Mike Turtur vrs Drapac Racing
Dunno if you've been following it, but over the last couple of weeks Cycling Central has been airing disagreement between Michael Drapac and Mike Turtur. Turtur has copped a bit of flack from interstate cycling fans over this- I'm interested in your local viewpoints..
http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/18546/Feature:-TDU-boss-b...
The back-story is Drapac, who owns the Australian Pro Continental Drapac-Porsche team, is miffed that he can't get a start in the TDU. He argues that TDU being a Pro Race with exclusively international pro teams (+ Uni SA as the token Aust entry) is actually harming the development of local professional teams. IE. His team.
Sure he has a point. TDU operates under the UCI status and is quite removed from the rest of the Australian racing scene. On the other hand, How amazing is it that we have a race which sets Australian cycling up on the world stage, and how raises the profile of the sport for local fans, as well as encouraging young Aussie racing hopefuls.
It's unrealistic to expect the event to be all things to all people. It simply cannot be both a top-line pro event at the same time as developing all Australian talent.
However I would love to see the wildcard system used to better effect. Like with UniSA, but lets try and get a couple of the Continental teams into the mix. Pegasus and Drapac too if there is room. The Vuelta seems to find room for lots of their local Spanish teams.. (is that a UCI event??)
And as a $spending/ attending TDU fan, I'd be more excited to see Robbie + some other upcoming Australian talent, rather than paying for Lance-I used to be pretty good but now I'm retired-Armstrong to trundle around again.
http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/18546/Feature:-TDU-boss-b...
The back-story is Drapac, who owns the Australian Pro Continental Drapac-Porsche team, is miffed that he can't get a start in the TDU. He argues that TDU being a Pro Race with exclusively international pro teams (+ Uni SA as the token Aust entry) is actually harming the development of local professional teams. IE. His team.
Sure he has a point. TDU operates under the UCI status and is quite removed from the rest of the Australian racing scene. On the other hand, How amazing is it that we have a race which sets Australian cycling up on the world stage, and how raises the profile of the sport for local fans, as well as encouraging young Aussie racing hopefuls.
It's unrealistic to expect the event to be all things to all people. It simply cannot be both a top-line pro event at the same time as developing all Australian talent.
However I would love to see the wildcard system used to better effect. Like with UniSA, but lets try and get a couple of the Continental teams into the mix. Pegasus and Drapac too if there is room. The Vuelta seems to find room for lots of their local Spanish teams.. (is that a UCI event??)
And as a $spending/ attending TDU fan, I'd be more excited to see Robbie + some other upcoming Australian talent, rather than paying for Lance-I used to be pretty good but now I'm retired-Armstrong to trundle around again.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Patrick O'Kane on -
Have to agre that the Vuelta was boring compared to TdF and the Giro. This years Tour was sensational IMO, one of the best for years.
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Permalink Reply by easytiger on
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Derek, no reason to descend into vulgarity!
You are right about one thing - you do have an opinion, and I don't agree with it. Aren't we lucky we live in a democracy!
Le Tour was always going to be a (yawn, stretch) 2 man show, something you never could accuse the Giro or Vuelta of being. Back on topic, Mosquera finished second in the Vuelta (para hydroxyethyl starch, lo siento) and he was from a Pro Continental Team. Scarponi and Evans finished 4th and 5th in the Giro, and yes they were on Pro-continental teams. Richie Porte raced the TDU, and then he winds up on a Pro-Tour Team and wins a jersey at the Giro (and so did Matt Lloyd and Cadel Evans, boring!). He must be really lamenting the opportunity to race with all those Pro-Tour teams whilst at the TDU? -
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Permalink Reply by Derek Hasel on -
Where was the vulgarity ?
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Permalink Reply by Wombat on -
I would have watched every stage of the Vuelta, as I did the TdF and would have watched the Giro too, had I had pay tv or been able to actually find an online place that was showing it. Every time I went looking I came up against "This service is not currently operating" or similar. grrr
Maybe I can find a better way in time for next year's installments. -
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Permalink Reply by Derek Hasel on
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Right on Bro. Best cycling race out side of Europe and up there with them, as it is !
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Permalink Reply by rossmg on -
The Tour Down Under was given a hugh tick of support when it became a Pro Tour event. It went from a small local level race to a premium one on the world stage. Why shouldn't Turtur chase such recognition?
If the Aust local teams want races then those managers should work to create such races such that local talent can have venues to show case themselves. Of course there are already a variety of races on the calander - get them more into the spotlight of the Aust local media. Cycling hardly ever features on the so called 6pm news.
I typically read the online newspapers, Advertiser and Sydney Morning Herald. Push bike news is pretty sparse - and the SMH "cycle" section in sports still has headlines from waaay back. It would be great to see more cycling news *regularly* getting "front page" billing. I think that would also go a long way to changing attitudes of the general public to cyclists on the road. -
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Permalink Reply by Gemma K on -
Actually, the Advertiser has been putting a lot of cycling news in the sports section lately. The local Rendition Homes Teams Series has been getting a very good write up. It's never on the online edition - but that's what you pays your one dollar for I guess...
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Permalink Reply by Wombat on
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I would like to see another Aus team invited as a wild card. Probably Pegasus/Fly-V have the talent to keep with the Pro teams. IMHO even if a cpl of the Aus riders get poached by BIG$ teams, isn't giving them the opportunity to show their talents worth it?
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Permalink Reply by rossmg on
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Frankly what is needed is a Pro Tour Australian based team - that's what is lacking. I keep getting glimpses of rumours in the press that such an aussie team is being considered to be formed but it ain't happened yet...
and if you don't like the 'tiser then you'd understand how I grit my teeth everytime the online version auto refreshes - every 4 mins .. grr -
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