Hamilton/Hincapie statements - what effect on cycling sport.

[dancing on pedals]

Looking back to when scandals erupted in Germany (Ullrich, followed by T Mobile team confessions) and what happened to sponsorship there ( 3 Pro Tour Teams to none in a matter of years, reduced TV coverage etc) how does the forum think these relevations will alter USA/European Cycling in terms of sponsorship/race promotion/TV coverage etc.
I cant see it making much difference in Europe but I do believe that the Tour of California under its present sponsor is in real danger and that at least 1 of the current USA Pro Teams will fold.
Not interested in the morals of the situation just the reality and what it may mean to fans of the sport over the next couple of years in terms of racing, teams and Tv Coverage.
Thanks

 

[Magic Spanner]

I'm an ammateur racer, club member and tt participant in the UK. The vast majority of cycling fans I associate with already knew Armstrong cheated. We still watched the Zoncolan this afternoon.

I'm not sure how many Armstrong believers are real cycling fans here. I would suggest not too many and almost none on mainland Europe.

I'd be interested to know how folk in the USA and Canada see the implications.

 

[SirLes]

I'd like to know what they said about other teams they were on and riders other than Lance. Those two have connections with a whole bunch of big names and must know a lot.

I think there will be negative repercussions with regards sponsorship TV etc from what they've said but if it leads to a proper cleansing of the sport it will be worth it.

My concern is that the focus will be entirely on US postal and 1999-2005, generating a lot of negative publicity for the sport and leaving the succrent crop of doping riders free to fill the vacuum left by the departure of Lance.

In a another few years we'll go through the whole process once again.

 

[flicker]

Most in the US don't care. Most hardcore sports fans don'tcare.A few cycling fans do care,mostlypeople in the clinic and other cycling forums.

John Q. public might care a little.I doubt that they would change their spending habits about any products Lance endorses though

 

[happychappy]

I'm an ammateur racer, club member and tt participant in the UK. The vast majority of cycling fans I associate with already knew Armstrong cheated. We still watched the Zoncolan this afternoon.

I'm not sure how many Armstrong believers are real cycling fans here. I would suggest not too many and almost none on mainland Europe.

I'd be interested to know how folk in the USA and Canada see the implications.

I also ride TT in the UK and what amuses me greatly is the fact that the majority of cycling fans who drool over the "great" Wiggins and won't hear a negative word said against him when all you need to do is look at his 4th place position in 2009. Wigans is nothing more than a needle junkie, like ther rest of them.

 

[Magic Spanner]

I also ride TT in the UK and what amuses me greatly is the fact that the majority of cycling fans who drool over the "great" Wiggins and won't hear a negative word said against him when all you need to do is look at his 4th place position in 2009. Wigans is nothing more than a needle junkie, like ther rest of them.

I'm coming round to that point of view but when that one comes out I don't think it would have a big impact here. Millars bust had no effect on the increasing popularity of bike racing.

I'd like to have some guys to believe in. Gilbert? Cav? But I don't assume anything.

 

[ksmith]

Most in the US don't care. Most hardcore sports fans don'tcare.A few cycling fans do care,mostlypeople in the clinic and other cycling forums.

John Q. public might care a little.I doubt that they would change their spending habits about any products Lance endorses though

I agree to a point. Watch the media who couldn't give a rats s**** get on their high horse. Cycling is going to get blasted.

Here in sunny Winnipeg, TSN who will be broadcasting the tour, reported on Tyler Hamilton, a bit on Clara Hughes. Thats it on cycling. Wait till this hit the network. Giro whats that?

Everyone at work will go on about drug filled cycling, then watch CFL,NFL dare I say it NHL.

Maybe a newspapers with balls should have a PED reporter, reporting on the state of North American sports.

When the NFL threatens the players with WADA you would think a journalist would think "thats a strange thing to do" ? Maybe start asking why ?

 

[Michael Brown]

A non-cycling friend of mine read the news and sais:

"If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'."

Sums up a good portion of the US population, I fear.

 

[ElChingon]

Well I still remember a story in Sports Illustrated back right before the '84 Olympics where athletes were asked to take a poll (where their identity was not revealed) and they asked if the athlete would use any means possible to win a gold medal? Even if it harmed their health, if it meant their life expectancy would be reduced dramatically, if it was illegal.

The results were in the high 90%'s (maybe it was 100%, my memory is not sure on the exact number) that they would seek this means to win a gold medal.

Now, what effect will the Hamilton/Hincapie statements have on cycling?

Well, I wish it will mean that all the current cyclist/racers will think twice about getting involved in doping if not stay completely away from it. In reality, I think it means very little or will only affect those in the direct line of fire. Every organization will use it ala the Festina case as an example of what happens to riders who dope, but basically riders who dope and get caught.

The show will continue but without those in the case, there are way too many examples on this, so I see this no different from any similar case on the subject. Maybe a local/temporary hit, but it will be swept under the rug, only to be brought up when others are caught.

Take home lesson for all the current riders if they're going to the dark side, keep your mouth shut on anything related to doping, hide if from everyone, don't share it or info with even your closest teammate or friend. If you do share it, you'll have to keep those involved very close and in monetary gains as well. The current issue is nothing more than one person's greed and power hunger, maybe fame hunger. Had he shared it more evenly, he would of never been in this situation. Leaving people who can implicate you out in the cold will only come and bite you in the end, as it has.

Major Fail for the Omerta.

 

[TERMINATOR]

Most in the US don't care. Most hardcore sports fans don'tcare.A few cycling fans do care,mostlypeople in the clinic and other cycling forums.

John Q. public might care a little.I doubt that they would change their spending habits about any products Lance endorses though

Lance will likely be indicted for a crime and he will either have to plead guilty to felonies or have a trial. Either way, the dude is going to jail. It's a very serious thing. Name one other major cycling star who actually went to jail over doping?

 

[Oldman]

Most in the US don't care. Most hardcore sports fans don'tcare.A few cycling fans do care,mostlypeople in the clinic and other cycling forums.

John Q. public might care a little.I doubt that they would change their spending habits about any products Lance endorses though

I don't bore my wife with the legal undercurrents but she was absolutely p*ssed when she found about Hincapie. At a stage race today alot of riders looked gratified that slow justice is being done and the many I spoke to were not impressed that the USADA, rather than USA Cycling is doing the job. Oregon is already a separate entity and Washington may follow. That's something...

 

[red_flanders]

Most in the US don't care. Most hardcore sports fans don'tcare.A few cycling fans do care,mostlypeople in the clinic and other cycling forums.

John Q. public might care a little.I doubt that they would change their spending habits about any products Lance endorses though

I think you're right for the most part about who does and doesn't care. But when the full truth comes out, TREK, World Cycling Productions, and all those who have ridden the Lance train are going to take a serious hit. Why do you think they all cover for him?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I'd be interested to know how folk in the USA and Canada see the implications.

I can't guess on the masses, but can give you an example from my life. I went on a casual ride in about April 2010 (pre-Landis allegations) with some average US people who ride bikes for recreation/fitness alone, and could name 1 racer: LA. They might be able to guess a few more. They knew or found out I was a vacuum for racing and asked what I thought about talk that Lance had doped, and details. I told them pretty much what we all know.

At that time none of them were really shocked. Most concluded that it was likely that he probably did dope, some took the stance that it didn't really matter until he was busted for it - as in testing positive, kicked out of the sport, or being indicted. But even they didn't care that much.

Mrs. Alpe for example doesn't ride, and could name maybe 5 riders, maybe. Back then she thought about the same way, if she even cared at all.

Since that time the average fitness rider in the US I spoke of probably assumes without question at this point he doped and that he's the Barry Bonds or Marion Jones of cycling. But they may not really care that much, more so they're probably just disappointed. Their thoughts won't change much if/when he's indicted/convicted/pleas out. Not much shock, some disapproval, some disappointment.

Mrs. Alpe, having seen several LA clips now about the whole doping thing, has concluded the guy is a major a-hole. But she still doesn't really care that much one way or the other, and never thinks about it.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I'd be interested to know how folk in the USA and Canada see the implications.

I'm kind of with Alpe on this. Also, I've known for some time, that outside LA's work in the fight against cancer, he's not a high quality guy. But because of his cancer support, giving cancer victims some hope and fight of their own, I won't be too critical of the guy.

BUT, I'm a huge believer in consequences for one's actions, and justice. I would not care if LA was my neighbor that I'd had a few beers with. In the end, it's sad to see things turn out like this, but I am not sorry for him. He is going to deserve whatever he gets, and I hope he really GETS it. I feel a lot more sorry for the French riders, say like Moreau, who MIGHT have had a fighting chance against him if LA had not doped.

 

[barn yard]

cycling as a whole has nothing to worried about

i think it will have a huge impact on livestrong though, only the hardcore delusional extremist crusaders will hang around (translation, 'livestrong leaders')

 

[forumlurker]

i think most of the people who might be disappointed aren't bicycle racing fans, but people who donated to the laf and/or livestrong. i imagine it probably burns them a bit to discover their hero is a lying dbag, even if most pro athletes are probably drug cheats.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

cycling as a whole has nothing to worried about

i think it will have a huge impact on livestrong though, only the hardcore delusional extremist crusaders will hang around (translation, 'livestrong leaders')

I think you are definately right on the potential impact to livestrong.

 

[flicker]

Lance will likely be indicted for a crime and he will either have to plead guilty to felonies or have a trial. Either way, the dude is going to jail. it's a very serious thing. Name one other major cycling star who actually went to jail over doping?

In your perfect alternative universe I would agree. You sir are so refreshingly simple. This is real life, factor in everthing,take a reality pill.

 

[TERMINATOR]

I don't bore my wife with the legal undercurrents but she was absolutely p*ssed when she found about Hincapie. At a stage race today alot of riders looked gratified that slow justice is being done and the many I spoke to were not impressed that the USADA, rather than USA Cycling is doing the job. Oregon is already a separate entity and Washington may follow. That's something...

USA Cycling? You do know that USA Cycling is run by Lance's entourage (Thom Weisel and Steve Johnson). Do you really think either one of those 2 assclowns would try to go after Lance?

 

[lordconqueror]

For that matter, the UCI is preventing Pro license holders from racing in non-federation sanctioned races, which means, for instance, the US pros couldn't race in OBRA races.

 

[LukeSchmid]

i think most of the people who might be disappointed aren't bicycle racing fans, but people who donated to the laf and/or livestrong. i imagine it probably burns them a bit to discover their hero is a lying dbag, even if most pro athletes are probably drug cheats.

The big problem is not going to be the impact on cycling but the possible impact made by people who are angry over what Armstrong has done with Livestrong and not only decide to stop donating to Livestrong but stop donating completely. Armstrong may well have raised money but if his fall stops people donating and stops help for cancer suffers etc then he has done enormous harm.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

That's a good point. I can see common people walking away from this saying "no more athlete sponsored 'charities' for me, I'm giving my money to the Humane Society from now on." Or they aren't going to donate much at all.

As to cycling, as has been discussed on here numerous times, it's riders like Bassons, Delion, etc. who were adamantly clean, and had a life of adulation, glory and wealth taken away from them.

 

[DirtyWorks]

I don't bore my wife with the legal undercurrents but she was absolutely p*ssed when she found about Hincapie. At a stage race today alot of riders looked gratified that slow justice is being done and the many I spoke to were not impressed that the USADA, rather than USA Cycling is doing the job. Oregon is already a separate entity and Washington may follow. That's something...

Expect USAC to assist Wonderboy and the rest of his cheating, lying posse. The Officers at USAC are the same Officers from Tailwind! Weisel's USACDF is still sucking the life out of grassroots racing and the aging USAC members really don't care.

The good news is, Oregon is gone and never looking back on the road and 'cross. Colorado on the road is all independent. Washington would not be a big deal for USAC to lose. Not many riders up there relative to their crown jewel, Northern California. Nor Cal and perhaps Southern California are the crown jewels in terms of the majority of USAC members.

 

[DirtyWorks]

cycling as a whole has nothing to worried about

i think it will have a huge impact on livestrong though, only the hardcore delusional extremist crusaders will hang around (translation, 'livestrong leaders')

I would say it depends on how the story unfolds. If the .com/.org shenanigans come out in full glory, then I'd say even the faithful will leave. I am concerned that the story stops with the doping as another Festina sequel with next Festina sequel coming in 3-5 years.

As to the original question of the effect on sponsorship in the U.S., it depends on your perspective. USA Cycling is very good at discouraging funding regional/national teams and grassroots cycling. They want the talent to flow through Wiesel's road program, USACDF. Regional and even national sponsors who actually pay a rider some kind of salary probably won't be effected because they've all been around in good and bad times. (ex. jelly belly) On the MTB side, a prominent pro was quoted as saying 3-5 riders in the country are paid a living salary.

As for the American sponsors for UCI ProTour, or whatever it's called now, the goal is to reach European consumers. I don't expect any dramatic changes from a sponsor like Garmin. Tandy's program is set to end anyway. IMHO, the whole Shack thing was a pump and dump scheme so they would get acquired. No sale.

 

[Berzin]

The big problem is not going to be the impact on cycling but the possible impact made by people who are angry over what Armstrong has done with Livestrong and not only decide to stop donating to Livestrong but stop donating completely.

Armstrong may well have raised money but if his fall stops people donating and stops help for cancer suffers etc then he has done enormous harm.

And herein lies the misconception about Livestrong's impact on the global cancer community.

If the funds dry up, there are other charities to donate to.

It's already a foregone conclusion that "cancer awareness" is basically vaporware to sell a brand at Livestrong. Once that the brand (Armstrong himself) has been proven to be putrid, that money isn't going to suddenly dry up. It's just going to go somewhere else because unfortunately there will not be, in the foreseeable future, a drying up of new cancer diagnoses.

Too much of Livestrong has been wrapped up in the Armstrong persona as opposed to the disease itself. This is what keeps people tethered to the chain.

Livestrong isn't crucial to the overall fight against cancer. Only the groupies feel this way. Their obsession should be about the mission statement, not the cult of personality of it's figurehead, which happens to be Livestrong's fundamental flaw.