The UCI just don't get it

[Freddythefrog]

UCI @UCI_cycling

The International Cycling Union (UCI) is the world governing body of cycling. It groups together more than 170 National Federations.

http://www.uci.ch

Tweets
UCI @UCI_cycling
For the UCI #WorldTour season review Graham Watson will present one photo a day until 31st December! Take a look on uci.ch
32 minutes ago
UCI @UCI_cycling
Video: Legendary cycling photographer @grahamwatson10 talks about 2012 Tour Down Under tinyurl.com/dxgqhl6 UCI #WorldTour
35 minutes ago
View UCI's full profile →

"A potential customer was perusing Watson’s website looking at images when he noticed that the URL for the Greg LeMond photos had the word “fool” instead of LeMond’s name. He complained saying, “not everyone is an Armstrong fan, and I was going to buy several prints from you, but no longer, very disappointed.” Watson’s reply was in a rather condescending tone, “I’ve not noticed that mistake, I’ll have my webmaster look at it. Sorry we cannot appease you, I’m a fan of both guys, they both did a lot for my career, just a shame one cannot keep his mouth shut.. GW”

There is no reforming these creatures. They have the omerta running in their blood. It is a mutually supporting pyramid of ***. GW supports the UCI and its apparatchiks, the UCI support the "legendary" Watson.

It is just this sort of systemic, engrained behaviour that turns good corporations into bankrupt, basket cases. That is why economic collapses have to be allowed. But state sponsored monopolies or monopolies sustained by legislation rig the market. The UCI are just such a beast and any hope that some "investigation", with terms of reference written by the UCI is going to uncover anything untoward about the UCI, no matter how well intentioned the gullible, participants, signed up for it, are. If Cookson had a spine, he has had enough years on the board to demand that the full accounts regarding the machine bought by the UCI were properly exposed.

Go to it UCI - I want a festive present - the UCI Christmas special - a Watson picture book of the Lance years.

 

[johnsiviour]

GW damned by his actions and attitudes...condemned by his own words.

UCI/PMc revealed to be hypocrites and self serving/self contradicting and near sighted.

All the above clearly have no concept of enlightened self interest. I have to accept though that this is a common failing of humans in general.

 

[D-Queued]

Watson’s reply was in a rather condescending tone, “... I’m a fan of both guys, they both did a lot for my career, just a shame one cannot keep his mouth shut.. GW”

...

The idiot that has not kept his mouth shut is Lance. Up until the last month, that is, when Lance finally listened to his attorneys and squelching and sealing has become in vogue.

Dave.

 

[Parker]

Yes, the UCI do get it.

They just see Watson as a photographer. And that is all he is. Nothing more, nothing less.

So his views may not tally with yours. Big deal. Are his photos any good? That's all that matters.

If you see a photo of Obama or Cameron or Gillard, do you ask who the photographer voted for? No. That would be bizarre behaviour.

He's just a photographer and he takes good pictures. There's little more to it than that.

If you stance is that dissenting views should be blacklisted or supressed then you're probably not on the most solid moral ground.

 

[northstar]

There are a lot of good photographers out there and Watson is one of them. According to GW he has been been the UCI's photographer since 1998. That is a loong time. I am curious to know how does one becomes the official UCI photog? Is the position put out to tender each year? Does the best photographer win or is it an ole boys club?

 

[BroDeal]

There are a lot of good photographers out there and Watson is one of them. According to GW he has been been the UCI's photographer since 1998. That is a loong time. I am curious to know how does one becomes the official UCI photog? Is the position put out to tender each year? Does the best photographer win or is it an ole boys club?

Aside from the annual bribe, there is a minimum weight requirement. If you weight less than Pat McQuaid then you are not eligible.

 

[northstar]

OK, good to know that even though the UCI lacks in ethics, it makes up by being health conscious.

 

[Benotti69]

There are a lot of good photographers out there and Watson is one of them. According to GW he has been been the UCI's photographer since 1998. That is a loong time. I am curious to know how does one becomes the official UCI photog? Is the position put out to tender each year? Does the best photographer win or is it an ole boys club?

Lots of better sports smudgers out there than Watson.

Ole boys club is how one enters the dark arena aka uci.

Watson hooked his wagon to Armstrong like lots of the greedy spineless ar$eholes that populate the sport.

 

[Freddythefrog]

Dodgy moral ground

Yes, the UCI do get it.

They just see Watson as a photographer. And that is all he is. Nothing more, nothing less.

So his views may not tally with yours. Big deal. Are his photos any good? That's all that matters.

If you see a photo of Obama or Cameron or Gillard, do you ask who the photographer voted for? No. That would be bizarre behaviour.

He's just a photographer and he takes good pictures. There's little more to it than that.

If you stance is that dissenting views should be blacklisted or supressed then you're probably not on the most solid moral ground.

Obama, Cameron and Gillard are the "competitors". The UCI is the independent (ok, well its not but it is meant to be) body that in effect administers the election(race). Its Official Photographer runs a commercial website that has a feature on the recent US election. Under Romney the photographs are held against the name "Romney", Obhama's photographs are in a folder titled "FOOL". This is at a time when Obhama's staff are screaming that the UCI rigged the election, they are racist and Romney won as a consequence. A key feature of the case is that the UCI claim the donations made by the Romney campaign to them were for machines to automatically and impartially count votes. The counter is that there is no receipt for any machine, the handful of machines on site were there before the "donations" were made, they are just so much window dressing and that this was just the visible part of a system of bungs given to rig the system against any black guy winning. Oh and Gillard is moaning because they divide any votes she gets by 2 on the basis that only girlies vote for her and girlies are really too stupid to vote and nobody is interested in girlies being in charge of anything. If she wins they will give her 1/4 of any prize they give had a man won.

"Oh I have not noticed that mistake. I will get the webmaster to look into it."

Dodgy moral ground ? Parker in a response in the style of the legend that is GW, -

I think you may find that you get a better view of the ships if you turn the telescope around and hold the thin end close to your eye.

 

[DirtyWorks]

There is no reforming these creatures. They have the omerta running in their blood. It is a mutually supporting pyramid of ***. GW supports the UCI and its apparatchiks, the UCI support the "legendary" Watson.

When you are Pat or Hein or somehow manage to win a few elite races, it pays pretty good too.

It is just this sort of systemic, engrained behaviour that turns good corporations into bankrupt, basket cases. That is why economic collapses have to be allowed. But state sponsored monopolies or monopolies sustained by legislation rig the market.

Not really the how of the UCI. Like the IOC, the UCI is supra-national and answer only to lax Swiss law. Basically, the IOC both funds and protects it's recognized sports like cycling.

 

[sniper]

just bumped into this press release from 2007: Clerc asking for McQuaid's head:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2007-07-28-4055765673_x.htm

and this: Armstrong saying Clerc (in 2009) must take responsibility for the many doping cases in the TdF during Lance's absence.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf2009/news/story?id=4311660

...............

 

[Freddythefrog]

Yes, the UCI do get it.

They just see Watson as a photographer. And that is all he is. Nothing more, nothing less.

So his views may not tally with yours. Big deal. Are his photos any good? That's all that matters.

If you see a photo of Obama or Cameron or Gillard, do you ask who the photographer voted for? No. That would be bizarre behaviour.

No he is just a photographer and he takes good pictures. There's little more to it than that.

If you stance is that dissenting views should be blacklisted or supressed then you're probably not on the most solid moral ground.

I have no idea what happened to my reply. I typed it, posted it and now it is not here. So here goes again !

OK so it is not quite that simple. Let's carry forward your model.

The UCI are in effect the agency to whom you have to pay to affiliate to and agree to abide by their rules if you want to run for President/Premier. They are the independent lawmakers and enforcers (always a combination designed to fail). Obama has not won the election. He cries "foul" and accuses the UCI of racial bias and accepting bribes from Romney. By way of one example he says "....just look at your official photographer. As a result of your endorsement, he gains prime access to all the campaign events and then commercially sells his wares gained at such advantage. Against the Romney campaign albums he has the title "Romney". Against my albums he does not even have the decency to put my name just "fool". This is outrageous behaviour by anybody purporting to be a "professional" and that his work is promoted and continues to be supported and promoted by your organisation, in spite of his so obvious bias, is outrageous."

Dodgy moral ground Parker. In whose dreams ?

And while at it, the model would break down for Gilliat. Being an "girlie" the UCI would only count every 2 of votes for her as 1 and if she won, and place all sorts of restrictions on her activities so that she could not be seen in the same light as her male equivalents. Max race length 6 days. Stages limited in length. Rubbish prizes and tokenism dispensed at every opportunity.

 

[sniper]

good piece on Verdrug'm in Dutch:
http://www.extrasport.be/hein-lance-en-doping/

Some things i didn't know yet, such as that Hein pleaded for allowing doping in 1999, and to merely perform "health checks" instead of doping tests. Later in 2002 he pleaded for increasing the maximum allowed hematocrit level to 53%.
Or that he publicly criticized Rooks, Ducrot and Winnen for coming clean in 2000. (Didn't know, btw, that Ducrot had already confessed by then.)
In response to their admission, Hein said: “All they achieve with this is that nobody wants to become a cyclist anymore."

 

[sniper]

Jaw dropping stuff from McQuaid.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mcquaid-all-ive-done-since-i-became-president-is-fight-doping

"So the fact that the results were always negative, you ask could more have been done? No it couldn't, simple as that.

Didn't do **** when Floyd blew the whistle, other than sueing Floyd and calling him a liar.

I don't see any reason why I should step down, to let somebody in [who] maybe doesn't know as much, or is as capable, or isn't as passionate, or as dedicated. I think I am the best man."

**** me...

McQuaid pointed-out former professional and journalist Paul Kimmage for having a "personal vendetta" against him

got news for Phat: it's not just Paul who wants you out.

"There's nothing to hide from my point of view. I do believe, either way, come 2013, Lance will be forgotten anyway. The sport will move on."

"Look at Wiggins this year. I think the sport is in a very good position. Cycling shouldn't be judged on the Lance Armstrong story. It should be judged on the Olympic Games. 1.5 million people for the road race, the Velodrome was the hottest in terms of atmosphere. The BMX was hugely successful, the mountain biking was hugely successful. The sport is in a great place and is growing.

The UCI clearly has invested in Sky's success.

 

[Benotti69]

Jaw dropping stuff from McQuaid.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mcquaid-all-ive-done-since-i-became-president-is-fight-doping


Didn't do **** when Floyd blew the whistle, other than sueing Floyd and calling him a liar.

**** me...

got news for Phat: it's not just Paul who wants you out.


The UCI clearly has invested in Sky's success.

McQuaid knew Sky would play the game when it comes to turning a blind eye.

Remember McQuaid talking about the Sky winning party half way through the race in July.

 

[Joachim]

McQuaid knew Sky would play the game when it comes to turning a blind eye.
.

Just to be clear, is that fact or speculation?

 

[Benotti69]

Just to be clear, is that fact or speculation?

Taking notes for Fran?

 

[Joachim]

Fact or speculation?

 

[86TDFWinner]

WOW, I'd love to have some of what McQuacks taking, he truely is clueless.

 

[Joachim]

Either Wiggins dopes or he doesn't.

Neither of those positions are contingent upon the doping histories of former Sky riders, or former or current staff.

However, Sky's PR has backfired horribly, I agree.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

just bumped into this press release from 2007: Clerc asking for McQuaid's head:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2007-07-28-4055765673_x.htm

and this: Armstrong saying Clerc (in 2009) must take responsibility for the many doping cases in the TdF during Lance's absence.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf2009/news/story?id=4311660

...............

He subsequently was promoted to a managerial position at Paris Saint Germain.

Funny world isnt it?

The UCI does get it, time to let others get it now whe - the public - get it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQNCqI9gGKs

 

[D-Queued]

Either Wiggins dopes or he doesn't.

Neither of those positions are contingent upon the doping histories of former Sky riders, or former or current staff.

However, Sky's PR has backfired horribly, I agree.

Why don't you put that to a poll? I choose 'dopes'.

Dave.

 

[D-Queued]

Jaw dropping stuff from McQuaid.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mcquaid-all-ive-done-since-i-became-president-is-fight-doping


Didn't do **** when Floyd blew the whistle, other than sueing Floyd and calling him a liar.

**** me...

got news for Phat: it's not just Paul who wants you out.


The UCI clearly has invested in Sky's success.

The quote in the subtitle bowled me over before I could even begin the text:

UCI president says Lance Armstrong will be forgotten

Perhaps Pat is expressing envy.

The truth is that Lance will absolutely be remembered long after Pat is forced from his cushy office. Lance has already had how many books written about him (not counting the cartoons by Sally Jenkins, of course)? How many for Pat?

The most documentation that Pat can obtain from a writer is the countersuit from Kimmage. Who would waste ink on him?

Pat.Is.A.Complete.Embarrassment.To.The.Sport. And to himself.

Pat must not read.

I have been in full-blown surprise at how many journalists have ranked Armstrong as head of the class in 2012 embarrassments, unravellings, and overdue comeuppances.

Not one has mentioned Verdruggen, which is surprising given his utter complicity, let alone Phat.

Dave.

 

[Joachim]

Cynically playing off the press and fans is what the UCI does. Let's sue Floyd and Kimmage for libel. The UCI were trumpeting their "victory" over Floyd the other month. It's a sick joke and Brad needs to recognise he is part of that sick joke whilst he shares the company he does and Brailsford commits them to the policy he has designed.

I like the way you try and conflate Wiggins with the UCI suing Kimmage and Floyd. Nice bit of sophistry.

I do take your point about Sky's PR... to an extent. They are being held hostage to their own proclamations. Do we all agree that their proclamations were a positive thing with regardless of how they lived up to them?

At most, they can be accused of hypocrisy.

 

[del1962]

I like the way you try and associate Wiggins with the UCI suing Kimmage and Floyd. Nice bit of sophistry.

I do take your point about Sky's PR... to an extent. They are being held hostage to their own proclamations. Do we all agree that their proclamations were a positive thing with regardless of how they lived up to them?

At most, they can be accused of hypocrisy.

I don't realy think it is up to Brad/DB to comment on it so I think hypocracy would be an unfair charge to make, though we know Millar (the one whose sister works for sky) said the UCI should not go after Kimmage.

Mind none of this stops Millar from getting abused by some in the clinic.