UCI thumbing nose to Grand Tours?

[doddy13]

Has anyone forgotten why the TOC was popular with riders in the first place?
It's not hard to figure out, what clashes with the TOC in February. Not alot. Can we combine the TOC with them wind tunnels the teams like in the States? Yeah sure.

So for American cycling, it'll still be big, but expect less numbers of european riders this upcomming year. Then it goes protour, and still the Giro clashes with it.
So... what will the major cycling fans watch?
Answer: Most likely Giro.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Has anyone forgotten why the TOC was popular with riders in the first place?
It's not hard to figure out, what clashes with the TOC in February. Not alot. Can we combine the TOC with them wind tunnels the teams like in the States? Yeah sure.

So for American cycling, it'll still be big, but expect less numbers of european riders this upcomming year. Then it goes protour, and still the Giro clashes with it.
So... what will the major cycling fans watch?
Answer: Most likely Giro.

Totally agree tho LA and LL will go to Calorfornia so their will be some interst in the riders taking place. I think it is a dumb move to put it in may when it's going to clash with arguably the 2nd biggest race of the season.

 

[Mellow Velo]

The Tour of Cali hurting the Giro?
Even with the aging twosome, it's like, in boxing terms, a flyweight going up against a heavyweight.

A nice little digestive for the European evenings, nothing more.

Should have been placed in April, not May. If it stays there, it will die.

In the early 2000's, the Tour of Georgia was all set to become huge, then Lance retires and a recession comes along and.............

Talk again in 20 years or so.

 

[doddy13]

A nice little digestive for the European evenings, nothing more.

Oh yeah, the tour of california beats most stuff on British TV.
Afternoon = Giro
Evening = TOC (If eurosport bothers showing it)

 

[badboyberty]

There's a big difference between diminishing the status of the Giro and diminishing it with American fans.

Susan

My own worry is that in places like Australia we'll see our limited TV coverage follow Lance to California. Not only will we lose the 10 minutes a day we get of the Giro, but we'll probably also cop the Versus commentary team..

But then I'd rather have the ToC clash with the Giro than the spring classics...

 

[gttim!]

The Giro is one of the greatest bike races in the world. I find it much more exciting than the Tour. It has serious climbs. The ToC is cool because it is in the US. Other than that it has never been a good race. Hell, they neutralized a stage to make sure Levi could win it one year. It lost all credibility right then. It will have no effect on the Giro. Ask any European which race they would rather ride. The ToC will get the second string Europeans. Few Americans have ever ridden the Giro seriously and are never remembered, other than Andy Hamstead.

 

[swiss_ironx]

wish they would add the swiss tour to their group.