Tumbleweed Posted March 9, 2008 Posted March 9, 2008 were you all to busy in cape town, or did anyone watch the prologue of the paris-nice yesterday? nice win for thor hushovd. holy roller2008-03-09 22:24:10
Tumbleweed Posted March 9, 2008 Author Posted March 9, 2008 ewep, ss2 if i'm not mistaken. i don't have tv at home so i watched it at my boet's house. channel 202. what was that hanging under hoshovd bottom lip? looked like a piercing. or was it just gob?
porky Posted March 9, 2008 Posted March 9, 2008 Shucks, I forgot about it. I will be setting the PVR for todays stage now before I head out to work. Interesting to see that all the teams still took part even though the UCI has been threatening them with a ban etc. Professional sport is all about commercial sponsorships, and financial requirements, pro athletes are highly paid, its costs a small fortune to organise and run a race of this calibre, sponsors dont do it for fun, they want their pound of flesh and the sooner the UCI and other dinosaur organisations realize this, the sooner we can all move forward together. Commercial sponsors will work with any organising body who works with them, but the UCI has its own agenda and now the companies who provide the finances (and lets be realistic, without the cash their is no race) are flexing their muscles, which, in my opinion is great. porky2008-03-09 23:49:21
Tumbleweed Posted March 9, 2008 Author Posted March 9, 2008 porky, this from ap:"With cycling already rocked by a series of high-profile doping scandals at last year's Tour, sponsors are increasingly rare and boycotting a major race would leave many riders fearing for their futures." today's stage is a flattish 184.5km stage from amilly to nevers. hushovd says he plans to win it.
widget Posted March 10, 2008 Posted March 10, 2008 I also set the PVR (as I was at the other race ) but I will watch it tonight as well as todays stage. I agree, Beurocrats like the UCI and relevant organisations are generally cash strapped because they are run by "quasi politician" types who do little to engender themselves to their customers, (who will pay them if they feel they are getting a fair deal) instead they largely prefer to try and "legislate" their way into funds to keep going, and if that fails resort to threats and litigation. This works in the short term, but it wont make you the most popular fellow on the block with those businessmen who are out on the coal face risking their own finances and reputation to provide a service which you are doing your best to muscle in on but giveing nothing or very little in return. Sooner or later the commercial operators will decide its not worth while and they will cut you off - this is called "business" and beurocracies all over the world have yet to learn this rule. Actually, we have a similar situation here dont we, we have a beurocracy who cant sustain itself (CSA) because they previously offered nothing in return for funding, so now they have to "legislate" their way into funds, which has probably been successfull in the short term, as the public will initially pay up (like the previous relationship between ASO and the UCI), but unless they recieve value sooner or later they will say, "Hey, whats going on, I am paying up..... but for what? they will stop paying and the funds dry up again. Far better, as any successfull businessman will tell you, court your customer, offer them value and service, look after their concerns, talk to them like equals, correspond with them, address their complaints and they will pay up forever, and smile doing it.
widget Posted March 10, 2008 Posted March 10, 2008 There is no doubt the UCI will have to back down quickly Christie, there are too many teams who want to race, too many sponsors who want exposure and too many spectators who want to watch, - in general ASO as the organiser (and astute businessmen) have all the cards,- the UCI needs to learn to work with them and stop trying to play hardball.
Bikalot Posted March 10, 2008 Posted March 10, 2008 stage 1 fairly flat stage,about 25km to go,break of 3 away velits(milram),eisel(high road) and another milram about 2mins ahead stage was shortened to 90km
fees Posted March 10, 2008 Posted March 10, 2008 Busy watching it now, miserable weather there. 13 riders in a breakaway. yellow jersey in the break. Quite funny to see the pro's dressed like they are for the cold and wet.
Bikalot Posted March 10, 2008 Posted March 10, 2008 break of 3 about to be caught by chasing break of 13,hushovd is in that group,he's in yellow
Bikalot Posted March 10, 2008 Posted March 10, 2008 steegenmens and another boygue telekom rider tried to break with 5km to go,looks like will be caught,credit agricole setting it up for hushovd
Bikalot Posted March 10, 2008 Posted March 10, 2008 milliar rode back into lead group,chavenel(cofidis) went but was caught with 700m,steegemans(quick step) rode away with 400m to go and took stage,think hushovd 2nd
ewep Posted March 10, 2008 Posted March 10, 2008 Nope, Hushovd was 3rd. *** day out for the pro's. Looked like a Gauteng storm with a Capey South Easter!
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