Liz Hatch Gives the UCI a Fail

[DirtyWorks]

No surprises, but it's still nice to confirm widespread observations.

1. She spent 2011 on a top tier UCI women's team and had to pay her own way.
2. No money to support talented women.
3. UCI has no interest in developing the segment. That's a long, long way from the men's and women's TdF winner sharing the podium at the TdF many years ago.

Despite no money in the sport she seems able to live reasonably well. Maybe bank of Mom and Dad like so many domestic U.S. Pros? Either way, she's not racing for the UCI any more and it sounds like she's not going to miss it much. A wise decision. Best of luck!

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=9869&status=True&catname=Latest

 

[Benotti69]

Despite no money in the sport she seems able to live reasonably well. Maybe bank of Mom and Dad like so many domestic U.S. Pros? Either way, she's not racing for the UCI any more and it sounds like she's not going to miss it much. A wise decision. Best of luck!

I imagine imaging rights (advertising) helped pay the bills.

Sad state of affairs for women's racing though.

 

[JA.Tri]

Shame of it is, female cyclists face so many obstacles as it is. Then the UCI is happy to pay lip service to supporting women but fail to deliver to any concrete degree.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Not surprised about her comments on female cycling and the UCI, but she did turn pro late in life and is in her 30's now. She's probably getting that womanly urge to start a family with whoever her lucky guy is. Just a guess, but could be a major factor for her departure as well.

 

[thehog]

But let's forget the women & fund races in China.

 

[Boeing]

Liz Hatch is tired.

 

[AntonioRossi]

But let's forget the women & fund races in China.

Exactly, the UCI is completely screwed up. Funding random races in China to promote "globalization" but forgetting about the pro female cyclists... It's absurd.

But thats great if Liz can just quit like that. Good for her. Hopefully some dramatic changes will happen to the UCI system soon.

 

[BroDeal]

Exactly, the UCI is completely screwed up. Funding random races in China to promote "globalization" but forgetting about the pro female cyclists... It's absurd.

But thats great if Liz can just quit like that. Good for her. Hopefully some dramatic changes will happen to the UCI system soon.

They are not "funding" races in China. The Tour of Beijing was put on to make the UCI money. It is a "for profit" endeavor. The UCI makes a lot of its money from the Worlds. They want to duplicate that with other races.

Women's racing is in the crapper because the public does not care about women's racing. If you have a viable plan to change that then I am sure there are people who would love to hear it.

 

[AntonioRossi]

If you have a viable plan to change that then I am sure there are people who would love to hear it.

I doubt people like mcquaid care enough. Like in Liz said in her interview, mcquaid/uci just doesnt give a crap about women cycling

 

[OJ....]

I doubt people like mcquaid care enough. Like in Liz said in her interview, mcquaid/uci just doesnt give a crap about women cycling

So there is a way to make money by selling women's cycling, but UCI is not interested in making money? Well I'm sure there are people who are interested in making money and they would love to sell women's cycling to make money so people in the know should share their ideas.

 

[AntonioRossi]

So there is a way to make money by selling women's cycling, but UCI is not interested in making money? Well I'm sure there are people who are interested in making money and they would love to sell women's cycling to make money so people in the know should share their ideas.

I doubt UCI cares that much about women cycling. Profits were probably made in China. If Mcquaid/UCI got their stuff together, they would realize that women cycling is somewhat popular. That there is a future for that sport. It needs more attention. I mean, with no minimum wage, and Liz had to pay for her own travel while she was on a PRO team. That's absurd. Mcquaid needs to get his priorities straight and stop trying to globalize the sport. He needs improve the structure of how women cycling is run.

 

[stephens]

If Mcquaid/UCI got their stuff together, they would realize that women cycling is somewhat popular. That there is a future for that sport. It needs more attention.

Of course a group of women could realize the same thing and organize/promote their own sport instead of just criticizing the men at the UCI for not making it happen for them. Personally, I hope they do it. I enjoy women's tennis, skiing, track and road racing, volleyball and more and I would totally follow women's cycling as well.

 

[Benotti69]

I never understood why a lot of women's races are not run in conjunction with the mens as everything is in the place for the mens race. The classics for example. The women's race can start a 100kms(or whatever) closer to the finish and starts an hour (or what ever)earlier. Fans get twice the 2 races on the same day. I would love to see the women race Paris-Roubaix, Milan San Remo, all the monuments actually.

 

[L'arriviste]

I never understood why a lot of women's races are not run in conjunction with the mens as everything is in the place for the mens race. The classics for example. The women's race can start a 100kms(or whatever) closer to the finish and starts an hour (or what ever)earlier. Fans get twice the 2 races on the same day. I would love to see the women race Paris-Roubaix, Milan San Remo, all the monuments actually.

+1. And I'm assuming you're already aware that the Ronde van Vlaanderen women's race is run exactly like you say. And it's always a terrific spectacle.

 

[El Pistolero]

+1. And I'm assuming you're already aware that the Ronde van Vlaanderen women's race is run exactly like you say. And it's always a terrific spectacle.

And Fleche Wallonne and Gent-Wevelgem.

 

[Parrulo]

I never understood why a lot of women's races are not run in conjunction with the mens as everything is in the place for the mens race. The classics for example. The women's race can start a 100kms(or whatever) closer to the finish and starts an hour (or what ever)earlier. Fans get twice the 2 races on the same day. I would love to see the women race Paris-Roubaix, Milan San Remo, all the monuments actually.

that would be fantastic to be honest

 

[thehog]

Exactly, the UCI is completely screwed up. Funding random races in China to promote "globalization" but forgetting about the pro female cyclists... It's absurd.

But thats great if Liz can just quit like that. Good for her. Hopefully some dramatic changes will happen to the UCI system soon.

.....and they need to spend money on fake lawsuits to Floyd Landis.

 

[rgmerk]

And Fleche Wallonne and Gent-Wevelgem.

But what about stage races?

The TDU and the Herald-Sun Tour have women's races run earlier in the day, but to my knowledge none of the European ones do.

Maybe the Tour is a bridge too far (can't interrupt the advertising caravan!) but what about something like the Dauphine?

 

[Maxiton]

I never understood why a lot of women's races are not run in conjunction with the mens as everything is in the place for the mens race. The classics for example. The women's race can start a 100kms(or whatever) closer to the finish and starts an hour (or what ever)earlier. Fans get twice the 2 races on the same day. I would love to see the women race Paris-Roubaix, Milan San Remo, all the monuments actually.

I couldn't agree more. And I'm glad Liz Hatch is finding happiness in Spain and speaking out against the UCI. Anything that contributes toward giving the boot to those corrupt people is great in my book. (Though Liz Hatch is great in any case.)

 

[fatandfast]

I never understood why a lot of women's races are not run in conjunction with the mens as everything is in the place for the mens race. The classics for example. The women's race can start a 100kms(or whatever) closer to the finish and starts an hour (or what ever)earlier. Fans get twice the 2 races on the same day. I would love to see the women race Paris-Roubaix, Milan San Remo, all the monuments actually.

you are in space. I have officiated all kinds,99.9 of all women's events are done w men's races on the schedule. It's the product.If every team sent a gal on suicide
it would be as popular as men's racing. Just to watch an awesome athlete try and do it alone. Or a field sprint, and lack of sponsorship as per normal

 

[Caruut]

I never understood why a lot of women's races are not run in conjunction with the mens as everything is in the place for the mens race. The classics for example. The women's race can start a 100kms(or whatever) closer to the finish and starts an hour (or what ever)earlier. Fans get twice the 2 races on the same day. I would love to see the women race Paris-Roubaix, Milan San Remo, all the monuments actually.

Women's cobbled cycling to become the new beach volleyball. In all seriousness it sickens me when women's sports are sold as a sort of cross between soft porn and the men's sport, like badminton decided that to make the game more "marketable" all women had to wear skirts.

And yeah, the fans are by the roadside, the camera crews are there, mechanics are around, Phil and Paul are in attendance (sadly). You have the roads closed off. Even in the GTs, why not just start them behind if you don't wanna mess up the caravan? Or ahead of the caravan?

 

[stephens]

Don't hate them 'cause their beautiful! Let's face it, few people are going to watch women's sport for the great (objective) performances since on an objective level, they are on par with amateur guys or young teenage boys. The thing that women have to distinguish themselves from the lower level amateur guys is that they look a whole lot better going that same speed than those guys do. There's nothing wrong with that.

People will stop watching women's sport 'cause they look hot when women are able to wow fans with their speed/height/strength/accuracy/whatever. The ball is in their court, so to speak.

 

[Caruut]

Don't hate them 'cause their beautiful! Let's face it, few people are going to watch women's sport for the great (objective) performances since on an objective level, they are on par with amateur guys or young teenage boys. The thing that women have to distinguish themselves from the lower level amateur guys is that they look a whole lot better going that same speed than those guys do. There's nothing wrong with that.

People will stop watching women's sport 'cause they look hot when women are able to wow fans with their speed/height/strength/accuracy/whatever. The ball is in their court, so to speak.

Well, why not appreciate the great subjective performances? Saying women are on a lower level is painfully sexist, especially in sports like cycling. It makes about as much sense to me as complaining that 5000m runners are going slower than Usain Bolt.

 

[L'arriviste]

Folks, don't want to speak for the mods, but this is going OT. We had a good and sometimes rather gender-biased thread on women's pro cycling in respect of women's physical limits / 'boring' racing etc a while back (can't remember where now). Can we stick to the UCI organisational / Liz Hatch speaks out aspects?

 

[stephens]

Well, why not appreciate the great subjective performances? Saying women are on a lower level is painfully sexist, especially in sports like cycling. It makes about as much sense to me as complaining that 5000m runners are going slower than Usain Bolt.

There is nothing sexist about saying that women perform at a lower level physically than men. It's just reality. In every sporting and physical endeavor we've come up with. It's certainly not for lack of trying since female athletes exhibit amazing courage and dedication and effort on par with (or often surpassing that of) the men. Just blame evolution for the way their bodies work.

But similarly, cat B men also exhibit courage and dedication equal to the pro men: they just haven't been blesses with the same genetic gifts that make up the difference between good and great. No one is going to argue they ought to have a right to earn a pro living are they?

In as much as women are able to make a living as pro athletes, it's because there is something special about the way they perform their sport that overshadows the mere measurements of speed, height, strength. It's only natural that this is promoted and featured.

Amateur sports are different, especially in school: those are educational and cultural activities and equal access should be provided. but when we get to the pro level, we are talking about employment and all we guarantee is an equal opportunity. we don't hire women just because they are subjectively better than other women - we hire them when they are equally qualified as the male candidates. all that is required to not be sexist in application of pro sports is to specify that women must have the right to compete in the pro leagues with the men (if they otherwise qualify) and i'm pretty sure every civilized country has this protection in place.

As for being off topic, I apologize. I'm pretty sure these points go to the heart of the UCI's failure on women's cycling and are therefore not really offtopic. But regardless, conversations become what they become. It's either just one guy making a comment, or many comment and if the conversation then strays into other areas unimagined, that's only a reflection of the interests of those having the discussion. To try to artificially constrain those interests seems to me to be a misunderstanding of the function of discussion.