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McQuaid complains about breakaway greed

Jun 24, 2009
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You must be kidding McQuaid... complaining about a break-away league that is based on Greed…

How about this for greed. As a master rider and four time participant at the UCI Worlds in St. Johann... I ride for the same team as a 5 time gold medalist in that event.

The NEW and improved system requires that rider must qualify for the event. Which in general I am cool with. But rather than use an existing structure, say results from USA Cycling events, State and National championship results - UCI is requiring participation in a GranFondo. And get this.. in one case (NY) they only take your time during one of the climbs (about 2 miles) of long road race as the qualifier..

The race is Colorado (http://www.echelongranfondo.org/uciworlds/) features a long difficult climb, so realistically the climbers will go to the new RR Worlds course, which is now following some of the Liege Bastogne Liege course, which is cool, but clearly a different type of rider!!!

Lastly - So those of us, say in California that allocate a budget to go to race and represent our team and country, must now travel to Colorado or NY to try to qualify. Of course the UCI gets a fee for selling the rights to these grandFondo's...

McQuaid - I do not believe in Race radio and now I find it hard to believe in YOU!

Open letter and comments - Dan Belling - Cycles Veloce - Team Simple Green/Bike Religion.
 
Aug 4, 2009
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Sooner the UCI get out of masters cycling the better. They dont want it but they love the $$$$$ from memberships that is nthe only interest they have..

Forget the UCI and head to Belgium and do the ICF worlds instead. St Johan will die a natural death left to UCI.

UCI pay officials from our entries. the others have volaunteeres.
So who has most interest someone who has to turn out to get a few $$$ wages or someone who goes out and dose it for the love of the sport free of charge.
You will also find prize money is better at other Veteran movements.
 
Mar 10, 2009
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brianf7 said:
UCI pay officials from our entries. the others have volaunteeres.
So who has most interest someone who has to turn out to get a few $$$ wages or someone who goes out and dose it for the love of the sport free of charge.
You will also find prize money is better at other Veteran movements.

Do you want professional quality of your officials or volunteer? Most Athletes expect the officials to know every rule and have some real experience. Compared to their real jobs most officials are not paying their bills from officiating. They are volunteers too. Yes they get money in trade for professional services. They travel away from home and often give up their time for many events rather than just 1 or 2 in their home community.
No disrespect to volunteers but once the job starts to get complicated who is going to also volunteer 8 hours just for training and get good at it.
Every successful event needs volunteers but some roles deserve an honorarium and frankly the better organizers recognize the benefit and experience that the professional officials bring.
 
Jul 14, 2009
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I got my first officiating license along with some other club members to save money. The USCF used to have rules that required a club to put on a race in order to be in good standing w the federation. When we saw the bill from another clubs 1 day event it was logical to get officiating licenses and help our club w expenses. The money for officiating a big event like the TDF or ToC is huge. With electronic timing 90% of problems are solved.
Inexpensive video can catch guys hanging on to cars,cutting corners, hooking and just general unsafe riding yes officiating is hard but each year it becomes easier and easier.
If a breakaway fed can get 2 or 3 of the grand tours and a dozen big races to sign on, McQuaid and his 1970's outlook will be a thing of the past. Why would the UCI need a leader that was caught for cheating anyway?
 
May 26, 2009
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www.parrabuddy.blogspot.com
Fatand Fast is right in that UCI is run by a "proven cheat" who is running things like we are in the past !
Perhaps there is input from Hein & co but I for one am not happy to see the Teams' concerns ignored as they know what "Sponsors" require to justify their investment in the future events !
Certainly UCI think that some teams have to renew their 2012 sponsorship agreements thus they are dragging along creating more uncertainty for ALL .

Good management would have seen these problems dealt with promptly so as to grow the Sport's potential .

Currently the problems are leading to "Head on collisions " for all stakeholders.
 
Aug 4, 2009
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Master50 said:
Do you want professional quality of your officials or volunteer? Most Athletes expect the officials to know every rule and have some real experience. Compared to their real jobs most officials are not paying their bills from officiating. They are volunteers too. Yes they get money in trade for professional services. They travel away from home and often give up their time for many events rather than just 1 or 2 in their home community.
No disrespect to volunteers but once the job starts to get complicated who is going to also volunteer 8 hours just for training and get good at it.
Every successful event needs volunteers but some roles deserve an honorarium and frankly the better organizers recognize the benefit and experience that the professional officials bring.

Fine if we get what we pay for from UCI Masters are lucky to get one Commisair and no one else has any idea what they are suposed to be doing. Usualy local club trying to find out what is going on or what is suposed to be going on


When the race is run by passionate officials who do get some payment and expences They know the rules because they make them so usualy all is well organised. the sponsorship goes to the event not to the UCI

My argument is let masters ex pros and retired cyclists who want to put something back into cycling and share comardery some are so smashed up after a life as a pro they cant ride but they do a great job.
They put hours in prepareing an event it takes a full year to do not like UCI who prepare a week before then ring around and offer the prestige of marshaling at the event for free.
Tell them where to go jump.
 

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