Where does the Olympic Road Race rank in prestige?

[spalco]

Historically, the Olympic Road Race is not important in cycling as it was only open to amateurs until 1996 and when you compare the winner's list with almost no immediately recognisable names until the 80s with the exception of Kuiper (and maybe Baldini '56), with the World Championships where almost every single name right down to the first race 1927 is a famous cyclist, including most of the best of the best ever, the difference is striking.

But it seems that's changed, so where would you rank winning Olympic gold in the road race compared to other one-day races now?

 

[King Of The Wolds]

I voted Below Monuments but Important.

I really wanted an option which said 'Below Monuments, but becoming more and more valued by the peloton, but rather unnecessary to have an ORR, as is the case with any sport where the Olympics aren't the very pinnacle of that particular sport'.

 

[The Hitch]

So if I think its just below the Tour but way way way above the monuments, i vote...

?

 

[spalco]

I voted Below Monuments but Important.

I really wanted an option which said 'Below Monuments, but becoming more and more valued by the peloton, but rather unnecessary to have an ORR, as is the case with any sport where the Olympics aren't the very pinnacle of that particular sport'.

So if I think its just below the Tour but way way way above the monuments, i vote...

?

Sorry, I didn't want to put in too many options to ensure a clear conclusion. Just vote for whatever comes closest in your opinion.

 

[Caruut]

I voted Below Monuments but Important.

I really wanted an option which said 'Below Monuments, but becoming more and more valued by the peloton, but rather unnecessary to have an ORR, as is the case with any sport where the Olympics aren't the very pinnacle of that particular sport'.

I said about as valuable as the monuments. I think that in any given year, a monument is the most prestigious, but the right to wear the rainbow bands makes the WC more prestigious over a whole career. I think that the Olympics come in slightly below on both counts.

In a weird way, I think the fact that they are only once every 4 years makes them both more and less prestigious. The fact that there are so few champions makes it highly prestigious, but it also means that many greats will never come close to winning it, and I think that is part of what gives so many other events their prestige.

 

[The Hitch]

As for the debate, ive posted this before, but remind me which monument winner gets this kind of reception upon arrival back home

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

meh... I enjoy watching it becasue many riders want to win, but i don't even rate it higher than Amstel

 

[Caruut]

As for the debate, ive posted this before, but remind me which monument winner gets this kind of reception upon arrival back home

A little unfair, not all monument winners have the advantage of being Basque.

 

[The Hitch]

A little unfair, not all monument winners have the advantage of being Basque.

Samu isnt Basque. And thats not the Basque country. Its Oviedo.

 

[Caruut]

Samu isnt Basque. And thats not the Basque country. Its Oviedo.

Well I've ballsed that one up.

EDIT: I've decided not to accept being wrong with good grace and am not posting as El_Caruutolero.

Well it's essentially Basque because it's just around the corner from them in Northern Spain. Even though he might not be Basque because Sanchéz represents EE, he represents Basque culture, so is is Basque. In Belgium, Boonen and Gilbert get great crowds. I love Boonen and Gilbert.

 

[CobbleStoner]

As for the debate, ive posted this before, but remind me which monument winner gets this kind of reception upon arrival back home

that's a little off base, the question was not 'which is more popular with main stream non-cyclists', that answer is pretty clear. the question is what cyclists think. the fact that cycling holds a World Championship the same year as an Olympics says it all, pretty insignificant by cycling standards, extremely significant by life standards

 

[The Hitch]

Well I've ballsed that one up.

EDIT: I've decided not to accept being wrong with good grace and am not posting as El_Caruutolero.

Well it's essentially Basque because it's just around the corner from them in Northern Spain. Even though he might not be Basque because Sanchéz represents EE, he represents Basque culture, so is is Basque. In Belgium, Boonen and Gilbert get great crowds. I love Boonen and Gilbert.

Holland is around the corner from belgium and has nowhere near the same enthusiams for cycling. Yeah asturias is close but its not the Basque country.

Moreover, while Samu definately gets huge Basque support when he races the Tour in Euskaltel colours, or the Vuelta a Pais Vasco, this race he rode for Spain.

The crowds he got where in Asturias.

 

[The Hitch]

Oh and im sure, Valverde will get one of these when he wins Liege twice.

Oh wait

 

[King Of The Wolds]

In the scheme of things...

Yellow
P-R
MSR/RvV/LBL/Pink
WC
GdL
Vuelta
Green
ORR
Stage in Tour/Non-Monument Classic win
WC ITT
Big, proper 1 week race (P-N, Suisse, etc., not TDU, etc.)
OTT
Stage in Giro
Stage in Vuelta

 

[The Hitch]

that's a little off base, the question was not 'which is more popular with main stream non-cyclists', that answer is pretty clear. the question is what cyclists think. the fact that cycling holds a World Championship the same year as an Olympics says it all, pretty insignificant by cycling standards, extremely significant by life standards

Im pretty sure if you offer a cyclist a choice between a 3 inch article 4 pages from the back the next day for winning Liege, or Paris Roubaix, or nationwide press coverage for a day or two for winning an Olympic Gold Medal, theyll take the Olympic Gold.

Cancellara was happier with his olympic bronze than he was with his MSR win 2 months earlier. If we look at it like that, is anyone seriously going to argue that cyclists would prefer an MSR win over a Olympic Gold?

There are plenty of cyclists, Samu included who dont give a toss about MSR. All of them were there for the olympics.

Why did so many top top cyclists fly all the way out to Beijing just to be part of the olympic thing?

Why was a bronze in the olympic tt, a major goal for Contador for his season, while he doesnt even bother with Liege?

For cyclists, an olympic medal just has too much firepower too it. Yes the classics are better raced, have way more tradition and history. But no classic can possibly compete with what an olympic gold medal has to offer.

 

[William H]

Inside cycling, just below the monuments and worlds.

Outside cycling, ahead of everything except the Tour.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Hitch is right. The peloton are really starting to value the Olympics, presumably because they see the adoration and $$ that it can bring.

Within the general public, it's right up there, probably just underneath a yellow jersey.

Within the cycling fan fraternity, and in terms of their legacy as a cyclist, it's definitely below a Monument.

 

[hfer07]

As for the debate, ive posted this before, but remind me which monument winner gets this kind of reception upon arrival back home

Samu's achievement was celebrated more as a "national pride" for bringing a gold medal to Spain, rather than a remarkable Cycling victory-therefore the answer to the OP is simple: The ORR isn't ranking as good as the other mayor races-to me not even in the Classics territory at all -plus adding the 4 years awaiting & how "limited" in conditions/terrain/rider's calender, it does not make it that special to be considered among the best. having stated that-by no means I wouldn't downgrade how special is for the winners to get gold-but as I state it previously, the achievement turns into a matter of national pride.....

 

[Caruut]

Holland is around the corner from belgium and has nowhere near the same enthusiams for cycling. Yeah asturias is close but its not the Basque country.

Moreover, while Samu definately gets huge Basque support when he races the Tour in Euskaltel colours, or the Vuelta a Pais Vasco, this race he rode for Spain.

The crowds he got where in Asturias.

I was joking

 

[The Hitch]

What the hell does this "in cycling" mean? Whats the difference?

Oliver Zaugg and Johann Van Summeren. Giants of the sport

Yeah, maybe a few years ago the olympic gold wasnt worth that much. But right now, one can easily build a career around it.

Once again. If Monuments are bigger than the Olympic rr why are cyclists who have a far better chance of winning Liege or GDL, preferring instead to go for a small chance shot at the olympic bronze (not even gold).

Why did Cancellara call bronze "a dream come true".

In what other race is coming 2nd or 3rd seen as a lifetime achievment?

Paris Roubaix, dont make me laugh. Who was it that came 3rd there a couple weeks ago again?

 

[jens_attacks]

below volta portugal by a lot

pro cycling is way more than the olympics,it's basically life in all its aspect,good and bad.i don't even think cycling needed to be an olympic sport.loved the telekom train though

 

[El Pistolero]

Samuel Sanchez wasn't exactly a giant of the sport in 2008 either.

World championship is bigger in the cycling world.

 

[El Pistolero]

Paris Roubaix, dont make me laugh. Who was it that came 3rd there a couple weeks ago again?

A former world champion and winner of the Ronde van Vlaanderen.

Oh, and the Tour de Pologne.

PS: Paulinho.

PPS: Axel Merckx.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

A former world champion and winner of the Ronde van Vlaanderen.

Oh, and the Tour de Pologne.

PS: Paulinho.

PPS: Axel Merckx.

Speaking of that do you have a link to that years race.

 

[El Pistolero]

Speaking of that do you have a link to that years race.

http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.515337


Race summary.