Tour de France Femmes 2024 (August 12th-18th)

[mrgmyers]

Not EuroSport's fault: they can't broadcast what the content providers do not record.

But by all means blame them for Kirby and Blythe, and for not retaining Dan Lloyd.

I agree that Carlton is now a bit past his sell-by date. However, I think Adam is pretty good. He sparks off Orla in the pre- and post-race shows, which is something Eurosport wants so that the coverage appeals to a bigger audience than just hardcore cycling fans. They needed a space for a female contributor, and Dani Rowe has done a fantastic job, and I hope she continues to do so.
Dan Lloyd was excellent as a "cyclists cyclist" and contributed some excellent commentary, but RobHatch, Robbie McEwen, and Sean Kelly are hard to beat, and he did not seem to fit the show dynamic Eurosport wanted.

 

[mrgmyers]

I don't think anyone is being happy for Vollering... everyone is fully aware that the situation sucked for her.
But that still doesn't mean you can't be happy for Niewiadoma.

I agree, but the SD Works situation is bizarre. They claimed that they could not afford Vollering and Lotte Kopecky, yet they are about to bring Anna van der Breggen back, so they will need to hire another female SD to add to the payroll. But the team did not appear to be riding as a unit. Okay, Marlen Reusser is sick, as is Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, so I can see some big holes in their roster, but WHY did her team support her better? I do not understand.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I agree, but the SD Works situation is bizarre. They claimed that they could not afford Vollering and Lotte Kopecky, yet they are about to bring Anna van der Breggen back, so they will need to hire another female SD to add to the payroll. But the team did not appear to be riding as a unit. Okay, Marlen Reusser is sick, as is Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, so I can see some big holes in their roster, but WHY did her team support her better? I do not understand.

Moolman Pasio hasn't ridden for the team in two years, but given that she and Vollering didn't seem to have the best relationship when they were teammates, she probably wouldn't have been a better helper than Wiebes.

Chantal van den Broek-Blaak had agreed to become a DS before she ultimately prolonged her career and became a mother. At this point it's unknown what her future is, but she wasn't happy to be the left out of the Tour team and miss the opportunity to experience the Grand Départ on her home roads.

 

[yaco]

Moolman Pasio hasn't ridden for the team in two years, but given that she and Vollering didn't seem to have the best relationship when they were teammates, she probably wouldn't have been a better helper than Wiebes.

Chantal van den Broek-Blaak had agreed to become a DS before she ultimately prolonged her career and became a mother. At this point it's unknown what her future is, but she wasn't happy to be the left out of the Tour team and miss the opportunity to experience the Grand Départ on her home roads.

Moolman-Pasio appeared on The Move last week. They briefly touched on her time at SD Worx and she politely stated it was an interesting time.

 

[awavey]

I agree, but the SD Works situation is bizarre. They claimed that they could not afford Vollering and Lotte Kopecky, yet they are about to bring Anna van der Breggen back, so they will need to hire another female SD to add to the payroll. But the team did not appear to be riding as a unit. Okay, Marlen Reusser is sick, as is Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, so I can see some big holes in their roster, but WHY did her team support her better? I do not understand.

Don't forget SDworx may be the most successful team, with the riders they've got, they aren't necessarily the team with the most money behind them. Trek are supposed to be the best funded.

Now fair enough it's a situation SDworx created when they paid Wiebes that deal of reportedly 500,000 Euros, because obviously she won't have taken a pay cut to extend that deal. Kopecky I'd have thought demanded at least equivalent if not more for being world champion. And I doubt Demi was going to accept a cut price offer either as best GC rider in the team.

Meaning on 3 riders you could have been looking at wages of 2-3milliom euros alone. See where the problems start ?

FDJs budget for 2023 was only supposed to be 3.5million euros in total. Which makes me wonder how they afford Demi anyway.

But you don't get much money from winning these races, even the TdFF, CanyonSRAM earned only 58,980 euros in total that's not enough to fund a team paying millions out.

So no you can't afford to pay 3 riders on your team crazy money. Even 2 feels like pushing it, but what can you do until you find cheaper quicker better riders.

AvdB moving back to riding is almost an acknowledgement of that, she won't be on a crazy wage but good enough to race still and they've got Lars Boom as a DS and only one car apparently, plus based on past performance I doubt her DS skills will be missed.to be replaced

And they've still got to sign 7-8 riders for 25, just to be back at the same squad size as this year which arguably is the minimum squad size at this level for the number of races they'll compete at.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Don't forget SDworx may be the most successful team, with the riders they've got, they aren't necessarily the team with the most money behind them. Trek are supposed to be the best funded.

Now fair enough it's a situation SDworx created when they paid Wiebes that deal of reportedly 500,000 Euros, because obviously she won't have taken a pay cut to extend that deal. Kopecky I'd have thought demanded at least equivalent if not more for being world champion. And I doubt Demi was going to accept a cut price offer either as best GC rider in the team.

Meaning on 3 riders you could have been looking at wages of 2-3milliom euros alone. See where the problems start ?

FDJs budget for 2023 was only supposed to be 3.5million euros in total. Which makes me wonder how they afford Demi anyway.

But you don't get much money from winning these races, even the TdFF, CanyonSRAM earned only 58,980 euros in total that's not enough to fund a team paying millions out.

So no you can't afford to pay 3 riders on your team crazy money. Even 2 feels like pushing it, but what can you do until you find cheaper quicker better riders.

AvdB moving back to riding is almost an acknowledgement of that, she won't be on a crazy wage but good enough to race still and they've got Lars Boom as a DS and only one car apparently, plus based on past performance I doubt her DS skills will be missed.to be replaced

And they've still got to sign 7-8 riders for 25, just to be back at the same squad size as this year which arguably is the minimum squad size at this level for the number of races they'll compete at.

And if Specialized also gets involved with FDJ, then who knows if their support to the team will continue for much longer, if they suddenly stop being the no. 1 team in the world.

Reusser now announcing she won't be able to ride at Worlds either is also not great news for them.

 

[yaco]

And if Specialized also gets involved with FDJ, then who knows if their support to the team will continue for much longer, if they suddenly stop being the no. 1 team in the world.

Reusser now announcing she won't be able to ride at Worlds either is also not great news for them.

Reusser listed to race Plouay on the 24th.

 

[awavey]

Reusser listed to race Plouay on the 24th.

Shes posted on her Instagram about it, still suffering post covid infection

SRF Sport on Instagram: "Reusser verpasst die Heim-WM aufgrund von gesundheitlichen Problemen 🚴‍♀️ Radfahrerin Marlen Reusser muss auf die Heim-WM in Zürich verzichten. Nach der Olympia-Absage muss sie bereits zum 2. Mal Forfait geben. Die 32-jähri

5,216 likes, 93 comments - srfsport on August 20, 2024: "Reusser verpasst die Heim-WM aufgrund von gesundheitlichen Problemen 🚴‍♀️ Radfahrerin Marlen Reusser muss auf die Heim-WM in Zürich verzichten. Nach der Olympia-Absage muss sie bereits zum 2. Mal Forfait geben. Die 32-jährige Bernerin...

www.instagram.com

and in English

Marlen Reusser on Instagram: "📣 Due to my current health condition, I will not be able to participate in the World Championships in my home country. Very bitter. I'm sure, it will be a spectacle in Zurich, that I would have loved to be a part of. But

2,754 likes, 186 comments - marlenreusser on August 20, 2024: "📣 Due to my current health condition, I will not be able to participate in the World Championships in my home country. Very bitter. I'm sure, it will be a spectacle in Zurich, that I would have loved to be a part of. But as a Zen...

www.instagram.com

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Reusser listed to race Plouay on the 24th.

That is probably an outdated startlist. If she were able to race this week, then I doubt she'd rule herself out of the WC already.

 

[yaco]

That is probably an outdated startlist. If she were able to race this week, then I doubt she'd rule herself out of the WC already.

The startlist was produced in the last two days.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The startlist was produced in the last two days.

I still think it's based on an old provisional startlist. Georgi was also on it at first, while we already knew she wouldn't be able to race.

 

[Black Betsy]

Can't believe the crap I'm reading these days...

 

[RedheadDane]

Can't believe the crap I'm reading these days...

Yeah? I really don't see the problem.
They're happy that their rider - a rider whose wins are few and far-between - won.
Aren't they allowed to be happy their rider won?

 

[Black Betsy]

Yeah? I really don't see the problem.
They're happy that their rider - a rider whose wins are few and far-between - won.
Aren't they allowed to be happy their rider won?

Surly, but spare me that astronomical crap.

 

[RedheadDane]

Surly, but spare me that astronomical crap.

It's a common saying.

 

[awavey]

Well I might ponder what they consider their 'moon' target was, if the 'stars' are only winning the highest profile race in the WWT calendar 🤔

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's a common saying.

It is, however, a very odd saying seeing as the stars are both far further away and far larger than the moon!

The usual saying is the other way round, "reach for the stars and you might hit the moon."

 

[RedheadDane]

It is, however, a very odd saying seeing as the stars are both far further away and far larger than the moon!

I always interpreted it as meaning "Even if you miss your original target, you might get something even better."
Of course, actually landing on a star would not be better than landing on the moon.

 

[awavey]

I always interpreted it as meaning "Even if you miss your original target, you might get something even better."
Of course, actually landing on a star would not be better than landing on the moon.

well the original self motivational quote was that youd land among the stars, not on a star, and its really about goal setting, the moon is a pretty specific target, but also a really hard & difficult one to get to, simply contemplating it might seem impossible to achieve, and inevitably you might set your sights lower to guarantee success and not achieve your full potential

but if you set the moon as your goal to aim for, even if you fail and miss, youll end up among the stars, in space, which itself is a great achievement and probably further than youd have got with a more manageable goal.

so yeah it doesnt really work for this example at all, clearly their goal either was to win TdFF, or get the best GC result they could. So they either achieved getting to the moon, or they actually went alot further and ended up on Mars or something instead

 

[Kaptain Kool]

I always interpreted it as meaning "Even if you miss your original target, you might get something even better."
Of course, actually landing on a star would not be better than landing on the moon.

Yeah, to me it's saying that everyone has the potential to achieve something good even it takes tens of thousands of years.

 

[Black Betsy]

Is the one million euro sponsor still a viable option for Princess Demi?
Missed some episodes on this saga.

I wouldn't be surprised seeing him walk away
(and with him a great opportunity for a rise
in the contracts of the female riders).

Can't see Realini or Labous as ambassadresses of women cycling
at the moment, who may allure big sponsors ($$$) into the sport.
Obviously, I hope that I'm wrong.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Is the one million euro sponsor still a viable option for Princess Demi?
Missed some episodes on this saga.

I wouldn't be surprised seeing him walk away
(and with him a great opportunity for a rise
in the contracts of the female riders).

Can't see Realini or Labous as ambassadresses of women cycling
at the moment, who may allure big sponsors ($$$) into the sport.
Obviously, I hope that I'm wrong.

It's unclear whether the alleged 1 million Euro a year offer from UAE ever actually existed, or if it was just used by either Vollering or SD Worx to put pressure on the other party in their contract negotiations or to save face after those negotiations had broken down. However it has since become the main rumour that Specialized will follow Vollering to her new team, which would also possibly mean that UAE with its close ties to Colnago was never an actual option. The same goes for a lot of other teams, except for FDJ-SUEZ where she is now expected to end up.

UAE have also allegedly signed Elisa Longo Borghini and Brodie Chapman, but I don't know if Trek were aware of their departures when they reportedly said no to Vollering. Nor do I know whether or not ELB will be earning a million a year or close to it on her new contract.

 

[awavey]

UAE have also allegedly signed Elisa Longo Borghini and Brodie Chapman, but I don't know if Trek were aware of their departures when they reportedly said no to Vollering. Nor do I know whether or not ELB will be earning a million a year or close to it on her new contract.

part of me wonders if she won't end up on some new RedBull sponsored by Nike team bankrolled by Apple.

Could happen... 🤣

The ELB to UAE rumours came after the Demi rumours but before the NFB to Trek rumour. Which might suggest the sequence of things.

I'm still not sure FDJ is the right team for her, but its the only door left open it seems, which seems remarkable.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

part of me wonders if she won't end up on some new RedBull sponsored by Nike team bankrolled by Apple.

Could happen... 🤣

The ELB to UAE rumours came after the Demi rumours but before the NFB to Trek rumour. Which might suggest the sequence of things.

I'm still not sure FDJ is the right team for her, but its the only door left open it seems, which seems remarkable.

With FDJ having got multiple Dutch riders already, she should at least be able to feel somewhat welcome on day one. But Labous will of course hope to get her own chances, too, and the team have done nothing but praise Muzic all season and tell her how much they believe in her, so time will tell how much they're prepared to work for anyone else.

 

[mrgmyers]

Don't forget SDworx may be the most successful team, with the riders they've got, they aren't necessarily the team with the most money behind them. Trek are supposed to be the best funded.

Now fair enough it's a situation SDworx created when they paid Wiebes that deal of reportedly 500,000 Euros, because obviously she won't have taken a pay cut to extend that deal. Kopecky I'd have thought demanded at least equivalent if not more for being world champion. And I doubt Demi was going to accept a cut price offer either as best GC rider in the team.

Meaning on 3 riders you could have been looking at wages of 2-3milliom euros alone. See where the problems start ?

FDJs budget for 2023 was only supposed to be 3.5million euros in total. Which makes me wonder how they afford Demi anyway.

But you don't get much money from winning these races, even the TdFF, CanyonSRAM earned only 58,980 euros in total that's not enough to fund a team paying millions out.

So no you can't afford to pay 3 riders on your team crazy money. Even 2 feels like pushing it, but what can you do until you find cheaper quicker better riders.

AvdB moving back to riding is almost an acknowledgement of that, she won't be on a crazy wage but good enough to race still and they've got Lars Boom as a DS and only one car apparently, plus based on past performance I doubt her DS skills will be missed.to be replaced

And they've still got to sign 7-8 riders for 25, just to be back at the same squad size as this year which arguably is the minimum squad size at this level for the number of races they'll compete at.

Ok interesting theory, but that still leaves my question why her team did not ride to support her unanswered.