Tour of South Africa Shocking

[scotty]

The irony is that CSA are non compromising when it comes to local org races, even local school and church races come under scrutiny.

 

Fine example they set.

[Trubie]

Yesterday on stage 1 it was all well done CSA and they didn't shy away from taking the glory for it.

 

Today a total mess and they start playing the blame game immediately.... cops this, motorists that. This after out president tried to convince all that sooooo much attention to detail has been paid, etc.... less poetry and more work done - is what I say. But hey, its much nicer to appear on telly than get yr hands dirty. Almost like what our government is masters at.

 

How many fun rides do you know of that has been cancelled due to poor organising? I cant name one. FFS - there is a mass fun ride with 20000+ riders through the streets of JHB every year, also on a sunday. How is that possible? Oh - I know - its attention to detail and people who actually know what they doing that organises it.

 

As if the cancelling of the stage wasn't enough, the flight arrangements are a total mess too. Europcar asked to get of the plane, Dusty Day and some Burgos rider left behind as there is no bookings for them. Europcar threatening to abandon and go home. Wonder who will get the blame now - the airline??

 

Fact is, no one wants to see this tour to be a flop, but seems CSA is just not concerned enough - as if the sponsors that wanna get involved in cycling is queing at their door! Hope it changes for the good for the remainder, as this might be the last T of SA

But Africa isnt for sissies and we will be positive, until proven otherwise

[cat-i]

Can't blame Metro for sitting at Chicken Licken when CSA never told them to rather eat their chicken at the corner of Jan Smuts and Bompas

they were gonna go through taht corner? i drive through it every day, i knew about the tour (only from the hub though), i drove past it yesterday, and cycled past it this morning ... and did not know that they were gonna go past there ...

[Dgas]

In their last advertising campaign Cell C used a comedian to promote the company. Now they have a bunch of clowns running a circus. All part of their advertising plan?

 

Jokes aside, after today is the tour going to happen next year, are the sponsors going to stay on board?

[Guest Big H]

Do you speak Brits? Tour of SA is an international event, only one team manager does not speak Brits! The rest speak Brits!

 

Met 'n van soos Ferreira kan jy dalk Portugees wees ..... jammer.

[epoh]

Today's events were very unfortunate given the high level of standard that was set yesterday. I just listened to Cycling SA's statement and it is true you cannot showcase South Africa to the world without including Johannesburg's rich heritage. I do however believe we can get it right, it would have been a success if the metro cops were in place at the intersections. Who's fault it was that they were not there is now besides the point. But yeah, to get it right is obviously much more challenging than what Cycling SA anticipated.

 

I am amazed at how positive many of the cyclists are despite today's events. Time to stop my negativity and see what I can do as a South African to keep Tour of South Africa going for many years to come! A positive attitude is always a good start.

[pezulu]

Congratulations to the motorists in Sandton for getting the second stage of the race stopped.

The race is supposed to put South Africa on the world cycling map.

Some vehicles were even driven over pavements after traffic officers closed off certain roads.

 

Instead of showing the world what a good cycling destination South Africa can be, they showed the world what a dangerous place we live in.

[Guest Big H]

Today's events were very unfortunate given the high level of standard that was set yesterday. I just listened to Cycling SA's statement and it is true you cannot showcase South Africa to the world without including Johannesburg's rich heritage. I do however believe we can get it right, it would have been a success if the metro cops were in place at the intersections. Who's fault it was that they were not there is now besides the point. But yeah, to get it right is obviously much more challenging than what Cycling SA anticipated.

 

I am amazed at how positive many of the cyclists are despite today's events. Time to stop my negativity and see what I can do as a South African to keep Tour of South Africa going for many years to come! A positive attitude is always a good start.

 

Somebody posted something very true earlier....... forget about the "culturally rich history", and get emotional about it on TV during the press conference, and concentrate in getting the tour a favorite with overseas cyclists by showing them the other wonderfull mountain passes and wide ope plains we have in South AFrica. By doing that the tour will again (like Rapport Toer) become a favorite with the public at alrge..... and THEN include the "rich culural history"..... whaddever that is, into the tour intinery.

 

Hulle het te groot gehap met te min voorbereiding.

[epoh]

Somebody posted something very true earlier....... forget about the "culturally rich history", and get emotional about it on TV during the press conference, and concentrate in getting the tour a favorite with overseas cyclists by showing them the other wonderfull mountain passes and wide ope plains we have in South AFrica. By doing that the tour will again (like Rapport Toer) become a favorite with the public at alrge..... and THEN include the "rich culural history"..... whaddever that is, into the tour intinery.

 

Hulle het te groot gehap met te min voorbereiding.

 

I am not in disagreement but my opinion is that through discussing landmarks etc. during the race would be very informative to the overseas market. I have learnt a lot about France through listening to Phil and Paul commenting on France's heritage during the TDF. As an overseas viewer I appreciate that and noted a few places down that I want to go visit when I visit France. Also it would be great to start a culture of people coming out and supporting cycle races on popular city roads. Somewhere you have to start creating the culture. I see what they were trying to achieve, it did not work out but I do believe it is possible. Anything is possible :-)

[Christopher Brunsdon]

My Twitter feed is going ape tonight with Europcar being escorted off the plane due to ticket issue? WTF.

 

Then there is a tweet that Tylar Day is tuck in Jozie and the race organisers are not prepared to give him a lift to a hotel as its not their problem.

 

What the Hell is going on?

[Guest Big H]

I am not in disagreement but my opinion is that through discussing landmarks etc. during the race would be very informative to the overseas market. I have learnt a lot about France through listening to Phil and Paul commenting on France's heritage during the TDF. As an overseas viewer I appreciate that and noted a few places down that I want to go visit when I visit France. Also it would be great to start a culture of people coming out and supporting cycle races on popular city roads. Somewhere you have to start creating the culture. I see what they were trying to achieve, it did not work out but I do believe it is possible. Anything is possible :-)

 

Not trying to be funny but in the early years of the TdF there were no Phil or Helicopters or cell C mile phones televising the race. The TdF gaiined mythical status due to the guts and bravery of the early riders. I was in awe of Bobet, Coppi, Bartali, Van Impe, Merckx, Anquetil and others taking part long before we had TV.

 

The Tour must first be a success then the marketing can start.

[intern]

I've not read the whole thread, but my 2c worth. There is no law and order in SA, so that's what you get. Think about it. Everyone pretty much decides on their own what they think is reasonable behaviour and what is not. There is no external authority. That's why I left the place. That sort of randomness is dangerous.

[nickc]

So once again we make the overseas news - unfortuantly for the wrong reasons.

 

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/traffic-chaos-forces-neutralisation-of-tour-of-south-africas-second-stage

[wisecrack]

Where can I find the route information for today's race in PE?

[Stig]

Cycling SA must burn for this. They have hijacked the cycling world in SA, not for the passion of cycling but for financial rewards from the cyclists.

They have been warned (publicly on TV) by the old school organisers not to hold stages in the CBD's, and to incorporate the staff who have been putting together events for many years. All this has been ignored by the CEO and his hench men.

Id love to see Mr Mocke on SuperCycling now in front of Andrew Mc, so much egg on his face he'd look like a omlette.

Unfortunately the only losers is SA cycling/cyclists, we need new organizers quickly before international sponsors and teams stop coming to SA.

Is it not amazing that the Argus the largest cycle event in the world, goes like clock work. 30 000 cyclists through a CBD, but organized by the pro's.

Resignations please Cyling SA

[Warped]

Where can I find the route information for today's race in PE?

Firstly, the race is tomorrow, Tuesday, not today

 

Secondly, see:

Here Detailed Info

and here Map

Edited February 21, 2011 by Warped