Old Dog Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 During an interview, Robbie Hunter says he doesn't much value an Olympic medal - read all on Cyclingnews.com.Quote "Hunter, a Tour de France stage winner, admitted the Olympic Games don't have the same prestige as a Tour de France stage win. The rider said it was difficult to compare the two, given the Olympics only take place every four years. ....... "As far as cycling is concerned an Olympic medal does not mean much - a stage of the Tour de France means a lot more."I preume he means personnally and not from the countries aspect?
Mudsimus Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 And then again Ullrich said his Olympic win were his most special.
Tumbleweed Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 maybe that's because he can't get on with potential games teammates?
TNT1 Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 How many ounces is gold medal? What's the price of gold?
javadude Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 Maybe if it was a race suited to sprinters and he had half a chance he would change his mind.
Willehond Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 A gold medal or a bronze medal? That would make a difference.....
jabbathemutt007 Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 During an interview' date=' Robbie Hunter says he doesn't much value an Olympic medal - read all on Cyclingnews.com.Quote "Hunter, a Tour de France stage winner, admitted the Olympic Games don't have the same prestige as a Tour de France stage win. The rider said it was difficult to compare the two, given the Olympics only take place every four years. ....... "As far as cycling is concerned an Olympic medal does not mean much - a stage of the Tour de France means a lot more."I preume he means personnally and not from the countries aspect? [/quote'] The Olympics is not all that highly rated amongst European road pros (excepting Bettini and his horrible helmet), in fact road cycling wasn't even part of the olympics for most of the past 100 years due to the shamateurism rules. Most pros would far sooner win Paris-Roubaix or LBL or even one of the lesser classics than the Olympic title. Track cycling and the new world cycling nations like the US and Australia are more into the Olympics.
TheLegend Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/olympics08/news.php?id=/news/2008/jul08/jul09news3oly Hunter: Olympic medal doesn't mean much http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/jan07/tdu07/tdu071/dsc_0006tn.jpg South Africa's Robbie Hunter might ride for one of his national team-mates at August's Beijing Olympic Games in China. While the Barloworld rider didn't contest last year's Olympic test event, he believes the profile of the hilly course won't suit sprinters like himself. Hunter also believes the lack of financial reward for winning the Olympic Games makes it less appealing than Tour de France success. "For me I want to try and get the best result possible," he told IAfrica.com. "The course might not be best suited to me it may be better suited to Jean Lee who is the younger rider. But obviously we also need to look at the next four weeks ahead of the Olympics and see what condition we are in when we arrive [in Beijing]." Hunter, a Tour de France stage winner, admitted the Olympic Games don't have the same prestige as a Tour de France stage win. The rider said it was difficult to compare the two, given the Olympics only take place every four years. "That's difficult to answer and you need to look at it from both aspects," admitted Hunter. "As far as cycling is concerned an Olympic medal does not mean much - a stage of the Tour de France means a lot more. "Not that the Olympics means nothing it is just that it only comes around once every four years, there are other events in cycling such as the world champs that a mean a lot more," he added. "Cycling is sport that runs professionally from February to October every year, so obviously there are events than mean a lot more - for me at this stage of my cycling career a stage win in the Tour de France is a lot more sought after than the Olympics." The South African added that the lack of financial return on winning the Olympic Games is one thing preventing it from equaling the Tour in his book. "The problem is that the financial reward between the two events is a big difference and being a professional athlete the Tour is what basically pays you bill... winning the Olympics the financial reward does not even factor into it," he said. "As far as being a South African and the SA public obviously an Olympic medal means a hell of a lot," he added. Hunter believes Beijing's course might be better suited to Team Barloworld and South African national team team-mate Jean Lee Augustyn.
Shebeen Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 careful of putting words in his mouth, but who even won the last olympic gold? we all know who won the last 9 tours it's the same with tennis
Sidekick Racer Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 umm, if he doesnt value the olympics very much, then why are we even sending him?? send some one who is wanting to at least try do something??
Sidekick Racer Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 oh and Bettini won the last one, dont you remeber the gold helmet, gold shoes, etc?!?!?!!?
TNT1 Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 it's the same with tennis What? 3 Right. Thanks for clearing that up
101SCC Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 Here lies the reason the olympics should have and always should be an amatuer only event...money in sport. Gone are the days where you earn enough to maybe cover you for an injury, now guys like Renaldo can retire after two months of football! I say take the Pro's out of the Olympics, let them win the Tour and Fill their pockets. Let the amatuers use the Olympics to showcase their Talent and then Turn Pro to get the big BUCKS
TNT1 Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 Here lies the reason the olympics should have and always should be an amatuer only event...money in sport. Gone are the days where you earn enough to maybe cover you for an injury' date=' now guys like Renaldo can retire after two months of football! I say take the Pro's out of the Olympics, let them win the Tour and Fill their pockets. Let the amatuers use the Olympics to showcase their Talent and then Turn Pro to get the big BUCKS[/quote'] I like it. Take the concept to its logical conclusion... Pro - doped events, amateur - clean events... Or rather pro - non-tested events, and amateur - events at which testing takes place...
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