Giro 2014 - 'Big Start'

above_the_cows

TailWindHome wrote:

He could do with loosing a bit of heft, he's going to struggle come the Stelvio.

tailwindhome

Right Yorkshire.

Let's be havin ya

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2014/05/roadt ... -part-two/

frenchfighter

Lovely photos and interesting scenery.

looks like those two blokes just got a free trip to Ireland + other things courtesy of the Irish toursit board...

alan_a

TailWindHome - why Ballycastle? What's special about that spot?

Plan for us is to watch start in Belfast, mill around for 4 hours then watch Kittel win the sprint finish.

Convince me otherwise please.

madden2011

The climb just outside Ballintoy would be a good spot to watch or somewhere between Ballycastle and Cushendall.

Crampeur

TailWindHome wrote:

Thought Cav wasn't riding the Giro this year?

tailwindhome

Alan A wrote:

TailWindHome - why Ballycastle? What's special about that spot?

Plan for us is to watch start in Belfast, mill around for 4 hours then watch Kittel win the sprint finish.

Convince me otherwise please.

Going to treat Saturday as a family day. Weather permitting there'll be lots happening along the seafront. I also work in the hotel there.

Thursday night and all day Friday I'll be able to spend in Belfast.

If I were watching stage 2 from anywhere I recommend the climb out of Ballintoy (featured in the Cycling Tips photo up thread) or the climb to the Vanishing Lake.

knedlicky

Above The Cows wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

I have a strong suspicion that teams that have had trouble have done so due to them not realising Ireland is not one country until the eleven hour.

Or that neither are in Schengen?
As an aside the whole UK visa and border system is in a bit of a mess* at the moment due to (in short) computer problems.
* this may well be an understatement.

From friends of mine, I’ve heard British embassies are woefully slow in granting visas.
According to a Gov.UK website about visa-processing times at European embassies, there’s a 95-100% chance a visa will be granted within 10 days, and 99-100% within 15 days, but the reality is very different.

A Turkish friend who wanted to holiday with friends in Nottingham waited 8 weeks, while a Serbian friend wishing to visit his sister, who lives in London, waited over 6 weeks for his visa to arrive. By that time, he could no longer visit the UK because of his work commitments.
By contrast, he doesn’t need any visa to travel within the Schengen area, not even a Schengen visa, although Serbia is not a member of the EU.

Interestingly, none of the complaints from the Giro teams seem directed at Ireland, only at the UK.

alan_a

They're probably glad they aren't coming if this is the welcome they might get.

http://m.u.tv/News/Faeces-thrown-at-cyc ... d77dffe535

The Romanian man was cycling countrywards on the Newtownards Road on Wednesday morning when a man dressed in dark clothing came over and threw faeces around him.
The victim was taken to hospital for treatment.

Police said the man ran off towards the Island Resource Centre. They have asked anyone who witnessed the incident, which happened at about 9.15am, to contact them.

© UTV News

frenchfighter

Look out for these along the route:



Avatar this:










http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycl ... 58735.html

frenchfighter

graeme_s-2

Travelled over today. Got stuck behind a Belkin team bus on the A75 on the way to the ferry (very friendly driver gave me a big cheery wave and flashed his lights when he saw me checking the bus out when we overtook). Then saw an Astana team car turning into Belfast City Airport while we were en route to the in laws.

I guess on Sunday evening to Tuesday morning all the team vehicles will be driven to Italy? Poor sods!

takethehighroad

Can someone explain to me why teams are having trouble with Visa issues for some riders but not for others?

I don't really get how visas work, as well, so bear that in mind

takethehighroad

Can someone explain to me why teams are having trouble with Visa issues for some riders but not for others?

I don't really get how visas work, as well, so bear that in mind

above_the_cows

EU riders don't need a visa.

And then riders from countries such as the US, Oz, NZ, Canada etc get visas more quickly as these are considered low risk nations and then there are other countries that are categorized according to levels of risk, many African countries and some south Asian ones are high risk where it's almost impossible to get a visa at all.

That's a very simple overview. I do work on this stuff I can set a reading list

blazing_saddles

Podium Cafe has a fascinating piece about the story on the hardest of them all: the 1914 Giro:
http://www.podiumcafe.com/book-corner/2 ... talia-1914

RichN95.

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Podium Cafe has a fascinating piece about the story on the hardest of them all: the 1914 Giro:
http://www.podiumcafe.com/book-corner/2 ... talia-1914

Tim Moore has written a sequel to French Revolutions based on that race.

graeme_s-2

The visa thing with travelling to the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland is weird. It seems if you're from certain countries you do require a separate visa for RoI in addition to a UK visa, but with complete freedom of movement and no border controls at all this musn't be enforced.

alan_a

I've never heard of footballers having visa issues for going to / coming for European matches or World Cup qualifiers etc. It's farcical.

frenchfighter

tailwindhome

Portrush Life Boat

above_the_cows

Graeme_S wrote:

The visa thing with travelling to the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland is weird. It seems if you're from certain countries you do require a separate visa for RoI in addition to a UK visa, but with complete freedom of movement and no border controls at all this musn't be enforced.

But they'll need one for when they leave Dublin. Also visas are not just required for when you actually cross the border, its the law that you must hold a visa when in the territory of the country, whether this is actually checked actually at the borderline. The border as we say in border studies circles these day's is everywhere.

Sorry but this is one of my serious geeky specialisms.

I really should set a reading list.

Alan A wrote:

I've never heard of footballers having visa issues for going to / coming for European matches or World Cup qualifiers etc. It's farcical.

I would imagine that is a result of football teams being better managed. No doubt when they sign a player from a non-EU country that will need both a Schengen visa and a UK visa, then they will obtain these straight away as part of his general transfer wotsit.

The problem with the visa system at the moment is it is generally badly managed due to continually changing policies, organisational overhauls shifting back and forth between the Home Office, the UKBA as a separate entity and now UK Border Force back under the auspices of the Home Office oh and they have a not-fit-for-purpose IT system after they tried to privatise it and it was a disaster and now no company wants to bid for the tender.

:roll:

tailwindhome

above_the_cows

TailWindHome wrote:

Where are all the women walking around in their bras on a moon walk?

'Tis a pretty picture. You know what would make it better though? If they also projected an image of a pretty horse.

knedlicky

Above The Cows wrote:

Alan A wrote:

I've never heard of footballers having visa issues for going to / coming for European matches or World Cup qualifiers etc. It's farcical.

I would imagine that is a result of football teams being better managed. No doubt when they sign a player from a non-EU country that will need both a Schengen visa and a UK visa, then they will obtain these straight away as part of his general transfer wotsit.

Things can go quicker when it comes to visas, if the involved country is willing, and football has provided examples:
- When Glasgow Rangers played Zenit St. Petersburg in the UEFA-Cup final in Manchester in 2008, the UK authorities rushed through 1000 visas for Russian fans, and made no charge for them.
- In return for this, a couple of weeks later the Russian authorities went one further - when ManU played Chelsea in the Champions League final in Moscow, Russia completely waived the requirement for visas for fans from GB going to the match.
(Admittedly, there may have been other reasons than just Good Will behind these decisions - the UK consulate in St. Petersburg and the Russian embassy in London may have been inundated with visa requests and chosen easier ways out)

There have been similar relaxations about visa requirements by European countries for travelling fans, when countries like Russia and Turkey have played in international matches in Europe.

Conceivably, visa regulations are also similarly relaxed for the players themselves, but one does occasionally hear of cases where footballers have been refused visas:
– Joey Barton wasn’t granted one when Newcastle went to play in the USA (he had to stay behind)
- Qatar has been known to refuse visas to the non-European players of top European clubs which have wanted to play there or have training camps there.
Qatar will have to rethink its policies before 2022, when the World Cup is supposed to be played there.

(Non-Europeans playing only in the UK don’t need a Schengen visa)

above_the_cows

knedlicky wrote:

– Joey Barton wasn’t granted one when Newcastle went to play in the USA (he had to stay behind)
- Qatar has been known to refuse visas to the non-European players of top European clubs which have wanted to play there or have training camps there.
Qatar will have to rethink its policies before 2022, when the World Cup is supposed to be played there.

(Non-Europeans playing only in the UK don’t need a Schengen visa)

Joey Barton was refused a US visa because he has a criminal record for assault. This generates an automatic refusal on the part of the USA.

Qatar has refused Israeli players as will a whole host of Middle Eastern countries.

Lots of countries have very complex visa rules. Anyone ever tried to get a research visa for India for example? Nigh on impossible.

Non-European players playing only in the UK do not need a Schengen visa no, but if they want to travel to Schengen countries then they will need one, which I would imagine they do. Players playing for a club in a Schengen country will need a Schengen visa and if they want to travel to the UK then they will also need a UK visa.

knedlicky

Above The Cows wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

- Qatar has been known to refuse visas to the non-European players of top European clubs which have wanted to play there or have training camps there.
Qatar will have to rethink its policies before 2022, when the World Cup is supposed to be played there.

Qatar has refused Israeli players as will a whole host of Middle Eastern countries.

The players I’m thinking of, which Qatar refused visas for, were from Peru, Brazil, Ghana and Hungary.

above_the_cows

knedlicky wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

- Qatar has been known to refuse visas to the non-European players of top European clubs which have wanted to play there or have training camps there.
Qatar will have to rethink its policies before 2022, when the World Cup is supposed to be played there.

Qatar has refused Israeli players as will a whole host of Middle Eastern countries.

The players I’m thinking of, which Qatar refused visas for, were from Peru, Brazil, Ghana and Hungary.

I'm sure Qatar had their reasons. Whether or not we think those reasons are fair is another matter, but the ability to control comings and goings is one of the main things that makes a country sovereign.

People get denied visas all the time by multiple countries, for multiple reasons. People really don't have freedom of movement. This is an illusion. Some of us have the privilege of movement but this can be taken from us at any time. A passport and the financial ability to travel does not mean you will be allowed to legally. This is ultimately why there are so many undocumented/irregular/illegal migrants in existence.

I should set a reading list. Start with Hannah Arendt and chapter 9 of Origins of Totalitarianism where she outlines that we as human beings only have rights as long as states recognise both us and our rights.

The_Boy

Above The Cows wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

- Qatar has been known to refuse visas to the non-European players of top European clubs which have wanted to play there or have training camps there.
Qatar will have to rethink its policies before 2022, when the World Cup is supposed to be played there.

Qatar has refused Israeli players as will a whole host of Middle Eastern countries.

The players I’m thinking of, which Qatar refused visas for, were from Peru, Brazil, Ghana and Hungary.

I'm sure Qatar had their reasons. Whether or not we think those reasons are fair is another matter, but the ability to control comings and goings is one of the main things that makes a country sovereign.

People get denied visas all the time by multiple countries, for multiple reasons. People really don't have freedom of movement. This is an illusion. Some of us have the privilege of movement but this can be taken from us at any time. A passport and the financial ability to travel does not mean you will be allowed to legally. This is ultimately why there are so many undocumented/irregular/illegal migrants in existence.

I should set a reading list. Start with Hannah Arendt and chapter 9 of Origins of Totalitarianism where she outlines that we as human beings only have rights as long as states recognise both us and our rights.

She has that bit arse about tit, tbf.

edit: though obviously in practice the difference is moot.

edit edit: arse doesn't get past the censors, but tits does?

above_the_cows

The_Boy wrote:

She has that bit ars* about tit, tbf.

edit: though obviously in practice the difference is moot.

edit edit: ars* doesn't get past the censors, but tits does?

I respectfully disagree. Who else upholds rights if the state has the monopoly on violence?