Women's Worlds TTT, where;'s UCI?
Last Post 11/16/2016 11:34 AM by SideBy Side. 7 Replies.
Author Messages
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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10/09/2016 12:40 PM
UCI ran the women's TTT in Qatar, a locale known to be hot and humid.  (Actually not all that hot.  Just 38C/100F and high humidity.  This where the officials cap the reported temperatures at 50C.)  Many of the women and teams struggled.  Riders were puking at the finish, one just before and couldn't finish.  That team's time was taken from a dropped rider.

OK, so this is racing.  All knew what they were in for.  But, to lift a quote from the Cycling News article, "At the finish line, there were more signs of heat exhaustion with several riders requiring medical assistance. However, said medical help took time to arrive as several riders had to wait around 15 to 20 minutes to be looked at."  Huh?  At the Worlds?  When the weather conditions were exactly as expected?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/world-championships-heat-plays-havoc-with-womens-team-time-trial/

Yes, the race took place in a country that probably does not have the medical/emergency services on hand.  But it IS an extremely wealthy country that wants this publicity.  They can easily afford to bring in 10 ambulance crews from Europe for a week.  Yes, that probably is a concept that stretches Arab boundaries and ways of operating.  But, UCI, don't you have a commitment to your riders?  Shouldn't that be a part of any agreements made?

Where is the rider's union in all this?

Of course, these riders are just the women.  Maybe this is simply a statement of how much they matter.

Ben
Red Tornado

Posts:159

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10/09/2016 05:32 PM
It's all about the money and the power with the UCI. Sadly, the riders are a secondary concern.
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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10/09/2016 07:39 PM
"Stinks to high heaven", as my mom used to say.
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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10/09/2016 07:47 PM
I'm f'in angry. Bribery is bad enough to get the worlds in this venue inappropriate to the sport, but risking the "talent" is an added layer of sin. This is bullsh*t.

They could have started the TTT at sunrise instead of the middle of the hottest part of the day. More bullsh*t.
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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10/10/2016 10:47 AM
Was reading the comments in Cycling News' latest piece on the Qatar heat. Got reminded of that saying I remember from my very early days "Only mad dogs and Englishmen!" referring of course to going out in the mid-day tropical sun. The mad dogs? All those who worship the dollar/glory that much. And led by an Englishman, Brian Cookson.

Ben
Nick A

Posts:625

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10/11/2016 01:36 PM
I was thinking about corruption in sports. I don't really know the answer, but these are my thoughts. In professional sports, no doubt money is involved, by definition. This can always lead to corruption. In amateur sports, it gets a little more confusing. There's power and prestige, and money for some. Sponsors, venues, etc. Then we have The Olympics. I guess there's been corruption for a long time. But now that you can be professional, folks can cash in on sponsorships while still competing. But even more so, I was thinking, player salaries, TV revenue, etc., is tiny compared to huge construction contracts for the host city. Again, not sure I have a point, as it's a pretty complicated subject. Also, 79, that's a good Joe Cocker album too. LOL.

Nick
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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11/16/2016 11:08 AM
Posted By 79 pmooney on 10/09/2016 12:40 PM
UCI ran the women's TTT in Qatar, a locale known to be hostile to women, especially women in very immodest clothing doing activities reserved for men ... 

Of course, these riders are just the women.  Maybe this is simply a statement of how much they matter.

Ben

I edited my inital post to reflect the report in CyclingNews today.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/norwegian-federation-reveals-that-andersen-was-hit-by-police-car-at-qatar-worlds/

UCI/Brian Cookson talk up boosting women's racing.  Then hold the Worlds in a locale as hostile to women as it gets.  Where a female contestant (a junior no less) and her team fear not be allowed to leave the country if they say one word about their rider being struck almost certainly intentionally be a police car riding back to the hotel after taking the Bronze n the TT. 

Good for the team to speak up.  I hope this gets heard.  And I hope (but won't hold my breath) that UCI starts seeing that holding events in oppressive countries because they hold that magic - money - is supporting that continued oppression. especially if they choose to stay quiet about what happens there.  I know this is a situation with the only hard facts being the police report (if made) or the policeman's phone call (if recorded) and that none f that will ever be forthcoming.  But that was known before going to Qatar.  And again, UCI, ethics?  care about your riders?  a pipe dream that this incident couldn't happen?  in a dictatorship as ethically backwards as it gets?

Ben
SideBySide

Posts:444

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11/16/2016 11:34 AM
The UCI said: “The situation was handled at the time, and reported on to the public authorities via the local organizing committee.”

Wow, way to stand up for your riders.


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