Benefits of LAs visit to Australia

rockmount

iainf72 wrote:

This is worth a read

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/The ... 75526.html

That's why I love CDs ... no more stuck records ... :roll:

dave_1

Lionel Birnie presents a partial biased report there...LA is bigger than that tiny race...he gave this tiny event a stature it does not deserve.

richard wants a baum

Dave_1

Lionel Birnie presents a partial biased report there...LA is bigger than that tiny race...he gave this tiny event a stature it does not deserve.

What exactly does that mean? As far as i can see Armstrongs getting lots of publicity not much about the race hardly any discussion on this fourm at all about the racing? The stature of the race hasnt been improved at all if anything the constant comments about how insignificant it is has possibly done it damage for the years to come.

micron

The big crowds didn't come to see the race, they came to see a 'legend' - they won't be there next year when Armstrong isn't it. It's the cult of celebrity, nothing more - certainly not a huge interest in cycling.As for the argument that the Australian Governement has pledged x dollars to cancer - and that just happened because of Armstrong right? Not perhaps because Governement's have things called budgets in which they announce where money will be spent and riding on the Livestrong coatails just makes good PR sense?

What I haven't seen in any of this is any discussion of the racing because the racing isn't ever that exciting in Australia - positioning Armstrong as bigger than any race or the sport will never change that - a more challenging parcours might.

colint

The Aussie riders seem to think it's having a positive impact, from Cyclingnews:

Davis knows that the 'Lance factor' was a big motivator for the public interest, and thanked all those concerned for a great event. "Robbie McEwen said to me during the second lap, before we even got close to the finish – 'this is absolutely unbelievable'," said Davis.

"That's exactly what it is. This race is unbelievable for cycling in Australia. Thanks Mike Turtur, the South Australian and Federal Governments, this race is exactly what cycling in Australia needs. To have Lance here has made this a worldwide event, and everyone's looking at it, so well done."

DaveyL

That was a quote from the cyclingnews.com report.

micron

My point is, when Armstrong isn't there, what happens? Do the huge crowds remain? Unlikely. Is the world still watching? Probably not. The interest is not in cycling but in celebrity, let's not confuse the two.

colint

I agree, a large proportion of the crowds won't be there, but surely some of the people who are there for the celebrity element will be back. Lets say 10% buy a bike and get into the sport, good result I'd say.

colint

DaveyL wrote:

That was a quote from the cyclingnews.com report.

Apart from the bits in quotation marks which is quotes by the aussie riders, like I said

DaveyL

colint wrote:

I agree, a large proportion of the crowds won't be there, but surely some of the people who are there for the celebrity element will be back. Lets say 10% buy a bike and get into the sport, good result I'd say.

Indeed, not every non-cycling fan who turned up in London for the Prologue and Stage 1 in 2007 will have stayed with the sport, but some will. Overall that has to be a good thing.

DaveyL

colint wrote:

DaveyL wrote:

That was a quote from the cyclingnews.com report.

Apart from the bits in quotation marks which is quotes by the aussie riders, like I said

All of it is, bar your first sentence.

top_bhoy

colint wrote:

I agree, a large proportion of the crowds won't be there, but surely some of the people who are there for the celebrity element will be back. Lets say 10% buy a bike and get into the sport, good result I'd say.

I disagree....the crowds in previous years without LA were pretty good. The centre of town will be difficult/impossible to move in today - the same as in previous years. In future years, new stars and big names will be contracted to ride and the race will gain popularity with the public.

All I see in these type of threads is many people knocking the TDU. It is what it is, a decent race offering warm weather where riders can incorporate it into their build-up to the European season. The organisers aren't stupid to ignore where they stand in the calender or the purpose of the race to the riders. I read now a few riders are complaining this years race has been too hard for this stage of their preparations. Duh...previous years, the complaints were it was too easy!

The organisers really do go out their way to ensure the riders are treated superbly- I doubt they could be treated as well at any other race - the TdF included. People should embrace this race and be glad that this type of race is available and someone is pumping in millions at a time when sponsorship is being lost and not replaced.

I'm sure if the race was able to be watched at the same time as European races, the negativity on here and elsewhere would be minimal. I don't think it is the race itself which is the problem.

The emu

A few points:

1 - I think his appearance money isn't going to his trust but pretty sure it's going to some anti cancer council- this was part of the agreement by the state government, or atleast this is what I read somewhere on the net a short while back.

2 - I believe part of the contract includes his commitment to attending and guest speaking at 3 or 4 organised functions over the course of his stay in Adelaide, so actually it is not just about him racing.

3 - I'm an Adelaide boy living in london, but mates back home are saying LA has reached fever pitch and bike sales are going through the roof. If he's not here next year, I bet a most of the new riders who bought their bikes still will be riding and watching with interest.

Still, doesn't detract my personal thoughts that he's an arrogant drug cheating ar$ehole, but sadly Australia gets a lot of American regurgitated advertising and media, and they love Lance.

I call it the "it's not about the bike but I'll have my Trek Madone in blue" dichotomy. 8)

The emu

Also another point...

144,000 came out to watch last stage in the city streets of Adelaide, and more than 7 times the number of people around the world are following the TDU than the Australian Open.

For anyone who knows little ol' Adelaide, that is insane :shock:

When you throw in some of the scenic photo's published the world over (Barossa Valley, Victor Harbor, Snapper Point et el), can only bode well for South Australian and Australian Tourism.

Sadly though I rue the day when an eastern state will invetiably hijack it (like our GP).

Hats off to Mike Turtor and all the organisors for having the vision for this to grow into what will hopefully become a marquee event.

micron

What's happening to the appearance money? From the horse's mouth:

Armstrong also dismissed reports that the appearance fee he has been paid to contest Tour Down Under will go to the charity. Earlier in the week South Australian Premier Mike Rann's media department told Cyclingnews that any monies which may have been paid to Armstrong will go to the Livestrong charity.

"That's not true," he said. "In the past few years I've spent most of my time speaking all over the world just like President Clinton, or Al Gore. I'm not getting paid to race, is there a fee for other things? Yes. But that's not any different to what I've done in the last three or four years."

I wonder what Mike Rann thinks about that?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/ja ... conf_jan09

The emu

I stand corrected on point 1....

Well for those not local to South Aust, the premiers' nick name is "Media Mike", and he's made a living out of bulsh*tting his way through his career with spin.

Still money well worth spendng IMHO.

Top_Bhoy wrote:

It is what it is, a decent race offering warm weather

Warm weather :?: Last time I went and watched the TDU SA was having a heat wave, at Willunga ambient air temperature was 45 and the bitumen on the road was melting.
:shock:

top_bhoy

The emu wrote:

I stand corrected on point 1....

Well for those not local to South Aust, the premiers' nick name is "Media Mike", and he's made a living out of bulsh*tting his way through his career with spin.

Still money well worth spendng IMHO.

Top_Bhoy wrote:

It is what it is, a decent race offering warm weather

Warm weather :?: Last time I went and watched the TDU SA was having a heat wave, at Willunga ambient air temperature was 45 and the bitumen on the road was melting.
:shock:

Now you're being pedantic

It was only about 30 deg C today

The emu

Aaaaarrrrggghh stop it, making me feel homesick.

Celebrating Australia Day in a couple of hours and it's about 6 degrees outside - at least I have my Sparkling Ale

deejay

rockmount wrote:

My credentials ....

I was born in 1960. I grew up with tales of Eddy Merckx, Freddy Maertens et al. My mate and I used to go to the LBS and ask when they expected the new Super Record gear in (right rascals we were-taking the p*ss). I came to own a Gios Torino replica a la Roger de Vlaemink, just prior to finding a new interest altogether (not hard to work that one out). In the last few years I wanted to start trying to get a bit fitter, bought a mountain bike and started commuting to work (16 mile round trip, I try to do every day, rain hail or shine). I missed the LA years, due to lack of interest at the time, but some time ago discovered his books, and since watched the videos etc. etc. I have to admit to being totally inspired by his story, so much so, that I now own a Dura Ace equipped carbon fibre framed machine in addition to an entry level trek, and a couple of mountain bikes. I find it rather disappointing to read the anti Lance rhetoric perpetuated by a small number of posters on this, and other sites. I don't believe that anything LA, or anyone else for that matter could say or do would satisfy the detractors .. and quite frankly, that's a shame.

So you couldn't be bothered to follow the sport and decided to catch up by reading "HIS" books and that you think gives you a Balanced View of his 7 year performance.
No Chance
Well I havn't read any books and have just been there to watch and hear him talking during his Pre Cancer period and apart from his fortunate World Championship, then the "Talk" never matched his performances.
15 months later he is back to place 4th in the Vuelta and the following year he does a "Riis" to win the TDF, Incredible. Then with his TUE he is able to escape the full testing that other riders get and he knows what this means to his performances for a couple of months a year. 6 more and they cannot touch him and "Mugs" like you get sucked in by reading the books he had wriiten for him.
It's more an anoyance than hate, to see how a "Cancer Miracle Cure" can change how he can manipulate the biggest sponsored "Cycle Race" in the world.
The start of this Millenium and no one in the USA General Public had heard of him and it was "WHO" and some guy might say isn't he the guy on TV with cancer ??. He rides a bicycle dosn't he and won a race in France, was it.
I had that conversation 3 times in 2001/2 .
He started the TDF several times and what percentage did he win 60% maybe 65% and are those failures in his book when he was an ordinary Jerk.

The TDU has to be a "Showcase" for OZ riders and the European Riders get some Racing miles in and being Professional they are bound to put on a show for the sponsors who pay the expences for being there. I hope everyone got their monies worth besides him. (well we know he did well out of it, Salary what do I need a salary for)
There could be a backlash for him, if he continues hogging the media while riding in the peloton and you think "Hate" in the Forums is something, then think on about that in the peloton in the next few weeks.

rockmount

deejay wrote:

rockmount wrote:

My credentials ....

I was born in 1960. I grew up with tales of Eddy Merckx, Freddy Maertens et al. My mate and I used to go to the LBS and ask when they expected the new Super Record gear in (right rascals we were-taking the p*ss). I came to own a Gios Torino replica a la Roger de Vlaemink, just prior to finding a new interest altogether (not hard to work that one out). In the last few years I wanted to start trying to get a bit fitter, bought a mountain bike and started commuting to work (16 mile round trip, I try to do every day, rain hail or shine). I missed the LA years, due to lack of interest at the time, but some time ago discovered his books, and since watched the videos etc. etc. I have to admit to being totally inspired by his story, so much so, that I now own a Dura Ace equipped carbon fibre framed machine in addition to an entry level trek, and a couple of mountain bikes. I find it rather disappointing to read the anti Lance rhetoric perpetuated by a small number of posters on this, and other sites. I don't believe that anything LA, or anyone else for that matter could say or do would satisfy the detractors .. and quite frankly, that's a shame.

So you couldn't be bothered to follow the sport and decided to catch up by reading "HIS" books and that you think gives you a Balanced View of his 7 year performance.
No Chance
Well I havn't read any books and have just been there to watch and hear him talking during his Pre Cancer period and apart from his fortunate World Championship, then the "Talk" never matched his performances.
15 months later he is back to place 4th in the Vuelta and the following year he does a "Riis" to win the TDF, Incredible. Then with his TUE he is able to escape the full testing that other riders get and he knows what this means to his performances for a couple of months a year. 6 more and they cannot touch him and "Mugs" like you get sucked in by reading the books he had wriiten for him.
It's more an anoyance than hate, to see how a "Cancer Miracle Cure" can change how he can manipulate the biggest sponsored "Cycle Race" in the world.
The start of this Millenium and no one in the USA General Public had heard of him and it was "WHO" and some guy might say isn't he the guy on TV with cancer ??. He rides a bicycle dosn't he and won a race in France, was it.
I had that conversation 3 times in 2001/2 .
He started the TDF several times and what percentage did he win 60% maybe 65% and are those failures in his book when he was an ordinary Jerk.

The TDU has to be a "Showcase" for OZ riders and the European Riders get some Racing miles in and being Professional they are bound to put on a show for the sponsors who pay the expences for being there. I hope everyone got their monies worth besides him. (well we know he did well out of it, Salary what do I need a salary for)
There could be a backlash for him, if he continues hogging the media while riding in the peloton and you think "Hate" in the Forums is something, then think on about that in the peloton in the next few weeks.

Sorry, I have simply no idea just what point you are trying to articulate ??

The emu

Yeah I'm a bit lost.

I agree with some aspects of what you are saying, but is totally irrelevent on this thread.

At the end of the day if people introduce themselves to cycling because their inspired by Lance's lame story, no matter what the rest of the cycling community think of LA IMHO it can still only be a good thing.

Also Tour Down Under is actually trying to shake off it's "Showcase for Oz riders" label, but rather make it a "Showcase for Oz" otherwise long term the event gains no ccredibility, and hence why it's worked so hard to get UCI status.

top_bhoy

It's been 40+ deg C since yesterday, with a high of 45.8 deg C recorded today and the same forecast for tomorrow....its hot Forecast until next Wednesday is 40+ deg C tailing off into the high 30's deg C......they were lucky the TDU was last week and not this week.

The emu

Yeah, I noticed all my mates at home are whinging about it on facebook.

Well you gotta take the bad with the good - aslong as its still warm when I come home for a break in 8 weeks (not that I'm counting) :roll:

dave_1

just read an interviuew with C Horner...says 100,000 additional spectators watch TDU this year and LA was the draw....terrible...bad for the sport...we want less people following cycle sport/LA not more....bad to be a more popular sport

dennisn

Dave_1 wrote:

just read an interviuew with C Horner...says 100,000 additional spectators watch TDU this year and LA was the draw....terrible...bad for the sport...we want less people following cycle sport/LA not more....bad to be a more popular sport

Good one. I like your thinking.

Dennis Noward

andyp

Dave_1 wrote:

just read an interviuew with C Horner...says 100,000 additional spectators watch TDU this year and LA was the draw....terrible...bad for the sport...we want less people following cycle sport/LA not more....bad to be a more popular sport

Based on what data? Serious question.

dave_1

andyp wrote:

Dave_1 wrote:

just read an interviuew with C Horner...says 100,000 additional spectators watch TDU this year and LA was the draw....terrible...bad for the sport...we want less people following cycle sport/LA not more....bad to be a more popular sport

Based on what data? Serious question.

if you google it, shows TDU official spectator estimates at 533,000 for 08 , the crit drew an estimated 39,000 more spectators than last year according to official estimates...so quite probably Horner is not far off the mark...there's further estimates for extrapolation but very much doubt you'd agree given your views on Armstrong


http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/18/ ... 410539.php

andyp

What have my views on Armstrong got to do with it?

I hadn't seen any official figures and, given that Horner isn't exactly objective, I thought I'd ask the question.

It's good, let's hope crowds keep increasing. Hopefully some of those attending will enjoy it enough to start riding themselves.

dave_1

andyp wrote:

What have my views on Armstrong got to do with it?

I hadn't seen any official figures and, given that Horner isn't exactly objective, I thought I'd ask the question.

It's good, let's hope crowds keep increasing. Hopefully some of those attending will enjoy it enough to start riding themselves.

fair enough, if some good comes of it..., I guess an economic impact assessment will surely have to be provided given what they paid to have Armstrong attend the TDU..they estimated 533,000 spectators watched the event last year..I hope LA comes to the tour of Britain...but Ireland looks more likely..

moray_gub

andyp wrote:

What have my views on Armstrong got to do with it?

I hadn't seen any official figures and, given that Horner isn't exactly objective, I thought I'd ask the question.

It's good, let's hope crowds keep increasing. Hopefully some of those attending will enjoy it enough to start riding themselves.

Your lack of impartiality regarding Armstrong is clear for all to see, so your views on Armstrong have every thing to do with it

MG