-locke-over-foolish-comments
One wonders why he comments on the JTL interview at all. No surprise of course that he's not commenting on the specifics of JTL's interview, such as that there was no EPO testing at the ToB, and that apparently BP warning letters are being sent out on a regular basis including to big names and without subsequent sanctioning. Just dismissing JTL as foolish.
Good grief. Brian all over the place.

 

[hrotha]

I must be missing something. Where's the omertà component in saying JTL is a fool for basically saying tripping the password is meaningless?

 

[sniper]

I must be missing something. Where's the omertà component in saying JTL is a fool for basically saying tripping the password is meaningless?

one of the 'specifics' i referred to in my previous post is JTL's claim that BP warning letters have gone out to prominent members of the peloton without this leading to any further sanctions.
Cookson not addressing that point and instead dismissing everything JTL said as 'foolish' and 'he should watch out', imo that is pretty omerta-ish.
edit: and thehog hits nails on heads below.

 

[thehog]

I must be missing something. Where's the omertà component in saying JTL is a fool for basically saying tripping the password is meaningless?

Here's me thinking Cookson was independent from the anti-doping process.

He is already making threats to JTL on what he can and can't do rather allowing for due process. And threatening him "if he wants to return in two years" - huh??

“Mr Tiernan-Locke needs to consider his situation very carefully. He has to look at the terms and conditions of his sanction. I see that he’s talking about coaching again, well I’m afraid that he’s banned from coaching or any event in any capacity that has anything to do with the UCI or any national federation affiliated with the UCI.”

“To hear Jonathan say things like the UKAD anti-doping hearing was a mickey mouse court, I think that’s very foolish and not a wise thing to have said. I’m giving him a message that’s quite clear, he’s putting himself in a deeper and deeper hole. He would be wise to accept his sanction and if he wants to return in two years then let’s see what happens.”

 

[thehog]

one of the 'specifics' i referred to in my previous post is JTL's claim that BP warning letters have gone out to prominent members of the peloton without this leading to any further sanctions.
Cookson not addressing that point and instead dismissing everything JTL said as 'foolish' and 'he should watch out', imo that is pretty omerta-ish.

Sounds like JTL knows how many letters Froome has received

 

[Dazed and Confused]

lol, I thought Cookson was diplomatic and consensus driven.
Hein still around?

 

[Dear Wiggo]

I found the veiled threat repulsive and disgusting. Wrinklyvet et al - champions of clean Froome on the comments sections for some time now applauded Cookson's words.

Revolting.

Just revolting.

 

[thehog]

I found the veiled threat repulsive and disgusting. Wrinklyvet et al - champions of clean Froome on the comments sections for some time now applauded Cookson's words.

Revolting.

Just revolting.

“To hear Jonathan say things like the UKAD anti-doping hearing was a mickey mouse court, I think that’s very foolish and not a wise thing to have said. I’m giving him a message that’s quite clear, he’s putting himself in a deeper and deeper hole. He would be wise to accept his sanction and if he wants to return in two years then let’s see what happens.”

Meanwhile.....

"My friends at Sky"

and

"Dave Brailsford had done a amazing job"


Good grief. Vote 1 Hein Cookson.

 

[ebandit]

As ever context is king......

“I’m reluctant to criticise Sir David Brailsford in any way because he has done amazing things with British Cycling and with Team Sky, but I feel that the team isn’t quite staying true to one of the reasons it was formed. I mean, the Yates brothers should be in Team Sky.”

...........the point being that he IS criticising Brailsford........good grief

Mark L

 

[Dear Wiggo]

As ever context is king......

“I’m reluctant to criticise Sir David Brailsford in any way because he has done amazing things with British Cycling and with Team Sky, but I feel that the team isn’t quite staying true to one of the reasons it was formed. I mean, the Yates brothers should be in Team Sky.”

...........the point being that he IS criticising Brailsford........good grief

Mark L

In an idiotic way. It's like he's saying the Yates brothers have no choice, and Brailsford can just snap his fingers and make them ride for him.

Smacks of a totalitarian mindset to me.

It's also very short sighted: you need some riders on other teams earning points for your Olympic point total to maximise your team size. If you have all your Brit riders in one team they can't all earn points.

 

[ebandit]

In an idiotic way. It's like he's saying the Yates brothers have no choice, and Brailsford can just snap his fingers and make them ride for him.

Smacks of a totalitarian mindset to me.
.

I think you might be reading just a bit too much into it......perhaps coloured by your own prejudices........ Sky was a project of British Cycling, with the aim of providing a home team for home riders......Cookson's comments are about Brailsfords failure to recruit.....or willingness to try and recruit......its a fair comment.....a bit of Brailsford's remit was about developing home talent

Mark L

 

[Dear Wiggo]

I think you might be reading just a bit too much into it......perhaps coloured by your own prejudices........ Sky was a project of British Cycling, with the aim of providing a home team for home riders......Cookson's comments are about Brailsfords failure to recruit.....or willingness to try and recruit......its a fair comment.....a bit of Brailsford's remit was about developing home talent

Mark L

Uh. No. I have no prejudice, except for the one you are projecting.

Feel free to ignore my points of the Yates brothers having a choice in the matter, that speaks to your prejudice.

Or the Olympic points argument, that may have been taken into account by Brailsford when he decided not to pursue aggressive recruiting of the brothers.

To finally kick your argument to the curb, consider the development of both Wiggins and Froome, who have arguably improved ("developing home talent") to such an incredible extent that it is difficult to find any other riders in history who have done so to such a miraculous extent. And breaking a Garmin contract in the process - or does your memory not extend that far?