Why is it that the tourism industry still treats bike races like an afterthought, a mere novelty to be added to the brochure as a quaint local quirk, rather than the multi-billion dollar industry that it is, and what exactly are the organizers and sponsors of these events going to do to get their act together and demand the respect and recognition they deserve, or are they just happy to keep on being pushed around and marginalized by the hotel lobby and the chamber of commerce.
And while were at it, whats with the complete lack of transparency and accountability in the way that bike racing events are funded and managed, with millions of dollars in sponsorships and donations seemingly disappearing into thin air, and no one seemingly able or willing to ask any questions about where the money is going, and what exactly its being used for.
And can someone please explain to me why it is that every other sporting event on the planet, from NASCAR to professional wrestling, seems to be able to secure major sponsorship deals and television contracts with ease, while bike racing is lucky to get a few minutes of coverage on some obscure cable channel, and a handful of small-time sponsors who are only willing to commit for a year or two at a time.
And finally, whats it going to take for the bike racing community to stop being so passive and reactive, and to start taking control of its own destiny, rather than just waiting around for someone else to come along and save the day, because from where Im sitting, it looks like the current crop of organizers and sponsors is completely out of ideas, and is just phoning it in at this point.