euro-pro cycling dead in America

If what I'm hearing is any indication, there is zero interest in
pro-cycling in Europe. I think we are turning inward again, and only
interested in domestic racing and cycling in America. Armstrong was our
Eddy, and that time has come and gone. Armstrong won the Tour 7 times, and
Landis the year after (so what if he needed something to give him a game
face), Americans know they can win, so what's new. The whole Euro scene is
kind of bizarre anyway, with strange looking policeman running about to
arrest the winner. And most people don't give a damn about the topography,
because they're never gonna see it. The whole Euro-Scene has finally jumped
the shark.

In article .net,
"Callistus Valerius" wrote:

If what I'm hearing is any indication, there is zero interest in
pro-cycling in Europe. I think we are turning inward again, and only
interested in domestic racing and cycling in America. Armstrong was our
Eddy, and that time has come and gone. Armstrong won the Tour 7 times, and
Landis the year after (so what if he needed something to give him a game
face), Americans know they can win, so what's new. The whole Euro scene is
kind of bizarre anyway, with strange looking policeman running about to
arrest the winner. And most people don't give a damn about the topography,
because they're never gonna see it. The whole Euro-Scene has finally jumped
the shark.

You may be jumping to conclusions. But that's not completely crazy. Pro
cycling is currently trying to implode in two different ways: by doping
scandal, and by the growing UCI/Grand Tour dispute.

All that, combined with the US seeing its best cyclist retire, and its
second and third best cyclists caught up in doping fiascos in the last
two years (sorry George: nobody cares about you), can you blame fans?

I've come to terms with this very simply: I treat pro cycling and local
amateur cycling as two entirely unrelated things. Locally, participation
in competitive cycling is growing at a healthy pace. My club just put on
an inagural cyclocross race that attracted about 120 riders, the biggest
CX race in this province...probably ever.

The club itself is booming, and our biggest problems have to do with the
issues of managing growth.

On the other hand, I worry that pro-level fiascos will start screwing
with our youth development program. Right now our grassroots efforts
seem to be more affected by the quality of our volunteers and outreach
efforts, but my brother-in-law runs a skill development school in
another sport, and he says the fortunes of the local pro sports team can
be seen in the ebb and flow of his business.

What am I saying here? Euro cycling probably is screwed, at least for
most North American fans. Do yourselves a favour and go help out in some
local bike races. It's good for your soul, and it's good for the sport.

Where's my beer?

--
Ryan Cousineau http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos

"Callistus Valerius" a écrit dans le message de
news: . net...
| If what I'm hearing is any indication, there is zero interest in
| pro-cycling in Europe. I think we are turning inward again, and only
| interested in domestic racing and cycling in America. Armstrong was our
| Eddy, and that time has come and gone. Armstrong won the Tour 7 times,
and
| Landis the year after (so what if he needed something to give him a game
| face), Americans know they can win, so what's new. The whole Euro scene
is
| kind of bizarre anyway, with strange looking policeman running about to
| arrest the winner. And most people don't give a damn about the
topography,
| because they're never gonna see it. The whole Euro-Scene has finally
jumped
| the shark.
|
Nah, it's just in need of some marketing acumen. Which is more popular,
Olympic wresting or Pro Wrestling? And the guys already cheat and wear
tights...

So what would lead you to that conclusion.. But I do think that pro
cycling will go through a downt turn in the US at least for awhile.
It's natural since Lance has retired and the Hamilon incident. It's
really tragic that so many riders are setting a bad example for the
rest of cycling. I have not seen a downturn in the number of high end
cyclists riding in San Diego. The economy will play a big factor,
federal reserve chairman Bernake indicated that consumers will be
forced to reduce consumer spending by 14% to pay for Social security.
This does not bode well for cycling which is primarilly a luxury with
the exception of cycling commuters.
Ryan Cousineau wrote:
In article .net,
"Callistus Valerius" wrote:

If what I'm hearing is any indication, there is zero interest in
pro-cycling in Europe. I think we are turning inward again, and only
interested in domestic racing and cycling in America. Armstrong was our
Eddy, and that time has come and gone. Armstrong won the Tour 7 times, and
Landis the year after (so what if he needed something to give him a game
face), Americans know they can win, so what's new. The whole Euro scene is
kind of bizarre anyway, with strange looking policeman running about to
arrest the winner. And most people don't give a damn about the topography,
because they're never gonna see it. The whole Euro-Scene has finally jumped
the shark.

You may be jumping to conclusions. But that's not completely crazy. Pro
cycling is currently trying to implode in two different ways: by doping
scandal, and by the growing UCI/Grand Tour dispute.

All that, combined with the US seeing its best cyclist retire, and its
second and third best cyclists caught up in doping fiascos in the last
two years (sorry George: nobody cares about you), can you blame fans?

I've come to terms with this very simply: I treat pro cycling and local
amateur cycling as two entirely unrelated things. Locally, participation
in competitive cycling is growing at a healthy pace. My club just put on
an inagural cyclocross race that attracted about 120 riders, the biggest
CX race in this province...probably ever.

The club itself is booming, and our biggest problems have to do with the
issues of managing growth.

On the other hand, I worry that pro-level fiascos will start screwing
with our youth development program. Right now our grassroots efforts
seem to be more affected by the quality of our volunteers and outreach
efforts, but my brother-in-law runs a skill development school in
another sport, and he says the fortunes of the local pro sports team can
be seen in the ebb and flow of his business.

What am I saying here? Euro cycling probably is screwed, at least for
most North American fans. Do yourselves a favour and go help out in some
local bike races. It's good for your soul, and it's good for the sport.

Where's my beer?

--
Ryan Cousineau http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos

trg wrote:

Nah, it's just in need of some marketing acumen. Which is more popular,
Olympic wresting or Pro Wrestling? And the guys already cheat and wear
tights...

What constitutes cheating in "Pro" wrestling? Not following the script
;-)

I only care about euro racing. Spinelli says American racing is easy
and only for pussies.

In article . com,
"gds" wrote:

trg wrote:

Nah, it's just in need of some marketing acumen. Which is more popular,
Olympic wresting or Pro Wrestling? And the guys already cheat and wear
tights...

What constitutes cheating in "Pro" wrestling? Not following the script
;-)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj7uoKifagk

--
tanx,
Howard

Never take a tenant with a monkey.

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

What constitutes cheating in "Pro" wrestling? Not following the script
;-)
--------
trying to win, just like the Tour.

Callistus Valerius wrote:
If what I'm hearing is any indication, there is zero interest in
pro-cycling in Europe. I think we are turning inward again, and only
interested in domestic racing and cycling in America. Armstrong was our
Eddy, and that time has come and gone. Armstrong won the Tour 7 times, and
Landis the year after (so what if he needed something to give him a game
face), Americans know they can win, so what's new. The whole Euro scene is
kind of bizarre anyway, with strange looking policeman running about to
arrest the winner. And most people don't give a damn about the topography,
because they're never gonna see it. The whole Euro-Scene has finally jumped
the shark.

Lance is the reason why I got into cycling, but once I got in the door,
I found that Lance wasn't the most interesting figure in the sport. Not
even close, really. If you want to blame anyone, blame the people who
hyped Lance endlessly for the sake of ratings, at the expense of all the
other interesting figures in the peloton who are just as likely to hook
a viewer.