UCI to axe Ind. Pursuit from Olympics

[doddy13]

Thanks. It is a blow to Britain's medal table too. It's really stupid.

well actually no, it's not.
Wiggins can't get individual pursuit, BUT Pendleton can now get 3 medals (rather than the one), really it helps GB.

 

[Sprocket01]

well actually no, it's not.
Wiggins can't get individual pursuit, BUT Pendleton can now get 3 medals (rather than the one), really it helps GB.

Oh okay, not so bad then.

But don't think Pendleton will cope with the pressure of 3 events

 

[runninboy]

When I watch gymnastics, which I only ever do at the olympics, I wonder why there is a gold medal for the best "all-around" gymnast as well as separate medals for each discipline, ie one for beam, floor, vault, etc. I ask myself, "Why don't they just give one medal and be done with it." It seems like a gratuitous waste of medals to me.

Now, I am totally ignorant of gymnastics but I wonder if some people don't look at track cycling and think the same thing - how come a different medal for each event, why not just have an omnium and give the medal to the best rider at the end of the week? I do know a bit about track cycling and can see this is obviously a silly idea, but I'm not sure that the people making these decisions have a clue - they probably don't see the difference between going fast round a track 4 times as opposed to 16.

Heres a little insight on gymnastics. In order to do the individual events you have to be an all rounder of a certain level. Now in the US it was not always that way so you had "specialists" who concentrated on being great on one or two events. In past Olympics there were Gymnasts sitting at home watching people being crowned "the best in the world" when they were not.
Also in order to "create" a move, have it named after you, you have to be the first to perform it in an international competition. I had a co worker who was the first American to score a 10, won Nationals and invented a release move at Nationals that was shown on wide world of Sports, but because he didnt compete in the all around a Russian stole his move(probably off TV)
then the move was named after the Russian because he did it in International competition. crazy

 

[Offtheback]

So the Individual pursuit is being axed from the olympics because of the IOC's equality rules.

Also going is: points, Scratch and Madison.

So we're left with Sprint, Keirin, Omnium, Team Pursuit and Team Sprint.

Very sprinters biased right?

I think they should bring back the Three - Up Tandem Sprint. Now THAT was an exciting race for the punters!: I saw some great matches at the old Manchester velodrom in the 60s; you ain't seen nuthin till you see six riders on three fixies hurdling down a sleep banking at 60 mph.

 

[FeralMetal]

As far as I understood it these proposed changes were to be introduced in 2016 not for London. I don't understand the thinking behind the Omnium either, they could keep the IP for men and women, drop the Omnium and still retain parity for the events but in a more joined up way of thinking.

 

[3wheeler]

To my way of thinking they should be Increasing the Amount of Events not Reducing... Some serious misjudgements are occuring in High Places!
Try Taking away 15 or so Swimming Events and watch the Crap hit the Fan!!
Something needs to be done about this before its to late..

 

[avanti]

As far as I understood it these proposed changes were to be introduced in 2016 not for London. .......................

The changes are proposed for 2012.

Just imagine - cyclists are training today for events that may not happen.

In my opinion it is too late to change events for 2012 but then what do the UCI and IOC care?

I recall signing a petition to bring back the kilo and 500m events and the signers included the cream of cycling past and present - but nothing came of it.

 

[pmsc111]

After watching the Melbourne World Cup I find it hard to justify the existence of the teams sprint. It's only value that I can see is to allow sprinters greater opportunity for support, making it easier for them to remain in the sport while they mature. The women's event especially.

Both women's events are 500 metres. Anna Meares went almost half a second slower in the teams event than in the individual event. At the Pruszkow World Championships Simona Krupeckaite set the World record in the individual event and went slower in the teams event. In fact only one team would have beaten
Simona at the World Championships.

The women's teams pursuit is similar in that few teams are able to beat the current individual World record. I realise both these events are in their infancy but why put them in the Olympics before they are ready?

 

[Skip Madness]

The women's teams pursuit is similar in that few teams are able to beat the current individual World record. I realise both these events are in their infancy but why put them in the Olympics before they are ready?

How aren't they ready? They both have a bunch of teams of women who want to win... that's the only real qualifying factor they need.

 

[pmsc111]

When they are cutting events for the Olympics don't you think the best quality events should be included?

 

[Skip Madness]

The women's team pursuit is one of the best quality events in my opinion. The team pursuits generally are much more impressive and entertaining than the individual pursuits. I also like the team sprint, although I'd probably rather have the individual pursuit (although I'd take the points race over any of these).

To be honest I think a lot of people have track cycling out of perspective. While it lacks a full programme the Olympics should not be seen as the top level of the sport. It should just be there to enable funding. Let the public and the media go for it, but for the cyclists and the cycling fans it should be all about the World Championships. At the World Championships cycling is celebrated for what it is, not tacked on to something much bigger in a decimated form. It's ridiculous that the Beijing Olympics could be described as the zenith of the sport when the women had just three events. The men still lacked the scratch and time trial. Who wants that as the competition to aim for?

There will still be individual pursuits every year at the World Championships and World Cups. They just won't be at another event where the velodrome wasn't being taken seriously in the first place. Until the Olympics gets a serious track programme, it won't bother me much which events they do and don't have. The only thing that bothers me is that if they have a track programme there is total and unwavering equality of the genders.

 

[Anonymous]

The women's teams pursuit is similar in that few teams are able to beat the current individual World record. I realise both these events are in their infancy but why put them in the Olympics before they are ready?

why are you comparing the team pursuit with the individual pursuit world record...

and i suggest you watch the manchester round of the world cup.. the british team would be ready for the womens pursuit if the olympics where tommoro...

bear in mind a lot of the top riders did not take part in the melbourne round of the world cup.. so dont base what you see on that...

 

[pmsc111]

Why? Because right or wrong the Olympics has the largest audience for the sport and the individual events are, at this stage, better quality.

There is equality in athletics and swimming but not in cycling. In track cycling there is a 500mtt to the men's kilometre, 2 woman teams sprint to the men's 3, 3 kilometre pursuit to the men's 4 kilometre, 3 woman teams pursuit to the men's 4. I can only assume that is due to lack of women competing in track cycling.

 

[Skip Madness]

Why? Because right or wrong the Olympics has the largest audience for the sport and the individual events are, at this stage, better quality.

Better quality in what way?

There is equality in athletics and swimming but not in cycling. In track cycling there is a 500mtt to the men's kilometre, 2 woman teams sprint to the men's 3, 3 kilometre pursuit to the men's 4 kilometre, 3 woman teams pursuit to the men's 4. I can only assume that is due to lack of women competing in track cycling.

That may be so. I'd like race distances to be equalised (although in the cases of the points race and scratch I can see why they aren't), but I can't see why the fact that they aren't means that they shouldn't be in the Olympics. If the smaller teams are down to fewer females competing, that's not going to change if you keep them out of the Olympics.

 

[Anonymous]

lets fade it though, the world championships are more important to "most" cycling fans and cyclists than the olympics...

the olympics are only really special for the nation involved, ie the brits in 2012 etc.. 10 gold medals up for grabs, britain will pick up 8 of those at least..

 

[Skip Madness]

lets fade it though, the world championships are more important to "most" cycling fans and cyclists than the olympics...

I wish that were true of most cyclists and fans, but it alarms me how many don't seem to see it that way. It's this that seems to be behind the furore concerning the individual pursuit. Rebecca Romero and Bradley Wiggins have talked about these proposals "killing" endurance cycling. Unfortunately that seems to be quite a prevalent view among riders and supporters.

 

[Anonymous]

I wish that were true of most cyclists and fans, but it alarms me how many don't seem to see it that way. It's this that seems to be behind the furore concerning the individual pursuit. Rebecca Romero and Bradley Wiggins have talked about these proposals "killing" endurance cycling. Unfortunately that seems to be quite a prevalent view among riders and supporters.

i think thats 2012 disease as much as anything.. if the next olympics where in australia brad would be saying a lot less, and the aussies would be making a fuss..

 

[pmsc111]

Does anyone know whether Phinney will be defending his world tltle?

 

[blackcat]

Phinney may as well just be given the race now. No way Thomas nor Bobridge can take Phinney.

 

[ambrose]

Phinney may as well just be given the race now. No way Thomas nor Bobridge can take Phinney.

lol, troll. Just in case you are being serious i think jacks time last night would indicate that he has more then a fair chance of beating Phinney

 

[blackcat]

nah, he can't take Phinney.

Phinney last year in Copenhagen, did a 1'01" kilo. His 4km split was

1st k 1:08.953
2nd k1:03.982 (2:12.935)
3rd k 1:01.699 (3:14.634)
4th k 1:00.589 (4:15.223)

look at that progression. Phinney will be able to get on top of a much larger gear than Bobridge. And he can take it out faster, as evidenced by his 1'01" in Copenhagen, and his runner up, in the Poland World's where is also pulled out a 1'01".

Go to G in the finals at Manchester, if he held up his schedule, he was on for a 4'13" mid/high ride

Geraint Thomas
final:
1:07.132 (2:09.411)
1:02.279 (2:09.41)
1:02.171 (3:11.582)

he caught his pursuit finalist Cornu.

Very good chance he would have come home with a sub 1'03" final km and a sub 4'14", somewhere mid to high 4'13".

There is no way Bobridge will beat those guys, and he will never beat Phinney, he just can't match the power, and the gear size potential that Phinney has. But his race weight, at the Tour de France in say, 5 years, he will be around 62/63 kg, he will be competing for GC. Phinney can't. Thomas might get down to 69kg, which is less than Wiggins, and he is faster than Wiggins on the track, so add it up.

 

[doddy13]

Oh great, so on paper you think Phinney will win so why bother racing?

By the way Contador will win the Tour, so whats the point in racing?
Bike races have to happen, things change in sport.

 

[Sum_of_Marc]

The fact still remains that this season at least 2 riders have ridden a PB that is better than Phinney's current PB - its up to Phinney to respond at the Worlds.

 

[blackcat]

Oh great, so on paper you think Phinney will win so why bother racing?

By the way Contador will win the Tour, so whats the point in racing?
Bike races have to happen, things change in sport.

was being facetious

The fact still remains that this season at least 2 riders have ridden a PB that is better than Phinney's current PB - its up to Phinney to respond at the Worlds.

Phinney's win at World's last year was a 4'15" qualifying, and he was 18 and 10 months.

Check the age progression of Dennis and Bobridge.

Bobridge in his breakthru ride at Oceania in 2008 I think it was, was about 19 6 months. That was a 4'19" breakthru. Oceania in 2008, Dennis brokethrough with a 4'26" I think when he was abut 18 and 6 months. Look how he came on in 12 months at this time and performance curve.

G was on a 4'13" schedule at the Man World Cup. He is 23. But the Australian contingent wont beat G this year.

That said, depending on how the national coaches prepare the teams, the teams should go to Australia. Burke, Swift, Tennant, will be weak links versus the Australians. But dont think the Australians have the calibre yet of Clancy in the pick up, or G Thomas.

I am probably wrong, but its a forum for opinions. Have it at me!

 

[Oldman]

nah, he can't take Phinney.

Phinney last year in Copenhagen, did a 1'01" kilo. His 4km split was

1st k 1:08.953
2nd k1:03.982 (2:12.935)
3rd k 1:01.699 (3:14.634)
4th k 1:00.589 (4:15.223)

look at that progression. Phinney will be able to get on top of a much larger gear than Bobridge. And he can take it out faster, as evidenced by his 1'01" in Copenhagen, and his runner up, in the Poland World's where is also pulled out a 1'01".

Go to G in the finals at Manchester, if he held up his schedule, he was on for a 4'13" mid/high ride

Geraint Thomas
final:
1:07.132 (2:09.411)
1:02.279 (2:09.41)
1:02.171 (3:11.582)

he caught his pursuit finalist Cornu.

Very good chance he would have come home with a sub 1'03" final km and a sub 4'14", somewhere mid to high 4'13".

There is no way Bobridge will beat those guys, and he will never beat Phinney, he just can't match the power, and the gear size potential that Phinney has. But his race weight, at the Tour de France in say, 5 years, he will be around 62/63 kg, he will be competing for GC. Phinney can't. Thomas might get down to 69kg, which is less than Wiggins, and he is faster than Wiggins on the track, so add it up.

I don't care who wins I'm just in awe of that 4th Kilometer. My vision doesn't even clear for 5 minutes after a motorpace version of that.