Curse you CN for logging me out while I was writting.
Echoes said:
BigMac said:
Race lenght: Would keep it as it is. Don't think increasing the mileage is the way to go. It's the performance gap between domestiques and leader that is pretty much non exitant until some real trouble gets underway - which may itself be a reflection of conservative riding.
I have a problem with race length, though, mate. You should know that by 1990, the UCI decided to cut short all semi-classics and several classics to 200/210km. All those that they did not grant World Cup label (before the ProTour, you had the UCI ranking which is more or less the CQ ranking and the World Cup gathering 10 single-day races). So that is why the Walloon Arrow was reduced to the 200k distance that it still has today. Same for Ghent-Wevelgem (though it's been increased for the last few years). Same for the Volk/Nieuwsblad, the GPE3, the Coppa Placci, the Giro di Lazio (real name of Roma Maxima), etc etc. All these races easily exceeded 200k in 1989. Let's not talk about Paris-Brussels, 280km or so in 1989, gradually shortened to a mere Brussels Classics since 2013. I've talked extensively about it.
All this still sticks in craw. I'm convinced that the UCI waged a war on the classics. One day is not enough exposure for sponsor publicity. Most of the new races are stage races (except your beloved Canadians
). I know for sure that the UCI wish to destroy the kermess races in Belgium and elsewhere while this is what cycling is all about, it's not just a show on TV! A popular festival in villages around the churches. Much too local and too common people oriented for the guys at the UCI.
The cycling as I see it has died long ago anyway. I've never even known it. Cycling is the people's sport, the sport of the labouring classes who chose the sport to escape the land, the small workshops, the factories in order to achieve a dream. That era is gone. Few riders nowadays come from the working class and they have many more opportunities anyway.
Claiming that the oldtimers were not pro except the top ones is an insult. Since the sixties all decent riders adopted the most advanced training methods that there is.
The problem with cycling today is that they earn too much money. Besides, you have the lighter and more efficient bikes that make the races less hard + the asphalt smoother. The radios of course or more generally the fact that Team directors control the race much more than before. The team spirit is too strong (see Van Avermaet today!). Re Amstel, there's still the problem that the main climbs are all in the finale (on this new route) while for an entertaining race, you got to place the main climbs after 60% or 75% of the route but no more in order to encourage them to move earlier. That is even what Jean-François Pescheux formerly from ASO admitted!! The Côte de Saint-Nicolas should be dropped.
Interesting, didn't know it. In general terms, I have nothing against increasing the mileage of those discriminately mutilated races. Had my mind in Amstel and Liège, for instance, which are above the 250km mark - though now that I think of it, it wouldn't be that out of the ordinary to lenghten both. Still, riders finish those races claiming them to be two of the possible hardest days on the bike, so I don't foresee any increase in distance. FW is, however, decidedly too short.
Much agree with the second paragraph. It's a sport turn business, run by businessmen, devoted to the coin. That's why I like watching Junior races live from time to time, as that is, I think, where the essence's still at. It's mainly organised by the locals and that popular and festive side of it is still well present; where tradition survives, at least. The uncompetitive events are mostly long gone, though. Our [shy] equivalent to your kermesse cycling started it's downfall in the late 90's and is now pretty much non existant. Mind it, cycling tradition in Portugal was never that notable, though.
Yes, the Canadians...! Hope they came to make a stand. Can we really expect anything other than stage races when one day races are being neglected and overlooked by the general public - though that may have to do with one day races not being given the worthy exposure and conditions they deserve. Sort of a vicious circle.
Here cyclists are extremely underpayed compared to most other nations and the higher ranks of the sport. I'd even say not overpayed considering the general scene of the country. No one in their right mind, in here, would choose to be a cyclist. Other than, of course, when they love what they do and are convinced in achieving a better life - that, in Portugal, never changed. I had recently made a map, which I seem to have lost, with the dispersion of Portuguese cyclists over the years, across the territory, reaching the predictable conclusion that most came from underdeveloped and rural zones. In fact, cycling is still despised by the wealthier groups and city people in general, in Portugal, because it is associated with the agrarian, provincial folk. Such honor is reserved to football and rugby. Not very nice to see them taking over and making it just another business of theirs.
Costa's parents' own some lands in Póvoa do Varzim and sometimes he goes there to help with plowing and planting. Machado comes from Vila Nova de Famalicão, a working area. The late Manoel the Oliveira described it as such:
''Rail communications between various towns in the North, cheerful and picturesque streets, events occurring in the local newspaper. Building - Holy House of Mercy Hospital, Town Hall, monument to Camilo Castelo Branco. Work in the fields. Churches. The romantic surroundings. Wiring industries, watches, buttons, tailoring and fabrics. Harvest, fair.''. It was true for Agostinho, who came from Torres Vedras, it's still true nowadays for a lot of riders. Not cherry picking.
No arguing with the rest, either.
BigMac said:
On the other hand, the thing is quite polarized: what we also see is some helpers performing better than assigned team leaders from other teams, which would take me to another section of this forum.
For the real answer, w should go to there. Good to see you say that.
Eheh, might be strongly anti clinic, but don't believe in fairy tails.
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