Cyclist popularity question?

[jordan5000]

Ok so I know that where I'm from (Canada) only Armstrong is a household name in cycling, are cyclists in Europe (and maybe Australia) as popular as other athletes there and are athletes such as Contador, Gilbert, Cavendish and the Schlecks household names? Thank you.

 

[thehog]

Ok so I know that where I'm from (Canada) only Armstrong is a household name in cycling, are cyclists in Europe (and maybe Australia) as popular as other athletes there and are athletes such as Contador, Gilbert, Cavendish and the Schlecks household names? Thank you.

Mate what about the Bauer?

 

[jsem94]

My family is a bit different, because my cycling interest rubs off. But Contador is at least a household name.

 

[pmcg76]

Mate what about the Bauer?

I met a Canadian girl who was into cycling earlier this year, she knew Ryder and quite a few other guys but had never heard of Steve Bauer, I know more people have been getting into the sport over the last few years but I was still shocked she didnt know Canada's greatest ever cyclist. I suggested that maybe she could google him.

 

[pmcg76]

Ok so I know that where I'm from (Canada) only Armstrong is a household name in cycling, are cyclists in Europe (and maybe Australia) as popular as other athletes there and are athletes such as Contador, Gilbert, Cavendish and the Schlecks household names? Thank you.

If you are talking about well known outside the cycling community, I would say maybe Contador, Cavendish and probably Roche in Ireland, Wiggins in the UK. Otherwise not many in the UK & Ireland. Mainland Europe will probably be different of course.

 

[jordan5000]

Most people know about Bauer equipment, because it makes hockey gear, most don't know about him because in the media the tour only gets about 30 seconds of air time for highlights and it just shows the stage winners and top 3 riders.

 

[hatcher]

The non-cycling fans in my family know Cavendish, Contador, and Chris Hoy, not Wiggins or any other Brit. I would guess the average man in the street would only know Hoy. I really hope they'd know Cav, but a quick pole of my friends suggests they don't.

 

[theyoungest]

In Holland the best known cyclist is probably Armstrong as well. Plus some other guys who have done well in the Tour or have been associated with doping (or both).

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

armstrong, contador, schleck and the best dutch riders. Some of my older family know merckx, zoetemelk, kuiper etc.. just generally what comes in the news, they know...

 

[Anonymous]

Armstrong is also popular here, even to some who are into cycling. If i talk about cycling the non cycling folks would always bring up LA.

 

[maltiv]

The non-cycling fans in my family know Cavendish, Contador, and Chris Hoy, not Wiggins or any other Brit. I would guess the average man in the street would only know Hoy. I really hope they'd know Cav, but a quick pole of my friends suggests they don't.

Surely there can't be people in Britain who do not know who Cavendish is?! In that case the cycling interest in UK is even lower than I thought it is. In Norway all the biggest TDF stars are household names and some of the classics guys too (all monuments, the giro and the TDF are broadcasted live on TV2, a national channel which everyone has).

 

[High-Cadence]

Most people know about Bauer equipment, because it makes hockey gear, most don't know about him because in the media the tour only gets about 30 seconds of air time for highlights and it just shows the stage winners and top 3 riders.

Michael Barry-Canadian currently riding for Team Sky. Rode with Lance Armstrong on Us Postal.

 

[Parrulo]

Surely there can't be people in Britain who do not know who Cavendish is?! In that case the cycling interest in UK is even lower than I thought it is. In Norway all the biggest TDF stars are household names and some of the classics guys too (all monuments, the giro and the TDF are broadcasted live on TV2, a national channel which everyone has).

you are very lucky.

in portugal only famous names are armstrong and contador with most people only knowing contador as the devil who dared to beat his team mate saint armstrong . . .

 

[RedheadDane]

I'd say they are...

Not gonna list anyone.

---

This might be slightly unrelated. But has any of you ever tried it when your family asks if there are any guys we know in a race and you basically go Eeeh... who does my family actually know?

 

[hatcher]

Surely there can't be people in Britain who do not know who Cavendish is?! In that case the cycling interest in UK is even lower than I thought it is. In Norway all the biggest TDF stars are household names and some of the classics guys too (all monuments, the giro and the TDF are broadcasted live on TV2, a national channel which everyone has).

I'm afraid there are, and my friends are proper sports fans too. To be fair they knew there was a Brit that does well in the Tour de France, and did recognize his name. Like I say, I'd love to think the average person at least knows that much.

 

[Parrulo]

btw for all its worth it, i feel like cycling is growing at least among my friends and some of them aren't even becoming fans because of me.

i also had most of my family watching the spring classics on the sunday family launch and all my uncles loved them. ofc they became cancellara fans leaving me alone cheering for tommeke <_<

what i am trying to say is that imo the only reason why cycling doesn't has more fans in portugal is because it isn't shown on public tv, if it was it would be a big sport just behind football because most portuguese people really like it.

 

[palmerq]

Surely there can't be people in Britain who do not know who Cavendish is?! In that case the cycling interest in UK is even lower than I thought it is. In Norway all the biggest TDF stars are household names and some of the classics guys too (all monuments, the giro and the TDF are broadcasted live on TV2, a national channel which everyone has).

I think quite a lot of people in britain don't know who cavendish is, although I have noticed my uncle talking about him, i would say he is certainly not a household name in scotland at least. it does seem like cycling is getting more coverage in the news papers though the daily record sometimes has most of the page for a tour de france stage, usually when cavendish wins.. In my opinion no cyclists except lance and chris hoy are famous in scotland, cavendishs name is on the up though.

 

[Beech Mtn]

Australians probably know who Cadel is nowadays, along with Armstrong.

Here in the US, Floyd is pretty well known now. . . . Also, I think a fair number of people still know Greg Lemond, but probably not so many young people who became aware of cycling with LA/after Greg's time.

 

[Angliru]

you are very lucky.

in portugal only famous names are armstrong and contador with most people only knowing contador as the devil who dared to beat his team mate saint armstrong . . .

I was shocked (well shouldn't have been) to find out that many of the guys I ride with really dislike Contador for primarily not giving in and allowing Armstrong to get his 8th. I immediately lost a bit of respect for these characters.

In my family, my sister, who only watches sports to check out the "cute guys", knows what the phrase "getting dropped" means and says that Phil and Pauls voices are comparable to fingernails being dragged down a chalkboard. This is due primarily to my passionately following the sport
for years and exposing her to it. My dad actually is somewhat of a converted fan and admirer of Der Kaiser (like myself).

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Surely there can't be people in Britain who do not know who Cavendish is?! In that case the cycling interest in UK is even lower than I thought it is. In Norway all the biggest TDF stars are household names and some of the classics guys too (all monuments, the giro and the TDF are broadcasted live on TV2, a national channel which everyone has).

I noticed that Norwegian coverage of the Tour de Suisse was very good, it was to the forefront of most sports news reporting. Norwegians are kind of raised on a diet of endurance sports though

you are very lucky.

in portugal only famous names are armstrong and contador with most people only knowing contador as the devil who dared to beat his team mate saint armstrong . . .

You're forgetting Cândido

 

[Parrulo]

You're forgetting Cândido

lol how could i forget candido barbosa lol

 

[Libertine Seguros]

lol how could i forget candido barbosa lol

Many of us have tried very hard, but unfortunately just keep remembering him.

 

[ultimobici]

you are very lucky.

in portugal only famous names are armstrong and contador with most people only knowing contador as the devil who dared to beat his team mate saint armstrong . . .

Has everyone forgotten Joaquim Agostinho?

 

[jordan5000]

You guys are so lucky, this year even the tour wasn't on tv, it was on a channel you have to subscribe to ( I watched online).

 

[Parrulo]

Has everyone forgotten Joaquim Agostinho?

older people still worship him as if he was a god. but most young people don't remember him anymore

like him names like acacio da silva and orlando rodrigues come to my mind.