Incorrect. Bad weather destroys the field and in no way levels anything it actually makes for huge disadvantages to most and actually does deliver to a very few things on a silver platter because bad weather favors a very few riders, while good weather levels the playing field for all. 2 of what, 15-20 pre race favorites had a real chance. That actually is proof of what I am saying to be accurate.
What makes a good athlete is very subjective.
Yes it's an outdoor sport, HOWEVER, rider health and safety is something that SHOULD be important and cared about. When a large portion of riders walk away over concerns about their health it's a problem. Better weather a lot of those who walked away would have finished and many would have been in the mix. This weather made for a poor at best race that isn't worth wasting time watching.
How do you know they pulled out of the race over concerns for their health? How do you know that? You are just summising, just as you have made the assumption earlier on another thread that it was general perception that it always rains like that in England. And how you made the assumption the race should not have been in England. They no doubt pulled out for a multititude of reason, just as riders do in a mjority of one day races. Look at results of all major one day races and there are always a number of DNF's. The weather made the race watchable, it made it interesting, it made it selctive, it made it suitable for those that like tough conditons, yes, but also it was same for everyone. Those who wanted it more got their rewards.
No one is saying that rider health or safety is not an important issue and that no one does not care about it. we have seen over the years countless occasions where the riders have made clear their displeasure with conditons and refused to race or get a race neutralised. if the riders were so disgusted as you suggest surely they would have said something to race commissaires?
You are the lone voice on this and frankly and not wishing to be offensive some of your statements are embarrassing.