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2010 UCI Women's Road Calendar
- Thread starter Skip Madness
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Skip Madness
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More bad tidings... for some reason I always thought that the Canadian races were on fairly safe ground, but it appears not:
Heartbreaking.
The stage races are big losses, no doubt about it, but losing an iconic race like the Montréal World Cup really hurts. I was under the impression that the Chrono de Gatineau would be organised by the same bunch, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Interesting that an event which is brand new (and, to be brutally honest, not especially exciting-sounding) appears to be surviving while three well-established and good-quality races disappear.Cycling News said:
Heartbreaking.
Absolutely devastating. About 3 to 6 years ago the women's calendar was looking super. World cups in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Germany, as well as the heart land of France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland. Why even once there was a round in the UK. It looked even more global than the men's World Cup ! In fact it was probably one of the most global sporting events available to women competitors.
Got to be lack of publicity. The oxygen to any sponsors.
Got to be lack of publicity. The oxygen to any sponsors.
The race in Canada was dealt a devastating blow by Jeanson, her coach and that funky doctor. To be honest, as it all exploded, I wondered how long the race would last. It must have been a huge kick in the teeth to all those who volunteered to make it work. Taken for a ride by some cynics. It would have taken some determined stuff to keep going after that.
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Skip Madness
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A little bump for this one. Amid all of the depressing news we have had this season, the apparent cancellation of the inaugural Tour de India seemed no surprise. However, it hasn't been cancelled - it's been moved to August 21-22, although the two days were initially planned to be three. I don't know what's motivated the move.
Another piece of good news is a late addition to the UCI calendar - the Bryne Grand Prix in Norway, also scheduled for August 21. One problem is that besides clashing with each other, both of these clash with the Grand Prix de Plouay which makes it hard to see very strong line-ups at either. I still have my doubts as to whether the Tour de India will get off the ground yet, I think an early season slot remains the best choice there.
Another piece of good news is a late addition to the UCI calendar - the Bryne Grand Prix in Norway, also scheduled for August 21. One problem is that besides clashing with each other, both of these clash with the Grand Prix de Plouay which makes it hard to see very strong line-ups at either. I still have my doubts as to whether the Tour de India will get off the ground yet, I think an early season slot remains the best choice there.
Thanks Skip for keeping us updated. What is disappointing is that Flanders, the Fleche and Plouay are the 3 quality events in the women's season that are on at the same time and location as the men and so could be brought under the media spotlight as showcases. It seems madness to allow new events to compete with one of these 3 when there are so many other dates available.
With regard to the women's scene can I just add a link to the BBC forum
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A65795755
I know you have been helping with useful comments at the BBC site, but perhaps some from here do not go there. That is a thread on the Women's Flanders with 64 comments. Looking at Tony Cooke's account of the race and comparing it with the minimalistic (the most positive spin I can put on it) version on cyclingnews.com makes one despair. There just has to be a market out there for watching women's events, particularly when history prevents us from enjoying men's events, like it has for Richard and myself at Flanders. We just don't know what we are watching.
With regard to the women's scene can I just add a link to the BBC forum
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A65795755
I know you have been helping with useful comments at the BBC site, but perhaps some from here do not go there. That is a thread on the Women's Flanders with 64 comments. Looking at Tony Cooke's account of the race and comparing it with the minimalistic (the most positive spin I can put on it) version on cyclingnews.com makes one despair. There just has to be a market out there for watching women's events, particularly when history prevents us from enjoying men's events, like it has for Richard and myself at Flanders. We just don't know what we are watching.
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Skip Madness
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It looks like the Tour de Bretagne for this year has been cancelled, according to this post at Cyclisme Féminin. I also had managed to miss that the Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt has been cancelled, which means Plouay will be the last round of the World Cup. Which is even worse news for getting decent teams to Bryne and India.
Flying_Monkey
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it's just ridiculous. The UCI has got to do something rather more active than just let women's cycing whither.
thanks again skip. This is all just very sad news.
Just seeing that the Men's Veulta a Castilla y Leon is on reminds us that as not very long ago there was a World Cup and accompanying stage race for women Veulta a Castalla y Leon.
It reminds us just how rapidly the women's scene is decaying at the current time. It is no good allowing for natural evolution, the press crushing the windpipe of publicity so no oxygen gets through, sponsors will just walk. Flying monkey, you are right, it is something the UCI should act upon.
Just seeing that the Men's Veulta a Castilla y Leon is on reminds us that as not very long ago there was a World Cup and accompanying stage race for women Veulta a Castalla y Leon.
It reminds us just how rapidly the women's scene is decaying at the current time. It is no good allowing for natural evolution, the press crushing the windpipe of publicity so no oxygen gets through, sponsors will just walk. Flying monkey, you are right, it is something the UCI should act upon.
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Skip Madness
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The UCI should be focusing on TV coverage, we always say it but that's where the sustenance is. If networks aren't going to buy the rights to women's races of their own volition then the UCI should be offering subsidies to them to do so. That way networks won't feel like they're taking a risk and it gives the sport and potential viewers a chance. It couldn't cost much compared to a lot of what they splash out on.
At least the race is on the Czech Republic
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gracia-orlova-2-2/stage-1/results
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gracia-orlova-2-2/stage-1/results
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Skip Madness
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Yeah, I quite like Gracia-Orlová, but it hasn't attracted the deepest standard of field this year. I'm not sure why - it might be something to do with some teams heading off to China for the next round of the World Cup, but to be honest I'm not expecting that to attract much of a top-level start list either (hope I'm wrong).
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Skip Madness
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Flying_Monkey
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Skip Madness said:
Sharon Laws in 4th too... good showing by the British women.
andrew_s
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it would seem she is planning to ride the Tour de l'Aude
http://www.cervelo.com/en_us/news-blog/testteam/article/emma-pooley-wins-gp-suisse/165/
[edit]
Interestingly, the TT for stage 3 of the Tour de Romandie was on the same course. Emma was a second faster than Mark Cavendish
http://www.cervelo.com/en_us/news-blog/testteam/article/emma-pooley-wins-gp-suisse/165/
[edit]
Interestingly, the TT for stage 3 of the Tour de Romandie was on the same course. Emma was a second faster than Mark Cavendish
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