McQuaid: Cut Down the Giro and Vuelta, Embrace California

[flicker]

Cycling is growing not declining. We want more cycling not less.

As i said before the best way to bring in a outside europe race into the big league would be to hold it right at the end of the season. That means OCtober - November, giving the Tour riders a chance at a second gt, not cutting down the existing ones, and globalising the sport (in both directions).

Sorry Cali your climate doesnt cut it. Nor does your history.

One country that does however is Colombia (+ venezuela bolivia and equador if need be). It has more history, a better climate and better riders.

Any 4th gt can only ever be held there, as a way of expanding this thing of ours, and not in Cali at the way of pimping it out for money and in the proccess destroying it - which is were prostitution usually leads. Short term gain, long term destruction.

I agree. Bring back Masi,Cinelli, Pogliaghi,Atala, Bianchi as the largest manufacters and sponsors of bikes. All derallieurs should be huret of campi Grand Premio, bronze coated with chrome. No wheelbases on frames less than 41 1/2".

It is 2010 guys not 1955. Like I said an international sport raced internationally. I would support racing in the US.

 

[Kwibus]

Allllright.

First of I'm sooo tired of the stupid nonsense argument that GTs need to be shorter as they encourage the use of doping. If someone is gonna use doping he will use it in a 3 week stage race or in a one day race. It doesn't matter...

I agree with McQuaid that if cycling wants to be really big internationally they have to add more international races. This however can't ever go at the cost of the Giro, Vuelta or the classics for example.
I've wondered about this a few times before, but not long enough to think of a solution The only solution I have is a 12month calendar, but I doubt the riders will like it.

 

[flicker]

Sorry, the rest of the cycling world does not need to revolve around what you would term "US interest". People who share your attitude (of which McQaeda, evidently) cannot just waltz in and buy class and tradition. It just looks cheap on you.

I appreciate continental racing. From what I understand McQuaid would like to expand racing. In no way do I see that detracting from Euro racing, I actually see competiton as a good thing. Plus it brings more money into the mix which I think is good. All I am saying is with a format such as the Giro this year, to really win you must enhance, anyone not enhancing will be trashed for the other big race the Tour, etc.
If big races happen outside of Europe they may or may not have scheduling conflicts with European races. It seems to me the little man that teams choose to combat certain races anyway.

As far as Cali goes, honestly I havn't been to the Giro but I would think the Giro is 10X better than Cali. The Cali is a lot of hype...recognise......however my guess is that when LeTour happened in the beginning it was similar. Yeah except they rode real bikes instead of the featherweights we use now!

 

[Kwibus]

I agree. Bring back Masi,Cinelli, Pogliaghi,Atala, Bianchi as the largest manufacters and sponsors of bikes. All derallieurs should be huret of campi Grand Premio, bronze coated with chrome. No wheelbases on frames less than 41 1/2".

It is 2010 guys not 1955. Like I said an international sport raced internationally. I would support racing in the US.

I support international racing too. Including the US, but right now the UCI is mostly looking at $$$$$. Races in the US and Australia make perfect sense to me. They have a decent cycling history in terms of delivering good riders since the 80s. Together with some nice money and good companies making a lot of good bike stuff... sure let's race there a few times. That's what is happening allready.
Right now nothing more is needed since the people in those countries really ain't THAT interested in cycling. Sure there is quite a nice group of people watching it, but nothing compared to West Europe or Colombia!

So it makes sense that cycling is done mostly in West Europe. It has the history and the fanbase.
If there will be a 4th GT it should be in Colombia imo.

The Tour of Oman and Qatar are fun, but pointless. Is there really anyone there interested in cycling? Is there a potential large cycling fan base? I doubt it, but do they have a lot of cash for a nice race? Oh yeh sure they have

 

[pedaling squares]

Now Pat, don't forget to dance with the girl who brought you.

 

[flicker]

I support international racing too. Including the US, but right now the UCI is mostly looking at $$$$$. Races in the US and Australia make perfect sense to me. They have a decent cycling history in terms of delivering good riders since the 80s. Together with some nice money and good companies making a lot of good bike stuff... sure let's race there a few times. That's what is happening allready.
Right now nothing more is needed since the people in those countries really ain't THAT interested in cycling. Sure there is quite a nice group of people watching it, but nothing compared to West Europe or Colombia!

So it makes sense that cycling is done mostly in West Europe. It has the history and the fanbase.
If there will be a 4th GT it should be in Colombia imo.

The Tour of Oman and Qatar are fun, but pointless. Is there really anyone there interested in cycling? Is there a potential large cycling fan base? I doubt it, but do they have a lot of cash for a nice race? Oh yeh sure they have

I followed that race, they called it Tachira in the 70s. I watch Daotec post about Colombia, those are serious heavy duty cours. For races to be sucessful in the US we need to use different format as we are a huge country and new. We will never have the tradition of the Europeans, the culture here is much more varied, immigrants coming all the time, so much happening here other than cycling.

It is interesting how much the top pros enjoy coming to California and racing though.

 

[Race Radio]

You have to understand where Pat is coming from. With the recent debacle with the World Cup bids FIFA is firmly in place as the most inept and corrupt of the international sport governing bodies. This drives McQuaid nuts as he also always thought that he deserved the title of biggest fool in sports. This is just an attempt to regain that crown.

 

[Barrus]

Cycling is growing not declining. We want more cycling not less.

As i said before the best way to bring in a outside europe race into the big league would be to hold it right at the end of the season. That means OCtober - November, giving the Tour riders a chance at a second gt, not cutting down the existing ones, and globalising the sport (in both directions).

I agree with the idea that new races in other continents should not coincide with major European races, those that ae established, if these new races want to attract current protour level teams. If it is a good race offering something that is not available at that period of the racing schedule, the race should be fine and not clash with currently existing races. For example this years Canadian races were during the Vuelta I believe, however they offered an alternative, some other form of racing. Those who did want to enter in a GT could opt for these one day races, this meant that neither of the events needed to compete with the other and all had a good strong varied field.

Another good point that the Canadian races had was that they were grouped together, if around those dates other good American races were to crop up, it could have the effect that those in the region due to the Canadian races would adopt a small calender of North American races. In this way other races could built upon the Canadian races, as the riders are in the region anyway. To be quite honest, it would make most sense for the ToC or something similar to be held somewhere near these Canadian races. Perhaps that would also ensure that those going to the ToC see it as more than just a holiday

 

[Mellow Velo]

Sorry in the US there is little interest in those races(Vuelta,Giro)

No coverage outside of cycling mags and computer cycling geeks. The Vuelta and Giro GTs are absolutly alien to our US culture. If you want to have the sport grow, the markets need to be expanded. Listen to McQuaid.

Fair enough from a US perspective.

Put the shoe on the other foot, for a moment.

How do you see things working out when there is little interest in Europe for the TDU and TOC etc. That getting up in the middle of the night to watch a pan flat plod, or a false MTF finish is alien to our culture and given that the European cycling fanbase is already established and 50 times bigger?
Is ignoring the historical giants and investing in races that are new and potentially unstable, really a better bet for growth?

Another question is: How many professional team sports support a worldwide league?

 

[veganrob]

Where is all the US interest? Tour of Georgia. cancelled. Tour of Missouri. cancelled. Philadelphia is next with no sponsorship.
So Lance gets one in Colorado. Big deal. How long will that last when he takes the fall? You want to see people jumping off the band wagon to save their lives. Sorry, we do not have the history in the US. I would love to see more road racing other than crits here. Boring. But business will not support real road racing.

 

[flicker]

Fair enough from a US perspective.

Put the shoe on the other foot, for a moment.

How do you see things working out when there is little interest in Europe for the TDU and TOC etc. That getting up in the middle of the night to watch a pan flat plod, or a false MTF finish is alien to our culture and given that the European cycling fanbase is already established and 50 times bigger?
Is ignoring the historical giants and investing in races that are new and potentially unstable, really a better bet for growth?

Another question is: How many professional team sports support a worldwide league?

To be honest mellow, I do not see pro-cycling as a contender in the pro sport world of the US. Absolutley no way we can compete with the roads and fan base of Europe.

Selfishly as a person who loves to see great rider I am excited to see Schleck, Boonen Gesink, Boom all the Rabobanks and the sickest baddest of all cyclists this year Peter Sagan in my home state.

In my opinion, if a top pro races the Giro, and I mean races he doesn't have a chance in the Tour de France(except for Contador)

For me the marquis of races are the classics and the tour.

In the cali races I can see some top classic riders and most of the non-Spanish Tour Contenders on home soil. What is not to like about the tour of California for me?

 

[veganrob]

Sorry, the rest of the cycling world does not need to revolve around what you would term "US interest". People who share your attitude (of which McQaeda, evidently) cannot just waltz in and buy class and tradition. It just looks cheap on you.

Perfectly said

 

[flicker]

Sorry, the rest of the cycling world does not need to revolve around what you would term "US interest". People who share your attitude (of which McQaeda, evidently) cannot just waltz in and buy class and tradition. It just looks cheap on you.

Please do not talk about Jonathon Vaughters that way!

 

[theswordsman]

I'm an American who stopped caring about the ATOC when they moved it to May and got people to say it was the second or third best race in the world or whatever. In 2009, they had 84 finishers. This year, they had 63. Rumors were that a lot of guys had fun partying. I'm not sure what the thought process would be in shortening the Giro. Does he think that people would then do both races, if the schedule permitted? Does he think that diluting the race would some how make more top riders and teams show up? Astana wanted to race in California this year and didn't get an invitation.

I think that it's appropriate that as he talks about shortening the duration of two great, historic, events, that we're talking about shortening his duration (as an authority figure in cycling). What would it take to get the guy out of office? Do I have to hope he gets jail time from...?

 

[hrotha]

What I don't understand is this obsession with having a super big race in the US, the fourth GT, hell, the second GT (screw Giro and Vuelta). It's like they want to promote cycling... by cutting straight to the money-earning phase, without actually building up the sport. It's like taking a tiny team and trying to turn it into a strong Pro Tour team overnight (and an Australian one, at that). Tour of California will be a very fine race if it keeps growing, but aside from that there's unfortunately little else. Start by consolidating the Tour of California and the other existing races, and create a proper .1 and .HC circuit. That's promoting and exporting the sport. Everything else is just a way to make quick money for a handful of people.

 

[flicker]

Sorry, the rest of the cycling world does not need to revolve around what you would term "US interest". People who share your attitude (of which McQaeda, evidently) cannot just waltz in and buy class and tradition. It just looks cheap on you.

Send that post to the sponsors of Cancellara, Betini, Basso,Voight,Boonen etc. They have all ridden Cali. Ask them why?

 

[meandmygitane]

How about cutting down on UCI instead?

Heh, McQuaid is the UCI equivalent to FIS cross-country skiings Jurg Capol and Vegard Ulvang - always eager to cut down on the sports respective traditions to please some "new market". The result is usually mediocre (lot of boring mini-tours and other boring, boring race formats)

3 week tours are what 50 kilometres individual start is for cross-country skiing - species threatened by extinction. Apparently they are not viewerfriendly enough.

 

[red_flanders]

That means OCtober - November, giving the Tour riders a chance at a second gt, not cutting down the existing ones, and globalising the sport (in both directions).

Sorry Cali your climate doesnt cut it.

You might want to revisit your thoughts on California climate in October - November. Unless you're talking about Humboldt and Del Norte counties, there isn't a nicer time of the year here.

 

[la.margna]

...in order to clean the scourge of you no what(prohibited substances) the GTs need to be easier and shorter...

You can't be serious, can you? So 100m sprint cut to 80m = less doping?
Giro cut by one week and five KOM = less doping?
Actually, I should not even reply to such a ridicolous statement.

While I have no more hope for McQuairruption, he has definitely a point in going global. But why cut one of the three GT's and not Tour of Poland, Tour de Romandie, Basque Tour or even Dauphiné and rearrange the schedule?

 

[Arnout]

I agree. Bring back Masi,Cinelli, Pogliaghi,Atala, Bianchi as the largest manufacters and sponsors of bikes. All derallieurs should be huret of campi Grand Premio, bronze coated with chrome. No wheelbases on frames less than 41 1/2".

It is 2010 guys not 1955. Like I said an international sport raced internationally. I would support racing in the US.

Go. Please go, in the US. Have fun. Organize a brilliant race.

Oh wait, there are talks for 20 years to organize a US grand tour but even with a 3+7 Tourwinner it never took off.

Yeah, probably when we cancel all other races some more attention might go to California. Great, congrats.

I understand people in US want racing in US. Just organize it. When it's better than here in Europe, EU teams will come. But come on, forcing EU teams to focus on other continents for the sake of that continents (only to be replaced by them 2 years later ironically) is pathetic. If there is a market for cycling, it will evolve without any pathetic moves by the most stupid man on earth.

Look at Colombia. Great racing, great riders, lots of enthusiasm. Did they need that **** that calls itself the head of the UCI? I don't think so.

 

[flicker]

You can't be serious, can you? So 100m sprint cut to 80m = less doping?
Giro cut by one week and five KOM = less doping?
Actually, I should not even reply to such a ridicolous statement.

While I have no more hope for McQuairruption, he has definitely a point in going global. But why cut one of the three GT's and not Tour of Poland, Tour de Romandie, Basque Tour or even Dauphiné and rearrange the schedule?

You want a spectacle, go to Contador, Ricco, Rebellin all top riders.

I listened when Voight or maybe Cadel criticized the Giro organizers after the insane ski ramp dirt road Giro TT in 08. They said to many transfers and no recovery+ brutal stages, now I understand why riders dope.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

What I don't understand is this obsession with having a super big race in the US, the fourth GT, hell, the second GT (screw Giro and Vuelta). It's like they want to promote cycling... by cutting straight to the money-earning phase, without actually building up the sport. It's like taking a tiny team and trying to turn it into a strong Pro Tour team overnight (and an Australian one, at that). Tour of California will be a very fine race if it keeps growing, but aside from that there's unfortunately little else. Start by consolidating the Tour of California and the other existing races, and create a proper .1 and .HC circuit. That's promoting and exporting the sport. Everything else is just a way to make quick money for a handful of people.

The bold is the question and the blue is part of the answer.

The rest of the answer might be found here on Pats brothers Darachs company website looking to organise the American answer to Le Tour.

In the spring of 2011, a professional cycling race in the US will be North America's "Tour de France" and one company could get all that credit.

 

[Arnout]

You can't be serious, can you? So 100m sprint cut to 80m = less doping?
Giro cut by one week and five KOM = less doping?
Actually, I should not even reply to such a ridicolous statement.

While I have no more hope for McQuairruption, he has definitely a point in going global. But why cut one of the three GT's and not Tour of Poland, Tour de Romandie, Basque Tour or even Dauphiné and rearrange the schedule?

Why cut at all? Races will filter out themselves if they are better than other races.

As long as California is a week long build up to a 15 km time trial and Down Under advertises itself with a hard stage over Wilunga Hill, I don't see any point in globalizing. Its simple as that. Noone watches the ENECO Tour because its pathetic. Noone watches cycling in the US or Australia because its pathetic. Not because we don't globalize.

Why not globalize in Colombia where there are beautiful races? Why not force all teams, French and Spanish, local and nonlocal, to Colombia where all ingredients are in place? I guess there's no money...

Now I have to say they leave Colombia untouched because racing is more exciting than in Europe, so there's no point in globalizing.

I don't understand it. Sports is about fun. We have fun with cycling in Europe and there aren't any signs that fun is decreasing. Why then should we change?

Great move by McQuaid by the way, upsetting the Giro just after finally reaching an agreement. Way to go. If that's the way how we globalize, please...

 

[flicker]

I understand people in US want racing in US. Just organize it. When it's better than here in Europe, EU teams will come. But come on, forcing EU teams to focus on other continents for the sake of that continents (only to be replaced by them 2 years later ironically) is pathetic. If there is a market for cycling, it will evolve without any pathetic moves by the most stupid man on earth.


The bike companies are selling there product, Amgen gets advertising time and California gets publicised. Is that a bad thing?

 

[Arnout]

The bold is the question and the blue is part of the answer.

The rest of the answer might be found here on Pats brothers Darachs company website looking to organise the American answer to Le Tour.

It suddenly all starts to make sense...

Thanks for the info. Why not send this to some news agencies when this story continues? It might cost McQuaid his job.