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Cookson, UCI, the Olympics and CX
Last Post 02/09/2014 11:56 PM by Frederick Jones. 4 Replies.
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
02/07/2014 12:40 PM
I remember one of Pat McQuaid's re-election stands was that we needed him for a cycling presence in IOC. (If I recall correctly, cycling has lost several track events under his reign.)
Now, Brian Cookson is talking up CX for the winter Olympics. And after watching him in action for just a couple of months, you know, I wouldn't put my money down on him failing. Granted, final decisions are not up to him, but he seems to have the gift of impressing that what he promotes is a good idea.
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/16268/Cookson-declares-intention-of-UCI-to-push-for-addition-of-cyclo-cross-to-Winter-Olympic-Games-programme.aspx
I like what I am seeing!
Ben
ChinookPass
Posts:809
02/07/2014 01:00 PM
the olympics don't need cx and cx doesn't need the olympics. spare me the argument that olympics lend popularity to a sport. Maybe for one year out of 4. Watched much ski jumping lately?
still the olympics could do worse. they don't have to build some huge expensive facility to put on a cx race and they can get more beer sponsorships.
Cookson needs to work on reinstating the full slate of track events for summer. that was one of the real failures of McQuaid IMO.
79pmooney
Posts:3180
02/07/2014 03:34 PM
I'm not arguing whether CX in the Olympics is good or not. What I like seeing is a leader who is promoting bike racing at all levels. If bike racing (road, MTB and CX) were to see say 100% growth, track would surely see 20%. Plus tracks are being built in a number of countries. Even if Cookson lays low for a while on track and goes after the messes he was handed and the opportunistic CX that this World's handed him, track will benefit.
100% growth might sound wildly optimistic. But 100% of a very small number is still a very small number.
Ben
Orange Crush
Posts:4499
02/09/2014 10:45 AM
Bikes have been present at the Winter Olympics for the longest time; most just don't know it. :-)
It is tradition that Dutch bikes can be borrowed (rented?) at the Holland Heineken House. Here's some royalty making use of those bikes in Sochi.
Security is riding behind in the draft?!?
longslowdistance
Posts:2881
02/09/2014 11:56 PM
Thinking about Cx in winter olympic venues. Vancouver and Sochi would be perfect. But Lake Placid or Lillehammer? Cross at 10 below 0 F? Could be done but would not showcase the sport well.
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