• The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

Livestrong will be at Gila

Page 2 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Apr 2, 2009
231
0
0
good point

bikebum1 said:
has anyone taken the time to consider the implications for BMC in all of this?

Pro-conti teams have always been able to race NRC races and these teams have helped increased the level of cycling in the U.S. These teams have also given a number of americans the in-between step needed between a domestic team and a full ProTour team. Taking away the opportunity for these riders to race in their home country while also aspiring in Europe is a nearsighted decision that will only hinder the development of American cyclists. Also of note is that BMC fields more American riders at domestic NRC races than many of the continental teams. If we're going to enforce this rule, we might as well limit the number of foreign riders on Continental teams, as most European countries do.

I know Lance is BIG news for this event, but this decision is BAD news for American cycling.


You hit on the head. The Pro Tour riders are taken up slots that the national riders could be using to participate. So, it is about a big name and $$$. Is this good for the sport---- I think not!
 
Apr 2, 2009
231
0
0
Olympics revisited?

Think back to the past Olympics since they have allowed the Pros to compete in Basketball, Hockey, etc and the amateur athletes lose out because MR. Big gets the nod over the amateur. This is very similar. And it smells bad too!!
 
Mar 12, 2009
122
0
0
Does everyone forget that back in February this 5 day race was dead in the desert? :rolleyes:

No one would have been racing. Get a grip people.
 
Mar 18, 2009
223
0
0
So, who IS this Lance guy ??? Has he won any races lately ???

Kidding aside, I can see both pro's and con's to the arguments. As for now, with SRAM stepping up to sponsor and have big names show up for a race, it might blow some live back into the smoldering embers of cycling BUT on the flip side, the continental riders have to compete against teams riders from a different league (which could be good or bad too )
 
Mar 11, 2009
103
0
0
cyclelicious said:
Does everyone forget that back in February this 5 day race was dead in the desert? :rolleyes:

No one would have been racing. Get a grip people.

Umm...the race isn;t back on because LA is racing it. It is back on becasue SRAM stepped in and coughed up some dollars. You guys wanna go all ga-ga for someone saving the race, thank the marketing team at SRAM.

And if you guys think that LA will be riding this race to win, you are kidding yourselves. he is looking for miles and race fitness. I would imagine the same applies to Horner and Levi. Horner is coming back from injury and Levi is just off a rest period.
 
Apr 18, 2009
118
0
0
COLIN LAING said:
Come on boys, let's beat up on the small fry"..easier than racing in Europe where the fans are more knowlegable and perhaps a bit hostile.

Over here in Europe, everyone is generally happy when the organizers of a race manage to get some big names to come to their event.

Also, Lance probably *would* be in Europe had he not broken his collarbone. Same deal for Horner - he got crashed up pretty good.
 
Mar 12, 2009
122
0
0
Power13 said:
Umm...the race isn;t back on because LA is racing it. It is back on becasue SRAM stepped in and coughed up some dollars. You guys wanna go all ga-ga for someone saving the race, thank the marketing team at SRAM.

And if you guys think that LA will be riding this race to win, you are kidding yourselves. he is looking for miles and race fitness. I would imagine the same applies to Horner and Levi. Horner is coming back from injury and Levi is just off a rest period.

Did I say the race was back on because Armstrong was racing it???

I agree with you on the second point, so my question is - What's the big deal? The names bring marquee value to a fine event that was on the brink of disappearing. That's a good thing.

Sram is committed to being a title sponsor for the next several years.
 
Mar 11, 2009
103
0
0
cyclelicious said:
Did I say the race was back on because Armstrong was racing it???

I agree with you on the second point, so my question is - What's the big deal? The names bring marquee value to a fine event that was on the brink of disappearing. That's a good thing.

Sram is committed to being a title sponsor for the next several years.

Perhaps you missed the phrase "you guys." ;) yes, I quoted your post simply becasue it was the most recent that intimated that LA was somehow saving this race through his presence.
 
Apr 28, 2009
23
0
0
Am I reading this correctly? BMC can only have 3 guys enter the race as opposed to their full squad?

If that's true, something is wrong!
 
Apr 28, 2009
58
0
0
I just read on VeloNews that 5 of the BMC guys who were already in Silver City are leaving now. This whole thing is wacky...

(and hi in Gainesville - I lived there for many years)
 
Mar 12, 2009
349
0
0
You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who dislikes Armstrong more than me. That said, this decision by the UCI is completely unfair to him, his teammates and the race organizers. They allowed Levi to race Sea Otter and the same sort of thing goes on all the time in Europe without a peep from the UCI. I especially feel bad for the fans. At least to Americans he's by far the biggest name in the sport and a hero to people hit by cancer. Congrats Pat! I never thought someone could make me stick up for Armstrong but you pulled it off! Keep up the good work genius!
Thats my post from yesterday. I guess McQuaid read it and, terrified at my wrath, changed his mind. Don't mess with me again Pat! LOL!!
 
Mellow Velo said:
Does Pat McQuaid know he's been replaced as the UCI boss?
Forget bending the rules, it's just bending over.
Would never happen, were it anybody else.

What exactly, are you saying wouldn't happen? Because UCI riders ride in non-UCI local races all the time. It's not even the 1st time it's happened this year.
 
marinoni said:
You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who dislikes Armstrong more than me. That said, this decision by the UCI is completely unfair to him, his teammates and the race organizers. They allowed Levi to race Sea Otter and the same sort of thing goes on all the time in Europe without a peep from the UCI. I especially feel bad for the fans. At least to Americans he's by far the biggest name in the sport and a hero to people hit by cancer. Congrats Pat! I never thought someone could make me stick up for Armstrong but you pulled it off! Keep up the good work genius!
Thats my post from yesterday. I guess McQuaid read it and, terrified at my wrath, changed his mind. Don't mess with me again Pat! LOL!!

Not to mention BMC's entire team has been signed up for weeks and only once Lance's participation came up did anyone even care.
 
Apr 28, 2009
23
0
0
crispy said:
I just read on VeloNews that 5 of the BMC guys who were already in Silver City are leaving now. This whole thing is wacky...

(and hi in Gainesville - I lived there for many years)

I just read the same thing.
My synopsis is:
Lance, Levi and Horner racing the Gila in whatever jerseys is a GOOD thing. Astana doesn't need the publicity, but LA, Levi and Horner need the miles and the publicity for the race aint bad either.
BMC is getting kicked in the nutts though! Taking away their right to field a full squad in a PRO race in the U.S. is ridiculous! Sure they still have 3 guys in the race, but they're not allowed to wear their team kit, not allowed to promote their sponsors...all of which a team trying to break into the top level of the sport needs.:mad:

Crispy- Go Gators!
 
Apr 28, 2009
2
0
0
Exactly!

pmessal said:
Am I reading this correctly? BMC can only have 3 guys enter the race as opposed to their full squad?

If that's true, something is wrong!

That's what I'm saying! This is bigger issue than just ONE RACE!! Nearsighted is an UNDERSTATEMENT! Get a grip people!
 
Apr 28, 2009
2
0
0
Get the facts straight

1st - the field limit for the cat 1's is 175. With Armstrong and the rest the registered field is 168. There weren't any Cat 1's not allowed to race because of Armstrong's entry.

2nd. BMC is still riding with ALL of their riders. 3 will be in team kits and the rest will be unattached.

3rd. UCI didn't change the rule for Lance. They let USA cycling know about the EXISTING rule regarding the 3 rider limit and riding in non-team jersey's.

Rant on...
 
Apr 28, 2009
2
0
0
Follow my own advice

Looks like I was wrong about BMC. They are following the pre-existing rules and having 3 riders compete but not in team jerseys.
 
Mar 20, 2009
156
0
0
When LA was originally banned by the UCI from competing at Gila, it was obviously a witch-hunt by Americans, the United States, and the UCI to keep LA from competing in the United States. Let's hear some outrage against these people and their hate for Lance!
 
Apr 20, 2009
2
0
0
Give U.S. Racers some Credit

Some of you characterize Lance & buddies showing up at Gila as them beating up on poor defenseless domestic racers. Well, I've got news (for some of you), there are a hell of a lot of very good domestic U.S. pros, and even a lot of top notch amateurs. While funding & sponsorship isn't the same level here as in Europe, the talent pool level is far better than it was in thr 70's or 80's.
Gila is a National Calendar Event too...so don't you WANT the best American racers to BE at America's premier events? The UCI's rule was written to address Euro races to get pro teams to ride the top level races there, instead of doing a lower tier race at the same time and winning all the prize $$. Nothing like that going on here.
 
Apr 28, 2009
3
0
0
gila deserves success

My experience at Gila(97) was memorable. The climbs and descents were challenging, the locals were exceptionally friendly, and the race was well-run. Armstrong's participation will give this race the attention it deserves. He and his entourage should be given credit.
 
Mar 12, 2009
122
0
0
Power13 said:
Perhaps you missed the phrase "you guys." ;) yes, I quoted your post simply becasue it was the most recent that intimated that LA was somehow saving this race through his presence.

OK, I missed the "you guys" :p and I certainly didn't mean to imply LA was saving the race, but I do believe his presence and that of Horner & Leipheimer helps bring recognition value to the race during a critical time.

Sram is the one who deserves accolades for becoming a title sponsor and perhaps saving the race. Interestingly enough Armstrong has a major financial investment with Sram - 6 degrees of separation indeed.
 
Apr 28, 2009
3
0
0
Great post, Sapillo. I loved racing Gila, and Silver City is my kind of town. Lance will bring attention to a race that deserves to be the best in North America. Watch out for the tarantulas though.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
bikebum1 said:
I know Lance is BIG news for this event, but this decision is BAD news for American cycling.

Well i had never heard of the Gila, until astana signed up to do it..
And now i have and looks like a great event...

More publicity for the event sounds good to me...
 
dimspace said:
Well i had never heard of the Gila, until astana signed up to do it..
And now i have and looks like a great event...

More publicity for the event sounds good to me...

Like Lance showing up to the race to act as honorary commissioner to promote the race, and be interviewed on websites, in mags and on local TV about it, wouldn't be enough? He has to actually race in it?

I knew nothing about the Vuelta Mexico until I read the blurb that Lance was at the start helping send the riders off there. And that race was much bigger than this one.

Lance's power isn't only on the bike. He's incredibly influential off it.

Also, as noted in the other thread, to those who are equating local Cat 1 races to the level of Europeans, please. The Gila doesn't even rank on the UCI Continental list. If it did, it would be below the Vuelta Chihuahua Internacional, Tour de Leelanau, or Rochester Omnimum. This isn't the Tour of California, or Tour of Georgia, people.
 
Apr 28, 2009
23
0
0
who knows...Maybe the Mellow Johnny's crew won't even really contest the GC. Maybe they're only looking at the Gila as great altitude training for the upcoming Giro.

I think it'd be exciting as hell to watch Lance, Levi and Horner to ride in support of Taylor Phinney and the Trek/Livestrong U23's!

Maybe the BMC boys will team up with the Astana boys? Nydam and Levi are really close friends...who knows?

I don't know about you guys, but this could turn out to be some VERY interesting racing with some very unusual tactics being played. I'm excited.