While PED's can be seen as killing off cycling, Government's and their agencies are just as bad.
After basking in the glow of a great UCI World Championship the Victorian Government, through Victoria Police may have dealt a killer blow to an institution of Australian, and World Cycling.
Running in "The Warrnambool Standard" on 12 October appeared the following story by Greg Best (http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/sport/cycling/25000-police-bill-for-classic-road-race/1965851.aspx?storypage=0):
THE world's second-oldest bike race, the TORQ Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic, has been hit with a record $25,000 bill for police recources, threatening the event's future.
Organisers were reeling yesterday after receiving the bill for Saturday's race, which starts in Werribee and finishes on Raglan Parade in Warrnambool.
The fee, equivalent to 25 per cent of the race's entire budget, came two days after Liberal leader Ted Baillieau and South West Coast MP Denis Napthine pledged $50,000 over four years to organisers to ensure the Classic's future should they win power at next month's state election.
Race director John Craven said the bill had the potential to kill the 114-year-old event. "It is a monumental cost on a volunteer committee," Craven said.
"People say to me have you got any international riders, how come you didn't get riders from the world championships here two weeks ago to race?
"When you get incredible imposts like this you can't. That is the highest it's ever been."
He said in past years the committee and promoters Caribou had been able to bring as many as 30 internationals to Victoria for the race at a cost of $50,000.
"If we don't get a full waiver this year, it would just about put the committee out of business.
"I'm not critical of the Victorian government or Victoria Police. The police do a sensational job on the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic ? without them we wouldn't get past Werribee.
"However I think the Melbourne to Warrnambool is a special case because of its place in Australian sport, being the second-oldest bike race in the world and it's 10 years older than the Tour de France.
"The Melbourne to Warrnambool was an event years before the first cars went on the road," he said.
Sargeant Creina O'Grady from police media said Victoria Police had a schedule of fees they had to adhere to when costing events.
"Event organisers may be eligible to apply for the costs of police resources to be waived where they can demonstrate that the police charges would threaten the viability of the event, or its staging in Victoria," she said.
A waiver could only be approved by a Deputy Commissioner or the Regional Assistant Commissioner.
Craven said news of the Coalition's pledge for $50,000 over four years would be welcomed.
"That is all very nice but it's not going to go far if it is going to be chewed up by police fees and traffic management fees. It needs to be channelled into ensuring the committee and Caribou can sleep."
South West Coast MP Denis Napthine said his party was committed to $50,000 over four years and that it would facilitate lower police fees or none at all "so they don't have to go through this charade of getting a massive bill every year".
"We would like to think we can do it as normal police activities," he said.
"We would like to see the $50,000 boost promotion and participation in the Melbourne to Warrnambool and the Shipwreck Coast Classic so we can make a real weekend of cycling events. It would bring participants and their families to the Warrnambool region, boost the economy and get extra bed nights in the region," he said.
"It's an annual charade. They place this big bill on the table and then they (the government) pretend they are good guys by cutting it in half or making some reduction."
A government spokesman was unable to be contacted for comment.
While I understand government bodies charging for services (I am involved in a local dirt-track motor speedway as a volunteer official, and know what we pay for an ambulance to be at the track for every meeting for medical attention for those involved), how stupid can government's and their bodies get to damage a sport that encourages health & Fitness and is an institution.
The Melbourne to Warrnambool is a peice of Cycling history, and stupid actions like this only damage the sport. Let's just consider some of the names on the honour roll for the event (see: http://www.melbournetowarrnambool.com/cyclingclassic/index.php?cat=9), which include Simon Gerrans, Russell Mockridge, Sir Hubert Oppermann, Marcel Wust, and Ralf Grabsch just to name a few. and its history is simply colourful (see: http://www.melbournetowarrnambool.com/cyclingclassic/index.php?cat=2)
Could we stand by to see an icons like the Paris-Roubaix, or Leige-Bastogne-Liege or even the Tour de France drift away. NO.
As fans what should we do? Should the UCI step in and assist to protect the race? Is the fee justified? Comments?
After basking in the glow of a great UCI World Championship the Victorian Government, through Victoria Police may have dealt a killer blow to an institution of Australian, and World Cycling.
Running in "The Warrnambool Standard" on 12 October appeared the following story by Greg Best (http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/sport/cycling/25000-police-bill-for-classic-road-race/1965851.aspx?storypage=0):
THE world's second-oldest bike race, the TORQ Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic, has been hit with a record $25,000 bill for police recources, threatening the event's future.
Organisers were reeling yesterday after receiving the bill for Saturday's race, which starts in Werribee and finishes on Raglan Parade in Warrnambool.
The fee, equivalent to 25 per cent of the race's entire budget, came two days after Liberal leader Ted Baillieau and South West Coast MP Denis Napthine pledged $50,000 over four years to organisers to ensure the Classic's future should they win power at next month's state election.
Race director John Craven said the bill had the potential to kill the 114-year-old event. "It is a monumental cost on a volunteer committee," Craven said.
"People say to me have you got any international riders, how come you didn't get riders from the world championships here two weeks ago to race?
"When you get incredible imposts like this you can't. That is the highest it's ever been."
He said in past years the committee and promoters Caribou had been able to bring as many as 30 internationals to Victoria for the race at a cost of $50,000.
"If we don't get a full waiver this year, it would just about put the committee out of business.
"I'm not critical of the Victorian government or Victoria Police. The police do a sensational job on the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic ? without them we wouldn't get past Werribee.
"However I think the Melbourne to Warrnambool is a special case because of its place in Australian sport, being the second-oldest bike race in the world and it's 10 years older than the Tour de France.
"The Melbourne to Warrnambool was an event years before the first cars went on the road," he said.
Sargeant Creina O'Grady from police media said Victoria Police had a schedule of fees they had to adhere to when costing events.
"Event organisers may be eligible to apply for the costs of police resources to be waived where they can demonstrate that the police charges would threaten the viability of the event, or its staging in Victoria," she said.
A waiver could only be approved by a Deputy Commissioner or the Regional Assistant Commissioner.
Craven said news of the Coalition's pledge for $50,000 over four years would be welcomed.
"That is all very nice but it's not going to go far if it is going to be chewed up by police fees and traffic management fees. It needs to be channelled into ensuring the committee and Caribou can sleep."
South West Coast MP Denis Napthine said his party was committed to $50,000 over four years and that it would facilitate lower police fees or none at all "so they don't have to go through this charade of getting a massive bill every year".
"We would like to think we can do it as normal police activities," he said.
"We would like to see the $50,000 boost promotion and participation in the Melbourne to Warrnambool and the Shipwreck Coast Classic so we can make a real weekend of cycling events. It would bring participants and their families to the Warrnambool region, boost the economy and get extra bed nights in the region," he said.
"It's an annual charade. They place this big bill on the table and then they (the government) pretend they are good guys by cutting it in half or making some reduction."
A government spokesman was unable to be contacted for comment.
While I understand government bodies charging for services (I am involved in a local dirt-track motor speedway as a volunteer official, and know what we pay for an ambulance to be at the track for every meeting for medical attention for those involved), how stupid can government's and their bodies get to damage a sport that encourages health & Fitness and is an institution.
The Melbourne to Warrnambool is a peice of Cycling history, and stupid actions like this only damage the sport. Let's just consider some of the names on the honour roll for the event (see: http://www.melbournetowarrnambool.com/cyclingclassic/index.php?cat=9), which include Simon Gerrans, Russell Mockridge, Sir Hubert Oppermann, Marcel Wust, and Ralf Grabsch just to name a few. and its history is simply colourful (see: http://www.melbournetowarrnambool.com/cyclingclassic/index.php?cat=2)
Could we stand by to see an icons like the Paris-Roubaix, or Leige-Bastogne-Liege or even the Tour de France drift away. NO.
As fans what should we do? Should the UCI step in and assist to protect the race? Is the fee justified? Comments?
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