The End of European Racing

[Tom Kunich]

With the "Guilty No Matter What the Facts" finding for Landis it is
beginning to look like we're going to have to start a real bicycle racing
group in the USA without anything at all to do with the UCI or US Cycling
and the rest of the Looney tune people who think like politicians instead of
cyclists.

[Davey Crockett]

* "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo. com> a écrit profondement:
|
| With the "Guilty No Matter What the Facts" finding for Landis it is
| beginning to look like we're going to have to start a real bicycle
| racing group in the USA without anything at all to do with the UCI or
| US Cycling and the rest of the Looney tune people who think like
| politicians instead of cyclists.
|


Welcome to the club

Been saying that for Five years now

Got myself a UFOLEP licence these days

--
Davey Crockett - No 4Q to Reply
-
Ron Paul 2008
**** Rudee Ghouliani
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/65224/
and the Refund Whore, Billary
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=7007109937779036019

[derFahrer@gmail.com]

On Oct 15, 10:58 pm, "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo. com> wrote:

> ... we're going to have to start a real bicycle racing group in the USA without
> anything at all to do with ... Cycling

rbr?

[Mike Murray]

There already is such a group:

http://www.fiac.us/

--
Mike Murray

"Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo. com> wrote in message
news:13h8a6u44kaa021@corp.supernews.com...
> With the "Guilty No Matter What the Facts" finding for Landis it is
> beginning to look like we're going to have to start a real bicycle racing
> group in the USA without anything at all to do with the UCI or US Cycling
> and the rest of the Looney tune people who think like politicians instead
> of cyclists.
>

[Tom Kunich]

"Davey Crockett" <rec@azurservers.com> wrote in message
news:87hckrttmh.fsf@azurservers.com...
>* "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo. com> a écrit profondement:
> |
> | With the "Guilty No Matter What the Facts" finding for Landis it is
> | beginning to look like we're going to have to start a real bicycle
> | racing group in the USA without anything at all to do with the UCI or
> | US Cycling and the rest of the Looney tune people who think like
> | politicians instead of cyclists.
> |
>
>
> Welcome to the club
>
> Been saying that for Five years now
>
> Got myself a UFOLEP licence these days

Well, you're more than correct Davey and forgive me for ever doubting you.

[Donald Munro]

Tom Kunich wrote:
>> ... we're going to have to start a real bicycle racing group in the USA without
>> anything at all to do with ... Cycling

derFahrer@gmail.com wrote:
> rbr?

Goody, lots of new fatty master champion jerseys.

[Davey Crockett]

* "Mike Murray" <mike.murray@obra.org> a écrit profondement:
|
| There already is such a group:
|
| http://www.fiac.us/

It seems as though it could be a winner.

In my travels I note a great deal of dissatisfaction with the current
situation from amateur and pro riders alike

Why not get behind it and talk it up at your local level.

If I can be of any help in Europe as liason, let me know

I doubt you would attract many - perhaps no - professional riders, but
a lad from a cycling family I have known for almost 50 years is
retiring after the Foglie Morte on Saturday and has in fact applied
for top job with ACP and the buzz is that he will get it

I'm currently located in France, but will be relocating to southern
Italy next Spring

--
Davey Crockett - No 4Q to Reply
-
Forget the Democraps and Repuppetcads like Billary and Ghouliani with
their Dirty Money and AIPAC support - Sheesh, even JTA is calling
Ghouliani "Rabbi"
RON PAUL 2008
* He has never voted to raise taxes.
* He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
* He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
* He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
* He has never taken a government-paid junket.
* He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
* He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
* He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
* He voted against the Patriot Act.
* He voted against the Iraq war.

[cyclintom@gmail.com]

On Oct 16, 1:56 pm, "Mike Murray" <mike.mur...@obra.org> wrote:
> "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo. com> wrote in messagenews:13h8a6u44kaa021@corp.supernews.com...
> > With the "Guilty No Matter What the Facts" finding for Landis it is
> > beginning to look like we're going to have to start a real bicycle racing
> > group in the USA without anything at all to do with the UCI or US Cycling
> > and the rest of the Looney tune people who think like politicians instead
> > of cyclists.- Hide quoted text -
>
> There already is such a group:
>
> http://www.fiac.us/

Thanks for the reference to FIAC Mike. I have to say that I'd
completely forgotten about it.

[GoneBeforeMyTime]

"Davey Crockett" <rec@azurservers.com> wrote in message
news:873aw9t8pr.fsf@azurservers.com...



> In my travels I note a great deal of dissatisfaction with the current
> situation from amateur and pro riders alike



Davy...



This year Toona had TV production primarily due to the stellar efforts of
one person I know quite well. It was a colossal effort on his part to get
funding, work with 2 motos, helicopter crews, and editing tons of footage
from two motos and the copter footage for all the stages, edit it, add the
profiles, music, special efforts, and get it ready for TV. The final 90
minute production was pretty good, (IMO), so he did his best on that. Only
thing was the lack of International riders for something called
International Tour De Toona. The race did bring in Canadians like Lyne
Bessette, but it's not that hard for Canadians to drop down to Toona,
however getting girls over from Europe or Ausse land is much harder.



It's that friggin world cup that is killing Toona, Thuringen-Rundfahrt der
Frauen is held about the same time, so the delusion of the world cup system
has their teams sending them to these races which pay almost nothing in
prize money instead of coming to Toona for the biggest prize money for women
in the world. Those delusions of market value and the dream of getting well
positioned to be selected for the games has them overlooking Toona.



I offered to help contact pro women and teams for Toona, which I was
generously offered compensation to do, but I turned it down happily doing it
for free, it's my pleasure. To date, a number of top riders have told me
personally they would certainly consider Toona, like Chantal Beltman who I
met this year at CVC. She told me she enjoyed racing in America very much
and enjoyed the warm temps of California in spring as opposed to the cold
spring time temps in parts of Europe. She has spread the word at T-Mobile,
and says that there is a buzz about going to Toona next year. She also
enjoyed a side trip to spectacular Sequoia National Park during CVC, so
maybe the perks of Yosemite and the Sierra region might be plus here.



Also I talked with Edita Pucinskaite, one of the greatest pro women ever,
and she told me she would certainly try to make Toona next year, she likes
the idea of being on national TV, and also the prize money suits her, she
could likely win Toona, and she's older, so the idea of the World Cup and
the games may be fleeting to her, and the prize money more important. There
are a number of good riders who don't do well in the cup or the games, and
these girls could come to Toona if their teams send them. A number of top
pros have a direct influence in what races they attend, and where their
teams send them as well.



So far, I have contacted quite a few teams, and a fair number of top women
from Europe, and sent them everything they need to know about Toona, and
with any luck, we should see some Top women next year. I spoke with Oenone
Wood at Exeter, so there is a chance to get her over too for Toona. With
Mara Abbott switching to T-Mobile next year, it sounds like T-Mobile will be
making the rounds next year, and since Abbott took 2nd at Toona, we can hope
that T-Mobile will send a nice group to Toona, and maybe the German Tour may
not be a priority since I heard it could very well likely be canceled next
year, lack of funds as always. Toona's budget is quite good, and it's a very
well done race, and I think T-Mobile is taking a seriously look at it.
Hopefully T-Mobile will do California again, then this time, maybe Gila and
Toona which would be awesome since Abbott won Gila too. It's the first time
in years that a good contingent of Euro girls has raced a major stage race
in years I think, since the downfall of HP. So things could be looking up,
but there's still a lot of work before they make up their calendars, more
contacts.



The UCI teams, UCI sanctioned races, their world cup and ranking system is a
monopoly that's bad for America women since it favors Euro girls who can
drive across borders in all directions giving them an advantage to not only
attend the events, but it's much less stressful for them, and they speak the
languages of the various regions, but there is always hope that the UCI
monopoly can either be broken up in time, or two UCI events could be done
here in America. Right now, the teams that have the most money to travel and
are best placed geographically are best suited to win the cup, but the
playing field could be leveled out some by getting two events held here.
Toona's prize money is high because they don't have to pay UCI fees and are
proud that the bulk of the money goes to the women making it the highest
prize money of any race in the world for women, and that's the way they want
to keep it, I don't blame them. Screw the UCI and their monopoly.



Also, a friend of mine who is good friends with Modesta Vzesniauskaite and
Nicole Brandli, as he sees them often living only 30 miles away from Nicole
in Switzerland could also help with getting some of these riders on board
for Toona next year, which if possible would bring a huge PR boost for
Toona. They are huge stars in Europe, so wait and see, Toona could be the
best ever next year, with a nice International field and awesome for TV I
think. I watched Hincapie this year in the Tour of California on TV some
doing the prologue up Telegraph Hill, but it bored me to tears. I enjoyed
watcing Nature Valley much more and certainly Toona this year. The TV
production just has to be done well to be fun and interesting. Cycling is
boring on the surface often, all anyone can do promoting it is try to make
it interesting and exciting for fans which are both hot dog eaters and
speciality fans.



GBMT

[Mike Murray]

"Davey Crockett" <rec@azurservers.com> wrote in message
news:873aw9t8pr.fsf@azurservers.com...
> I doubt you would attract many - perhaps no - professional riders,

OBRA gets a fair amount of pro riders. See the results of the championship
race:
http://app.obra.org/results/2007/Road/6155

Mike Murray

[sergio]

On Oct 18, 7:49 pm, "GoneBeforeMyTime" <F...@EuroForums.com> wrote:

t the bulk of the money goes to the women making it the highest
> prize money of any race in the world for women, and that's the way they want
> to keep it, I don't blame them. Screw the UCI and their monopoly.
....
> Also, a friend of mine who is good friends with ...

Also, let me know just in case you need a messanger at Luperini's or
Fanini's.

Sergio
Pisa

[GoneBeforeMyTime]

"sergio" <servadio@df.unipi.it> wrote in message
news:1192872308.524275.214680@t8g2000prg.googlegro ups.com...
> On Oct 18, 7:49 pm, "GoneBeforeMyTime" <F...@EuroForums.com> wrote:
>
> t the bulk of the money goes to the women making it the highest
> > prize money of any race in the world for women, and that's the way they
want
> > to keep it, I don't blame them. Screw the UCI and their monopoly.
> ...
> > Also, a friend of mine who is good friends with ...
>
> Also, let me know just in case you need a messanger at Luperini's or
> Fanini's.
>
> Sergio
> Pisa

Yeah, I'll email you about the details.

thanks,
GBMT