I have an idea. If Mr Cookson and the UCI are eager to lift women’s cycling up, why not sponsor a women’s race for each of the Monuments of the sport? A Giro di Lombardia Féminin would be a much better end to the season than the Chrono Des Nations. Each Monument would have an earlier start time than the men’s, a slightly shorter course and finish at the finish. Tis a pity Oprah is not into bike racing, well not her personally, but into throwing money at sponsorship. Is money the problem?
Without doing any research, as that is the Velominati way, women’s team sports have had trouble where individual sports like tennis and golf, have flourished. Maybe US women’s basketball and soccer football are more popular than I realize. Men are not going to rabidly follow women’s basketball, it needs a women’s fan base to work. Are there enough women watching women’s bike racing? Can an entire fan base be grown? Are women too smart to spend their time following professional sports…gulp?
OK, while you consider these questions, or don’t, here is a start list of racers I have never heard of. While the overall VSP podium may have been decided, there are still some bragging rights to be gained tomorrow. If anyone has a better start list please put it in a comment and I’ll link to it. This is your last chance to delgado in 2014.
[vsp_results id=”31311″/]
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I'm ashamed to say the reasons for picking these women. Here is to dumb luck!
VSP PICKS:
1. Alison Tetrick
2. Anna Solovey
3. Victoria Bussi
4. Haley Simmonds
5. Cecilia johnsen
Going with the old "reverse the order that they come out of the start house" strategy.
VSP PICKS:
1. Solovey
2. Alison Tetrick
3. Edwige Pitel
4. Larisa Drysdale
5. Melodie Lesueur
No idea - in the last 100 metres and I can see il muro with his hands in the air so I haven't won but maybe I could reach the podium if that dog runs out now
VSP PICKS:
1. Anna Solovey
2. Edwige Pitel
3. Alison Tetrick
4. Melodie Lesueur
5. Tatiana Antoshina
VSP PICKS:
1. Hanna Solovey
2. Edwige Pitel
3. Alison Tetrick
4. Julie Leth
5. Melodie Leseur
VSP PICKS:
1. Hanna Solovey
2. Tatiana Antoshina
3. Alison Tetrick
4. Julie Leth
5. Melodie Leseur
VSP PICKS:
1. Solovey, Hanna
2. Tetrick, Alison
3. Antoshina, Tatiana
4. Leth, Julie
5. Leseur, Melodie
You have put your finger on the essential problem for women's sports and cycling in particular.
It doesn't attract a different audience.
Advertising and sponsorship is planned for a target audience and a certain amount of exposure. If you already get it through men's cycling you have no incentive to add women's cycling to your mix.
Nice as it sounds to have female-versions of the men's racing, I doubt it would actually achieve anything. What the UCI and organisers need to do is not just promote the women's races in the same way and to the same audience, they need to find a new one.
VSP PICKS:
1. Solovey
2. Alison Tetrick
3. Edwige Pitel
4. Larissa Drysdale
5. Melodie Lesueur
VSP PICKS:
1. Hanna Solovey
2. Melodie Leseur
3. Edwige Pitel
4. Victoria Bussi
5. Tatiana Antoshina
VSP PICKS:
1. Hanna Solovey
2. Alison Tetrick
3. Melodie Leseur
4. Tatiana Antoshina
5. Hayley Simmonds