The Classics

[shaper]

If am watching it, will report the women's results and have done on both classics that have watched so far.  The more coverage will give it more exposure and make it better, together with TV rights should start to see increase in pay, hopefully!!

[The Ghost]

Let's all do our best to tune in for the Women's races and give them credit.

I just don’t find it as enjoyable to watch, and it’s not because I have a gender issue because on the MTB scene I’ve found the women’s racing to be more exciting than the men’s for a few years already.

[Mntboy]

I just don’t find it as enjoyable to watch, and it’s not because I have a gender issue because on the MTB scene I’ve found the women’s racing to be more exciting than the men’s for a few years already.

With the women's XCO races there is several potential winners whereas on the men's side it's less than a handful. The unpredictability of the women's racing is very definitely a big part of why it's entertaining!

[The Ghost]

With the women's XCO races there is several potential winners whereas on the men's side it's less than a handful. The unpredictability of the women's racing is very definitely a big part of why it's entertaining!

Yup.

And the characters have been great too, Neff, Kate, Batty, Langvad etc

 

It’s a strange thing to try and explain but I also sense an intensity in women’s XCO and men’s road racing that I just don’t perceive when watching women’s road racing.

Edited March 3, 2021 by The Ghost

[Vetplant]

It’s a strange thing to try and explain but I also sense an intensity in women’s XCO and men’s road racing that I just don’t perceive when watching women’s road racing.

I've got a theory or two: Allot of the cycling enjoyment and intrigue comes from a good commentator keeping you up to date with the context of the moves and whether you can hear the excitement in their voices.

 

Maybe some of the events just didn't have top class commentators? 

 

Either that or if you are new to the women's road peloton you won't know the names so the buy-in is less. Maybe it will become more exciting if we know more of the riders.

 

Just shooting theories here, I'm not even sure they hold much water TBH.

 

In the same breath, I agree that I have much deeper emotional reaction to big moves in the men's events. My top 5, in no particular order:

Sagan riding away at Roubaix

Vd Poel pulling the train and then winning at Amstel

WvA winning Milan San Remo

Tadej bossing the Final TT at TDF to beat Primoz

EBH winning a breakaway stage at TDF

 

But that doesn't mean I cannot enjoy the Womens Races and give them equal recognition.

 

Sponsorship money probably follows the interest, which still trends to the male side of sports. I don't know if you can and want to change that. Maybe you sell these events as a package deal and you pay for both, prize money and coverage split evenly. This part will need to be initiated from the organisers, best we can do is to show interest in it, methinks.

[Jakkals.]

Just think of a movie...you cannot pay all actors equal...they get paid what and how many they end up selling.

 

Forcing someone to buy the "package" to be able to cover equal pay...either the men have to drop salaries, it wont make sense to lift the women's' salary up due to the "package" not generating enough income. 

 

Very difficult topic.

[Vetplant]

Just think of a movie...you cannot pay all actors equal...they get paid what and how many they end up selling.

 

Forcing someone to buy the "package" to be able to cover equal pay...either the men have to drop salaries, it wont make sense to lift the women's' salary up due to the "package" not generating enough income. 

 

Very difficult topic.

A step in the right direction is something like this:

 

https://www.glamour.com/story/chadwick-boseman-got-equal-pay-for-sienna-miller-on-their-movie-by-cutting-his-salary

[The Ghost]

 

Maybe some of the events just didn't have top class commentators? 

 

Either that or if you are new to the women's road peloton you won't know the names so the buy-in is less. Maybe it will become more exciting if we know more of the riders.

 

But that doesn't mean I cannot enjoy the Womens Races and give them equal recognition.

 

Possibly, Im not sure.

 

I also thought of that and I'll be watching a few more women races and see if it changes as I get to know them a bit better.

 

No argument there.

 

While on the subject of women cycling, I quite enjoy Jen's (Jenny Graham) stuff on GCN+

[Gen]

Never compare men's road racing with that of ladies and don't compare it to xco or cyclo-cross .... They are different and approach races differently due to many reasons.. Depth of field, numbers per team etc etc..

 

 

It will take time.. Took long before tennis had equal pay (think most of the top tournaments now boast equal pay) and are now an example of how to improve the business model.. But getting more races televised and WT status is going to go a long way in getting them there.

 

Thing don't happen overnight but we are definitely seeing more ladies racing that we did 5 years ago.. So there is some progress as exposure generates income.

Edited March 3, 2021 by Gen

[The Ghost]

Never compare men's road racing with that of ladies and don't compare it to xco or cyclo-cross .... They are different and approach races differently due to many reasons.. Depth of field, numbers per team etc etc..

 

We’ll just have to disagree there if you’re talking about viewing pleasure and therefore sponsorship and pay.

 

I am for equal prize money by the way, but if the viewers aren’t there because it isn’t good to watch then you can understand why the sponsorship etc isn’t there either. And I think not comparing, at least as a means of assessing why one form is more attractive than the other will actually hurt improvement and hence more money.

 

It’s not a gender comparison or a discipline comparison that I make.

[Frosty]

Snip...

 

In the same breath, I agree that I have much deeper emotional reaction to big moves in the men's events. My top 5, in no particular order:

Sagan riding away at Roubaix

Vd Poel pulling the train and then winning at Amstel

WvA winning Milan San Remo

Tadej bossing the Final TT at TDF to beat Primoz

EBH winning a breakaway stage at TDF.

Some of my favourite memories:

Cancellara’s attack in Paris-Roubaix; you know, the motor-gate win;

Froomey’s attack up the Colle della Finestra;

Hayman’s win at Paris-Roubaix (as the underdog, and having crashed earlier that season);

Stannard’s win against 3 Etixx-Quick Step riders;

 

 

Van Vleuten’s breakaway, World’s win was great, which I never saw, but it wasn’t really nail-biting stuff. I do enjoy the woman’s LBL race, especially the old finish. Can’t remember the year, but it was when Ashleigh finished 4th, think it was 2018.

[Gen]

Some of my favourite memories:

Cancellara’s attack in Paris-Roubaix; you know, the motor-gate win;

Froomey’s attack up the Colle della Finestra;

Hayman’s win at Paris-Roubaix (as the underdog, and having crashed earlier that season);

Stannard’s win against 3 Etixx-Quick Step riders;

 

 

Van Vleuten’s breakaway, World’s win was great, which I never saw, but it wasn’t really nail-biting stuff. I do enjoy the woman’s LBL race, especially the old finish. Can’t remember the year, but it was when Ashleigh finished 4th, think it was 2018.

Any race where Anna races.. She is such an incredible, smart rider.. And when she can't go for the win she so often destroys the field to set it up for a team mate..

 

I am not too fond of Van Vleuten.. To me she is like Valverde.... In the sense of peaks 365 deep into her 30s .. Actually quite fitting that she now races for Movistar [emoji23]

 

I'll never forget Stannard's win.. How QS managed to balls that up is beyond me.. Still a mystery.

 

Sagan FIRST worlds win.. Yoh that was some win.. Of course I have a long list of his wins that will stay with me

 

 

And Hushovd's mountain stage win.. That was just something that I will never forget.

 

Many many memorable races..and moments in races.. Even if it doesn't lead to wins..

 

 

Oh forgot about Vos's last WC win, hell that was something else.

 

And who can forget Pauline Ferrand- Prevot's year of magic.

 

Point is the more we can see the more moments there are..

Edited March 3, 2021 by Gen

[Frosty]

Any race where Anna races.. She is such an incredible, smart rider.. And when she can't go for the win she so often destroys the field to set it up for a team mate..

 

I am not too fond of Van Vleuten.. To me she is like Valverde.... In the sense of peaks 365 deep into her 30s .. Actually quite fitting that she now races for Movistar [emoji23]

 

I'll never forget Stannard's win.. How QS managed to balls that up is beyond me.. Still a mystery.

 

Sagan FIRST worlds win.. Yoh that was some win.. Of course I have a long list of his wins that will stay with me

 

 

And Hushovd's mountain stage win.. That was just something that I will never forget.

 

Many many memorable races..and moments in races.. Even if it doesn't lead to wins..

”Milan-San Remo, the best race Sagan lost” a per his book that I’m halfway through.

[Gen]

”Milan-San Remo, the best race Sagan lost” a per his book that I’m halfway through.

Yep.. Dammit, that race [emoji23] Edited March 3, 2021 by Gen

['Dale]

Can’t wait for the weekend ⏰

[The Ghost]

And MVDP sommer went and rode with a broken handlebar..

Canyon has issued a ‘stop ride’ notice

 

https://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/some-canyon-bikes-withdrawn-from-pro-racing-after-van-der-poel-incident/?fbclid=IwAR0_aYE0QIGd15QvNZfKfqaBhzXR-q-LaMMBdtdNpzNUMmEiWQ7Gs-S_yNA

 

* I see it’s been mentioned on other threads already.

Edited March 3, 2021 by The Ghost