Finally, some cold nasty Belgian one day racing. Oman, Qatar, does anyone brag about winning those stage races? Yes, they might but really, it’s a tune up for the real season which finally begins this Saturday. Will racing in China or Oman grow the sport? Will there be a new wave of inspired young racers from these countries. Does professional racing require geographic or historical context? Yes, I believe it does. There are many historically significant European races that have ceased to be while in October the professional peloton flies to China to race in the smog. What is the point? The money spent getting everything to China would be better spent supporting the smaller historic races and making sure they include women’s categories.
This Saturday’s forecast calls for zero percent chance of precicitation and near freezing temperatures. I wouldn’t want to ride in those conditions but I do like to see professionals race in them. And if it’s a little wet too, excellent. They can all test out their embrocation layering and neoprene gloves. Early season Belgian races should be cold and wet. It’s the Belgian brand.
The women’s provisional start list is here. The names of many teams have changed, a few big hitters are gone but it is just as large as the men’s field, 248 riders! Granted, many will get shelled on the first cobbled berg but that’s all in the game. If you want to call yourself a professional, you have to survive cold (and wet) races like this.
Let the betting begin. Velominati is an equal opportunity betting parlor. For points awarded, the women’s races hold as much value as the men’s.
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View Comments
@JohnB
Don't trust it - contest it. Click the drop down next to your pick. If it says no points and it should, click dispute. Guys running this aren't going to check every pick by everyone, so you have to use the system.
Disregard if you meant that now you've contested it, you trust they'll sort it out.
I came to this after the race was over, so.......
But this? This is PERFECT!
"What is the point? The money spent getting everything to China would be better spent supporting the smaller historic races and making sure they include women's categories."
Damn straight!
9th, happy with that given my tipping strategy
Damn. Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne canceled due to snow.
http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/952/Wielrennen/article/detail/1585002/2013/02/24/Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne-afgelast-door-sneeuwval.dhtml
The cyclocross in Oostmalle is still on, though!
@Sauterelle I just signed up to cyclingtv to find that out - bugger. They need HTFU, What's wrong with a bit of snow?
@torrefie Yes, and I had just seen this on Facebook a few minutes before they canceled...
I don't think I'd want to ride today either! Could be dangerous to them.
@Carl
Why ? They're trying to promote in China and other countries to make money. Having a women's edition of European races, some of which are struggling in the men's version in any case, would make no sense.
Cycle racing is, was and always has been about sponsorship. If women's races got the right target audiences they would have sponsors, sponsors would bring money, and riders and teams wuuld come and more people would want to put on races. It's your virtuous circle innit.
I'm not saying there isn't anything the UCI can do about that but it isn't easy, and simply putting on races is not the answer.
@ChrisO
I know your opinion on this, and that's fine (magnanimous of me, I know).
But the UCI aren't there just to raise revenue (they own the ToB). Their stated mission is to develop and promote cycling. Not men's cycling. Their website has a section titled "cycling for all". Does "all" include half of humanity? I'd say so. The problem is that it's a happy coincidence that "cycling for all" could also mean tapping into a quickly emerging superpower with a lot of quickly emerging disposable cash.
To sum up: cycle racing can be about making money. The UCI should not be.
@Sauterelle
INRNG retweeted this pic of the Kwaremont not long ago. Not much choice I'd say. Unless they've got a stable of Pugsleys with studded tires back at the Service Course...