Kids on podiums

[noob]

The kid also has a mother (who would have the financial support to spend more time with the kid than most if she so wishes). Do you also feel sorry for all kids with only one parent? I think these kids have a far better deal than most, if their parents stay together.

I don't understand why that's even relevant. I just think it's wasteful getting kids if you're not spending time with them. "I like kids but I don't feel like hanging around them 24/7 so I won't get kids". It's as simple as that for me.

 

[Netserk]

But they do spend time with them?! And after their career, they can do so more than the typical parent.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Since it's sort of become a tradition, it's pointless to object against children on podiums as such. But I do think that the same kid should only go there once. Vingegaard clearly overdid it, and I don't think it's "cute" that he was interrupted by her.

 

[topcat]

As an expert (turbo charged father of six), I feel obliged to comment. Bring the kids onto the podium or not, no skin off my nose. A non-issue. But I'm all in favour of threads about absolutely nothing. That's when we rise up to the ineffable.

 

[bNator]

I don't understand why that's even relevant. I just think it's wasteful getting kids if you're not spending time with them. "I like kids but I don't feel like hanging around them 24/7 so I won't get kids". It's as simple as that for me.

Maybe you ought to reconisder then. Having kids definitely does not mean spending time with them 24/7. Once they go to school, everyone has their own stuff to do and you are lucky if you get them 3 hours/day, weekends and vacations. Once they start hanging around with freinds, you can say goodbye to that as well... Believe me, after a couple of years you will not feel you are spending too much of your time with your kids.

 

[myrideissteelerthanyours]

Happens in every sport Ive ever seen from Snooker to the NFL

 

[firefly3323]

Finally someone brought that up. It doesn't bother me as an intrusion into these kids' privacy (which it is) but more than that - it's just lame. I can understand parents are proud but they need to understand other people are not as enthusiastic about their kids as they are.

Amen!

Every time someone starts telling me something about their kids I whip out my phone and start showing them pictures of all my cats

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Only family involvement on a Champs Elysees podium (not actually on it) that I have really liked was Alaphillippe going down to his wheelchair-bound father (2019 combativity award?)

It is parents that usually are key to a career, and who usually go through financial, practical and emotional turmoils to a much greater extent than partners and kids. I am far happier seeing them sharing a moment with winners than partner and kids.

There are plenty of photo opportunities at the railings and thereafter for family members and coaches to be seen with the winners (and presumably opportunities behind the scenes for the camera-shy to share an embrace): that is where they belong.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

But mostly I don't get the idea of getting a kid and being away from it so much. I feel sorry for the kid to grow up with such a parent with such weird priorities.

Quite an extraordinary lack of sympathy there for millions of fathers around the world who live in dire conditions away from their families so that they can send money home.

 

[Big Doopie]

Well many athletes have famillies that support them and kids. Still you don't see the kids breaking celebration protocols, running around the podiums or making problems excepting awards, taking media photos etc. Cycling is the only sport i can think of where all this happens all the time.

You are a pro athlete on top of your game. And you need a family hug after a stage, kid on a podium or the world will crumble? Please. It was also super ceinge when Jonas wins a stage, hops on a cooling bike and is already on the phone with his girlfriend. So when Pogačar and others come to congratulate him after an epic stage, he turns his legs, talking to his girlfriend and has no interest to exchange a word or two with other guys. It's vierd and it's becoming disrespectful also.
And it happened every time. What does he need to explain her after every stage?

Soon guys will be bringing whole famillies in this, even granny will have to climb the podium since she always believed they'll make it.

I just think it is kind of a silly thing to get your panties in a twist about.

 

[Gargamel35]

I just think it is kind of a silly thing to get your panties in a twist about.

Well TdF is over. We need to have something.

 

[BR2]

Maybe you ought to reconisder then. Having kids definitely does not mean spending time with them 24/7. Once they go to school, everyone has their own stuff to do and you are lucky if you get them 3 hours/day, weekends and vacations. Once they start hanging around with freinds, you can say goodbye to that as well... Believe me, after a couple of years you will not feel you are spending too much of your time with your kids.

Well, I had thought so, but now my experience is definitely different...

 

[BR2]

Quite an extraordinary lack of sympathy there for millions of fathers around the world who live in dire conditions away from their families so that they can send money home.

There are not only fathers who do that. Many women working in foreign households to care for family members of others while sending home money to their family most of the year...

But some of noobs feelings I share - it's not just cyclists, but often parents (and yes, especially fathers) don't do much with their children. When they are sick, when they feel deep sadness, when they need to get somewhere, when someone needs to organize stuff around them, they aren't there, but then during the holidays they will have fun with them and proudly tell everybody how they are a parent or talk about their success in school or sports...
Don't want to accuse the cyclists of that, but it's a kind of vibes/ remembrance I get, too, when I see them like that with their children on the podium...

 

[noob]

There are not only fathers who do that. Many women working in foreign households to care for family members of others while sending home money to their family most of the year...

But some of noobs feelings I share - it's not just cyclists, but often parents (and yes, especially fathers) don't do much with their children. When they are sick, when they feel deep sadness, when they need to get somewhere, when someone needs to organize stuff around them, they aren't there, but then during the holidays they will have fun with them and proudly tell everybody how they are a parent or talk about their success in school or sports...
Don't want to accuse the cyclists of that, but it's a kind of vibes/ remembrance I get, too, when I see them like that with their children on the podium...

This. It rubs me the wrong way hearing Wout talking about wanting to have kids young so he can ride with them for example. But then he spends over 200 nights from home. There's no logic!

Amen!

Every time someone starts telling me something about their kids I whip out my phone and start showing them pictures of all my cats

And then you're the most popular person on the party! Bring all the cats!

 

[bNator]

Maybe they have kids due to "podium pressure"

 

[Samu Cuenca]

View: https://youtu.be/afam2nIae4o

 

[Kaptain Kool]

I'm not sure why anyone would watch or care what happens with a podium presentation anyway. But I read that Lorena Wiebes brought up some random kid. I think that's kool. If you win a race, you should be able to bring whoever you want to the podium. 2nd should be limited to non-human animals and 3rd to inanimate objects.

 

[FrontHeadlock]

Of all the things to whine about, I literally cannot imagine whining about someone taking their kid up with them to receive a trophy.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I just think it is kind of a silly thing to get your panties in a twist about.

Of all the things to whine about, I literally cannot imagine whining about someone taking their kid up with them to receive a trophy.

I cannot imagine whining about someone expressing an opinion about something, and think that is a silly thing to get one's panties in a twist over.

Anything to do with sport is essentially ephemeral and meaningless, and therefore so is comment on any part of it. That doesn't mean that sport, or the minor details around it, can't be the subject of discussion.

 

[bNator]

I cannot imagine whining about someone expressing an opinion about something, and think that is a silly thing to get one's panties in a twist over.

Anything to do with sport is essentially ephemeral and meaningless, and therefore so is comment on any part of it. That doesn't mean that sport, or the minor details around it, can't be the subject of discussion.

Exactly. It's not as if discussion of who's legs are stronger than everybody else's makes a lot more sense anyway...

 

[RedheadDane]

But mostly I don't get the idea of getting a kid and being away from it so much. I feel sorry for the kid to grow up with such a parent with such weird priorities.

So no pro should be allowed to have kids while still active? It's only recently become more understood that a woman's career doesn't need to be over just because she has kids - Deignan being a good example - but now you're saying men shouldn't have kids during their active careers either?

The kid also has a mother (who would have the financial support to spend more time with the kid than most if she so wishes).

I suppose the real challenge would be for those couples where they are both professionals. Didn't Philip Deignan pretty much retire when Lizzie first became pregnant, because they realised they couldn't both be pros while they had a kid, and his career was pretty much over anyway, whereas hers clearly wasn't.

Well TdF is over. We need to have something.

We have something! TdFF! TdW!

But I read that Lorena Wiebes brought up some random kid. I think that's kool.

That's where I am of the exact opposite opionion. That was weird, and the kid clearly wasn't enjoying it, probably thinking "Who the *** is this lady? And what am I doing here?"
Of course, if the "borrowed kid" actually thinks it fun, it's a different matter

 

[Big Doopie]

I cannot imagine whining about someone expressing an opinion about something, and think that is a silly thing to get one's panties in a twist over.

Anything to do with sport is essentially ephemeral and meaningless, and therefore so is comment on any part of it. That doesn't mean that sport, or the minor details around it, can't be the subject of discussion.

Wow.

The fact that f#%king Cavendish and Wiggins have gone on The Move chatting and laughing with Armstrong is worthy of discussion and getting one’s panties in a twist about. Kids on podiums, not so much. Lol.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

I'm not sure why anyone would watch or care what happens with a podium presentation anyway. But I read that Lorena Wiebes brought up some random kid. I think that's kool. If you win a race, you should be able to bring whoever you want to the podium. 2nd should be limited to non-human animals and 3rd to inanimate objects.

Apparently she lost a bet with a friend and had to take her baby onto the podium. Which, surprisingly didn't enjoy being held up in front of thousand of cheering fans by someone else and cried. Lol.
Which is honestly just weird as feck and peak babies on podium nonsense.

And beside the akwardness of these baby/kids showoff celebrations, I agree with what someone already wrote: It's quite uncomfortable how individuals who can't express their will yet are being exposed to a wider audience/public without their consent. Be it on these podium celebrations or plastered all over social media.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Wow.

The fact that f#%king Cavendish and Wiggins have gone on The Move chatting and laughing with Armstrong is worthy of discussion and getting one’s panties in a twist about. Kids on podiums, not so much. Lol.

It is perfectly reasonable to think that some things are more important than others (the example you cite is of zero importance to me, because I had never heard of 'The Move' before I read that post).
It is not reasonable to think that people cannot have an opinion on something that you do not feel strongly about.

Commenting on a forum is quick and easy, and does not involve the discomfort implicit in strangulated underwear: it is therefore often engaged in even of matters of low importance. It is a form of social interaction called light conversation. Try it sometime.

 

[rallybanana]

It's a shame Groupama FDJ did not win the team classification. It would have been nice to see them bring their kids on the podium