Should we have podium girls?

[The Hitch]

It's not the reason why we came to watch the sport in the first place so they wouldn't be missed if they were to be removed. They "eye candy" excuse should be a redundant one in this day and age and beggars belief that it is still used as means to continue their existence. Not just cycling should be flagged up, other sports come to the fore as a lot worse in this regards like the way the UFC use Arianny Celeste and others as a way to promote their organisation and the ridiculous show that Barry Hearn has done in darts. It makes you wonder is it more sports entertainment than actually sport itself here.

Taking Jane Aubrey's column into account, while I agree with her criticism of Sagan, I don't see how she can link the lack of coverage in Vos's win to what Sagan did on Sunday. You can't tell me that this place would of had a thread with many posts hopping from one to another or that there would be more media coverage of her win in general if Sagan didn't do what he did. Nicole Cooke's comments are more appropriate here with her highlighting the many races struggling with sponsorship to survive due to the UCI's apparent ignorance in promoting it down the years. Sagan's behaviour is not the reason why the sport has this inequality in it's coverage.

Moreover if vos had not won the race the women's version would have received even less attention. And to bring the point full circle, that's despite the fact that the would be winner is a cyclist who is seen as extremely attractive by male fans.

 

[Ripper]

Honestly, I think the whole podium gal thing is a bit silly. Of course, in local races and in the MTB scene, you don't tend to see them at all, so it is only something I ever see when I see the ceremonies in pro road racing. The racing scene would not lack a thing in not having them, and the whole purpose is supposed to be the riders who hit the podium.

And ... FWIW ... it would not have any negative impact on the Babes on Bikes thread or aspiring models' careers

 

[phanatic]

I can't imagine what those poor women have to go through.

While we're at it, can we ban the handshakes from former cyclists and organizers? We are all equal and shaking one person's hand is no different than another's (unless hen's a repulsive non-person), and this holdover from the days of aristocracy and class oppression has long since outlived any usefulness or decency.

 

[BroDeal]

We can sidestep the entire problem by using podium eunuchs.

I volunteer ACF for job. It might hurt a bit at first, mate, but somebody's got to do it.

 

[phanatic]

We can sidestep the entire problem by using podium eunuchs.

Do women race in Oman?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

We can sidestep the entire problem by using podium eunuchs.

I volunteer ACF for job. It might hurt a bit at first, mate, but somebody's got to do it.

Hahahaha. OH C will be perfect, i agree.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Informing the debate:

Philip Gomes 29 Jan 2013
http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/philip-gomes/blog/127363/podium-girls-must-go

Do podium girls belong in modern cycling? After causing a bit of a kerfuffle on the bike blog by suggesting they were a shameful anachronism, Helen Pidd heads down to the final stage of the Tour of Britain in east London ask the women who do the job.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/audio/2010/oct/05/bike-podcast

Podium boys?
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/S...7/Podium_boys_for_womens_bike_races_P3080737/

 

[SafeBet]

Pretty much. It was a non issue until now and as usual in today's society and the age of the internet, one silly act creates a lot of hysteria.

Don't know. I've honestly always felt weird about podium girls being there and kissing the riders.
Same way I feel for almost naked cheerleaders in pro American sports or girls in boxe. Sex sells, fair, but I'm pretty sure the day I'll be watching sports on tv with my daughter or son, it won't be easy to explain why there are always sexy women involved.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

What's the argument for not having podium girls?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

What's the argument for not having podium girls?

No historical precedent for girls:

But scanty clothing - yes!

 

[SKSemtex]

Of course you should keep it. It is tradition. And “beautiful” one. Only idiots ( and lawyers) look for sexism where it is not.
What happened, happened. It was not appropriate from Peter at all. He realized it and made his apology. Unfortunately hypocrites, feminists and haters have their “issues” now and are going to remind it to him for years. I hope his best answer for this “witch-hunt” will be AG win. I just hope he will cross the line with none celebration, emotion and he will resist to be kissed on podium.

 

[Pentacycle]

Don't know. I've honestly always felt weird about podium girls being there and kissing the riders.
Same way I feel for almost naked cheerleaders in pro American sports or girls in boxe. Sex sells, fair, but I'm pretty sure the day I'll be watching sports on tv with my daughter or son, it won't be easy to explain why there are always sexy women involved.

The reward for winning a race must at all times be honor, glory and kisses from sexy women on the podium. (pinching is for 2nd)

 

[spalco]

I don't know, but I would always keep a "podium boy" around next to Sagan from now on, or two if he wins.

 

[Cimber]

Of course we shall. Sagan's stunt shouldnt change that.

 

[hoerpi]

Of course you should keep it. It is tradition. And “beautiful” one. Only idiots ( and lawyers) look for sexism where it is not.
What happened, happened. It was not appropriate from Peter at all. He realized it and made his apology. Unfortunately hypocrites, feminists and haters have their “issues” now and are going to remind it to him for years. I hope his best answer for this “witch-hunt” will be AG win. I just hope he will cross the line with none celebration, emotion and he will resist to be kissed on podium.

I'm sorry but it's har to argue against podium girls being sexism, it's very objectifying.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

No historical precedent for girls:

Actually yes there is, in ancient Greece, the winners of olympic events could pick a girl from the audience to have sex with. That's (part of) why it was eventually banned, when the Roman empire became christian.

But yeah, I don't think there should be podium girls. All this time I thought I had a narrow minded bigotted conservative christian moral when it comes to these things. Turns out I'm in the camp of the feminists now. Who would've thought.

 

[Arnout]

As I'm an advocate of individual choice, I'd say let the riders choose whether they want podium girls or not, on an individual basis.

Personally, I have zero issues with it. As has been said, podium girls choose to be podium girls themselves and often those places are contested. Who are we then, to say they shouldn't be allowed to be there? Are we living in a totalitarian regime?

I also don't think using podium girls is sexist. I think it is a nice touch, a bit of glamour if you want in a sport that is usually known for its grit, dirt and suffering and not at all for glamor. In that regard, podium girls are an anomaly in cycling and for that reason alone I'd say don't fire them. Personally I don't see podium girls as objects at all.

 

[TomasC]

Now that podium girls in Flanders brought us so much inspiration for discussion and entertainment, how can you argue that we do not need them?
And I'm all in for podium boys in womens' races, as suggested by Liz Hatch!

 

[JimmyFingers]

I doubt they have a union, but getting rid of podium girls would dent a few promotional girls' incomes. Reckon the girls themselves would prefer to continue.

Plus it happens everywhere: at F1 races there are hundreds of promo girls. Doesn't make it right of course but cycling is hardly on it's own: cheerleaders, ring girls in boxing.....

 

[SKSemtex]

Out of topic but I wonder how the feminists would react on this Slovak Eastern habit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LBUAIDCADE

I know it looks brutal. But you know what? In the end of the day the winner of this "sexism and ebuse" is the girl with the most visits proudly vaunting especially to those without single one.

 

[RownhamHill]

What's the message behind using podium girls?
The winner gets hot women for free?
We might just aswell give the winner a prostitute instead of a champagner bottle.

It's a silly ritual which doesn't belong in sports.

This.

I was watching highlights from some race or other last year, and my wife came in at the end - she literally couldn't believe the podium ritual, and made pretty much the point above. And if the best arguments against are a) well it's a tradition, and anyway, b) some men on the internet like looking at the hot chicks, then pretty much it's not an argument you're going to win with anyone other than people who fit into b) anyway.

 

[personal]

The reward for winning a race must at all times be honor, glory and kisses from sexy women on the podium. (pinching is for 2nd)

Ha, ha, ha!
Well said!

 

[jens_attacks]

should we have ice cream?

 

[jsem94]

I don't care about podium girls tbh. The sport could do without them, but their presence isn't something I get worked up about.

 

[ToreBear]

Out of topic but I wonder how the feminists would react on this Slovak Eastern habit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LBUAIDCADE

I know it looks brutal. But you know what? In the end of the day the winner of this "sexism and ebuse" is the girl with the most visits proudly vaunting especially those without single one.

This reminds me of the tradition of bride kidnapping. That has a long tradition. Still practiced in some countries. Though it's illegal in most.

It's probably considered harmless in those countries. To me it's revolting, but perhaps If I lived a thousand years ago, I might have considered it harmless aswell.