I have an idea. If Mr Cookson and the UCI are eager to lift women’s cycling up, why not sponsor a women’s race for each of the Monuments of the sport? A Giro di Lombardia Féminin would be a much better end to the season than the Chrono Des Nations. Each Monument would have an earlier start time than the men’s, a slightly shorter course and finish at the finish. Tis a pity Oprah is not into bike racing, well not her personally, but into throwing money at sponsorship. Is money the problem?
Without doing any research, as that is the Velominati way, women’s team sports have had trouble where individual sports like tennis and golf, have flourished. Maybe US women’s basketball and soccer football are more popular than I realize. Men are not going to rabidly follow women’s basketball, it needs a women’s fan base to work. Are there enough women watching women’s bike racing? Can an entire fan base be grown? Are women too smart to spend their time following professional sports…gulp?
OK, while you consider these questions, or don’t, here is a start list of racers I have never heard of. While the overall VSP podium may have been decided, there are still some bragging rights to be gained tomorrow. If anyone has a better start list please put it in a comment and I’ll link to it. This is your last chance to delgado in 2014.
[vsp_results id=”31311″/]
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1. DELGADO ROBLEDO Pedro
Well, it would have been a shame to waste my last chance...
Provisional:
Solovey
Tetrick
Leseuer
Pitel
Antoshina
@ChrisO this piece on cyclingnews seems happy to gloss over it...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/soloveys-worlds-silver-a-solace-in-war-time
@Mikael Liddy Yes but they do mention it in what is essentially a puff piece that is only there to fill space on a slow day.
"Solovey, 22, has had a chequered past of her own. Twice a junior world time trial winner, in 2009 and 2010, in 2011 she tested positive for steroids and was suspended for two years before returning to racing in 2013."
Cycling News wouldn't know their arse from their elbow anyway.
Places that cover women's cycling like Podium Cafe are definitely more pronounced in their opinions.
This was how they previewed the ITT:
"Then there are always mystery riders who don't race in the peloton, but come out for Championships, and the one I'll be watching out for is Ukrainian Ganna Solovey. Solovey is somewhat controversial. After a glittering Junior career, including winning the European and World Junior ITT Championships in 2009 and 2010, in 2011, when she was 19, she was then caught taking the steroid drostanolone and banned for two years. She came back this year, just in time for the European u23 ITT Champs... which she won by a surprising 1'30" over Rossella Ratto in the 22.4km race, with a much bigger gap than between the other riders. That performance raised eyebrows - and raised the question, yet again, about what happens when teenagers are caught taking drugs - is there any investigation or sanction for coaches and doctors enabling that?"
@xyxax
Ha! I got me a full house with the last event of the year.
@the Engine
if you ever start getting them in the proper order, you'll be (more) dangerous.
@il muro di manayunk
In the end, useful for Jeopardy, useless for VSP.
@il muro di manayunk
While I stopped playing the VSP mid-way this season I have to say a FUCK'IN "Hats Off" to il muro as s/he was always one of the first to lay down their picks, even when they could have waited to see what their competitors that were close were picking and then lay in the same picks to cover points. Spot on! Well played throughout! Congrats on the jersey and apron and whatever else booty you get!
@Buck Rogers Thanks. Although I have to admit that the real reason I tended to submit my picks on the early side was because I was afraid of falling asleep and/or being away from internet access and delgadoing. I did my share of tweaking picks after the first look.
This was really fun though. I'm glad I played--obviously because of the awesome prizes--but also because I learned a ton about the current men's and women's pro peletons and it gave me an incentive to get up early and tune in for some races that I hadn't seen before.
Again, thanks to the Keepers for organizing this.