suipedali said:
Is there much left to "rape and pillage" in Europe? Maybe that's why "he is doing great for cycling in our countries" In my opinion the UCI is rapidly becoming as laughable as Mr Blatter's FIFA
So we see what side of the fence you sit on.
The problem with being the big shark in the aquarium is you might not notice all the little sharks are starting to school and getting bigger too.
Change is the only thing that sometimes gets us to scrape the barnacles off the hull. Professional cycling has changed a lot. At 1 time it was second fiddle to the amateurs. The UCI started paying a lot more attention to professional cycling after pros were allowed into the Olympics.
Then there were the Americans and they screwed up the wage system. Can you believe that cyclists can actually live on a riders salary? Tour winners! OMG not another American!! Bike Sponsors two more big American mega bike sponsors!!! A Canadian bike voted the best on this web site ARRRRGGH!!!!
Since most of humanity lives outside Europe I would think it is obvious that the power is shifting but the net result might be that cycling becomes a world sport, maybe even like Football (not the American kind) Maybe at the expense of some European races but how can you complain about all the good things too. More professional cyclists, more races and at higher calibre, better living conditions for riders, Maybe even better races in Europe too. You might remember the year Pat was elected the number 2 candidate was from Malaysia. I can hardly even imagine the change with him as president. BTW Malaysia has advanced greatly as a result of UCI policies and are a legitimate Track country with eyes on the road.
Ok I am a minority report if the rhetoric about Pat is representative of majority views but I like him, I find him to be sane and logical most of the time and Yes I have met him twice.