Tour De France Obsession : in part media driven



limerickman

Well-Known Member
Jan 5, 2004
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The postman dropped my copy of Cycle Sport : february 2006 : through the letterbox this morning.

Collecting the post, I see the magazine title "The Next Tour Winners" on the front cover.
(Disappointed sigh).

Granted the title doesn't specifically mention the TDF - but when the term Tour is used, fans normally
assume that it is the TDF to whom the term refers.

Giving CS the benefit of a very large doubt - I see the cover has DiLuca, Valverde & Savoldelli photographed.
Maybe, just maybe CS have the wherewithal to write about races other than the TDF.

I read the interview with Valverde : it's packed with TDF this, TDF that, TDF other.
I'm disappointed.

I gave up my subscription to Procycling because it focussed on the TDF practically to the exclusion of
many races.
Practiccally every edition had TDF this, that and t'other.

As a fan I am dismayed at the lack of attention that the other races get.
Cycling is bigger than the TDF !
I like the TDF but I like a lot more races too.
I am equally interested in the TDF and the Classics and the other grand tours.

I don't believe that the written cycling media is doing enough for our sport.
They don't appear to be interested in publicising other great races.
I am seriously considering not renewing my CS subscription.

Before terminating my sub, I intend to write to CS and ask them about their not covering other cycling events.
They used to cover other events in the past.

Does anyone else here agree with me?
What cycling events would you like to see having more coverage?
 
limerickman said:
I don't believe that the written cycling media is doing enough for our sport.
They don't appear to be interested in publicising other great races.
I am seriously considering not renewing my CS subscription.

Before terminating my sub, I intend to write to CS and ask them about their not covering other cycling events.
They used to cover other events in the past.

Does anyone else here agree with me?
What cycling events would you like to see having more coverage?


Looking at the two websites, the UK and USA editions of Cycle Sport have exactly the same content. And there we have the answer: shifting ink in a bigger (new) market place. The Tour obsessed USA.

Perhaps if Boonen's mullet gets a bit longer the trailer park demographic will adopt him as their own and we'll get a feature about Paris-Roubaix or Flanders on the cover (along with a side panel comparing those races to le Tour, no doubt).

I've given up on the printed press and rely on cyclingnews.com for coverage of everything from le Tour to the Crocodile Trophy.

Cancel your subscription to CS. It's only when they lose readers in sufficient numbers that they'll actually try to find out what people want.
 
limerickman said:
The postman dropped my copy of Cycle Sport : february 2006 : through the letterbox this morning.

Collecting the post, I see the magazine title "The Next Tour Winners" on the front cover.
(Disappointed sigh).
Have to agree.... after a fantastic Giro in 2005 I was looking forward to reading the reviews in ProCycling.... but to find no race report but Lance Armstrong on the front cover ! Whats all that about ? I'm with you.... I love watching racing... not just the Tour....... shizzle....
 
limerickman said:
The postman dropped my copy of Cycle Sport : february 2006 : through the letterbox this morning.

Collecting the post, I see the magazine title "The Next Tour Winners" on the front cover.
(Disappointed sigh).

Granted the title doesn't specifically mention the TDF - but when the term Tour is used, fans normally
assume that it is the TDF to whom the term refers.

Giving CS the benefit of a very large doubt - I see the cover has DiLuca, Valverde & Savoldelli photographed.
Maybe, just maybe CS have the wherewithal to write about races other than the TDF.

I read the interview with Valverde : it's packed with TDF this, TDF that, TDF other.
I'm disappointed.

I gave up my subscription to Procycling because it focussed on the TDF practically to the exclusion of
many races.
Practiccally every edition had TDF this, that and t'other.

As a fan I am dismayed at the lack of attention that the other races get.
Cycling is bigger than the TDF !
I like the TDF but I like a lot more races too.
I am equally interested in the TDF and the Classics and the other grand tours.

I don't believe that the written cycling media is doing enough for our sport.
They don't appear to be interested in publicising other great races.
I am seriously considering not renewing my CS subscription.

Before terminating my sub, I intend to write to CS and ask them about their not covering other cycling events.
They used to cover other events in the past.

Does anyone else here agree with me?
What cycling events would you like to see having more coverage?
Well, TDF is something every rider dream about. I think Van Petegem would give all his classics victories for a place on TDF podium. I don't want to say that classics are less important for the sport, just that TDF is for cycling what the World Cup is for football. So, all this attention and obsession with TDF is logical. Specially this year when the race will be very open and some new guys should show what are they made of.

Now about classics, what do you think will happen in Milan - San Remo. Boonen said he's targeting this race and will try to repeat Ronde - Roubaix double, I think his teammate Bettini isn't overjoyed with this. Italians didn't change route, cause it wouldn't go in favor of Petacchi. Zabel said he'll work for Italian in MSR. Petacchi also said one of his goals in this season will be Ronde. It seems we'll see some great duels this spring. And if we add McEwen, O'Grady and all the other classics-hungry sprinters, show is guaranteed.

And about TV coverage, I would like to watch Dauphine, it's beautiful race and very important (although is closely linked with TDF), also TTT World championship would be interesting, Tour of Austria, Tour of Germany, beautiful races with some glorious climbs...
 
Andrija said:
Well, TDF is something every rider dream about. I think Van Petegem would give all his classics victories for a place on TDF podium. I don't want to say that classics are less important for the sport, just that TDF is for cycling what the World Cup is for football. So, all this attention and obsession with TDF is logical. Specially this year when the race will be very open and some new guys should show what are they made of.

Now about classics, what do you think will happen in Milan - San Remo. Boonen said he's targeting this race and will try to repeat Ronde - Roubaix double, I think his teammate Bettini isn't overjoyed with this. Italians didn't change route, cause it wouldn't go in favor of Petacchi. Zabel said he'll work for Italian in MSR. Petacchi also said one of his goals in this season will be Ronde. It seems we'll see some great duels this spring. And if we add McEwen, O'Grady and all the other classics-hungry sprinters, show is guaranteed.

And about TV coverage, I would like to watch Dauphine, it's beautiful race and very important (although is closely linked with TDF), also TTT World championship would be interesting, Tour of Austria, Tour of Germany, beautiful races with some glorious climbs...

As Lance said, the TdF is the super bowl.
It IS THE most important rac.
Yes, in part media driven, but Armstrong and the culture of celebrity he brought also raised the profile.
Also having a cancer survivor say over and over the TdF is all that matter has a sort of spill-over effect, so everyone else starts agreeing.
It was another shrewd marketing play by Lance?Nike?USPS-Dosco etc.
So after a while all the other riders start emulating and using the whole season to peak for the TdF-Hamilton, Mayo, Landis, etc etc
 
It will be nice to see The Spring Classics, the Giro, The Vuelta. I saw the Vuelta on Television Española last year and let me tell you, the commentators simply suck!
 
Andrija said:
Well, TDF is something every rider dream about. I think Van Petegem would give all his classics victories for a place on TDF podium.


Wow, I think you're wrong there.

Yes, TdF is the biggest and probably the most important, but not by the margin the media portray it as. That's one thing the ProTour was trying to accomplish - shift some focus away from Le Tour and onto other races. Not much success in that goal I'd say.
 
DiabloScott said:
Wow, I think you're wrong there.

Yes, TdF is the biggest and probably the most important, but not by the margin the media portray it as. That's one thing the ProTour was trying to accomplish - shift some focus away from Le Tour and onto other races. Not much success in that goal I'd say.
I admit, I exaggerated a little bit, but probably he would be more pleased with TDF victory than he is with Ronde-Roubaix back to back.
And I think you shouldn't concentrate on one sentence... Only whole post can give you complete insight in my opinion.
 
Andrija said:
I admit, I exaggerated a little bit, but probably he would be more pleased with TDF victory than he is with Ronde-Roubaix back to back.

And I think you shouldn't concentrate on one sentence... Only whole post can give you complete insight in my opinion.

PVP is Flemish, RVV-PR double is legendary stuff and doubly so in Flaanders. I think you just picked a bad example to make your point. Substitute Jalabert for Van Petegem (and change the names of the classics he's won) and you'd be 100% right.

In ProTour scoring system, 2 monument wins = 100points, TdF win = 100 points
 
DiabloScott said:
PVP is Flemish, RVV-PR double is legendary stuff and doubly so in Flaanders. I think you just picked a bad example to make your point. Substitute Jalabert for Van Petegem (and change the names of the classics he's won) and you'd be 100% right.

In ProTour scoring system, 2 monument wins = 100points, TdF win = 100 points
Or, maybe, I should pick someone neutral in terms of nationality related with these two races, like Rominger for example.
And that scoring system you're mentioning is one of the most problematic and criticized things related with Pro Tour.
 
Andrija said:
I admit, I exaggerated a little bit, but probably he would be more pleased with TDF victory than he is with Ronde-Roubaix back to back.
And I think you shouldn't concentrate on one sentence... Only whole post can give you complete insight in my opinion.

Van Petegem said himself he doesn't enjoy the Tour.
 
I think Limerickman has a good point here, the Tour de France is hyped past even its status as the biggest sporting event in the world. Having said that it is the biggest event in cycling and hence the media cash in on this as much as possible, it got me into cycling so I have no problem with it being popular. I would however like to see more of the other grand tours and the one day races on TV, I have to rely on online coverage on cycling news or if its on Eurosport, the online commentary there to know whats going on.
 
Andrija said:
And that scoring system you're mentioning is one of the most problematic and criticized things related with Pro Tour.[/size][/font]

True, although most of the criticism involves points for stage wins in stage races, not points for GC or finishes in classic races. Looks like that may not be an issue this year.
 
DiabloScott said:
PVP is Flemish, RVV-PR double is legendary stuff and doubly so in Flaanders. I think you just picked a bad example to make your point. Substitute Jalabert for Van Petegem (and change the names of the classics he's won) and you'd be 100% right.

In ProTour scoring system, 2 monument wins = 100points, TdF win = 100 points
Also, Van Petegem, like Wessemann (Sp), and Musueew, among others, would be more interested in a TDF stage win then a podium. They are realistic in terms of what they can do. These 3 knows they aren't tour contenders, they are 1 day specialist, so a more realistic goal be a stage. They never had any goals or aspirations to become a podium man, so they just decided to focus on what they are able to accomplish.

The Tour De France media addiction is absolutely overbearing, unfortunately, especially for those here in the States, thanks to Lance's declarations, has become an obsession. Thanks to Landis and Liepheimer following the Lance mold, the American media has had no reason to cover the other 2 Tours because their countrymen after only chased the TDF. Any media is going to focus on the races their country chases, and especially if the sport isn't mainstream in that country's opinion.

Closest comparision I can think of is the the the College Football (American) Bowl Games. The media massively focuses on the 4 BCS games, but the other 22 bowl games are important to the individual schools for various reasons: School making first bowl bid ever (or for a long time), Small school trying to score a win against a Big team, etc., etc.
 
I have no difficulty with the english speaking media covering the TDF and it made sense to cover it especially with Armstrong being an english speaking rider winning it.
Given that the TDF is the jewel in the crown for the sport - it's perfectly understandable.
That is fair enough.

But it's now Jan/Feb 2006 - equidistant from the end of the 2005 TDF and the beginning of the 2006 TDF, but yet CS see fit to fill practically every page with some reference to the TDF.

The one day classic season is almost upon us : 3-10 day stage races in Europe are beginning in a few weeks time.
We have the Tour Down Under ongoing!
Yet CS February 2006 has a couple of sentances about the TDU!

No wonder races like Paris-Nice and Midi Libre struggled to find sponsors :
the TDF sucks up hard fought attention and advertising to the deteriment of
what once were sizable events in themselves.

That's why i really hope the likes of the Tour of California do work - then maybe the public will realise that there is a lot more to this sport than the TDF.
 
limerickman said:
But it's now Jan/Feb 2006 - equidistant from the end of the 2005 TDF and the beginning of the 2006 TDF, but yet CS see fit to fill practically every page with some reference to the TDF.

The one day classic season is almost upon us : 3-10 day stage races in Europe are beginning in a few weeks time.
We have the Tour Down Under ongoing!
Yet CS February 2006 has a couple of sentances about the TDU!

No wonder races like Paris-Nice and Midi Libre struggled to find sponsors :
the TDF sucks up hard fought attention and advertising to the deteriment of
what once were sizable events in themselves.
As you say, the point is in money. TDF sells.
Every business which makes profit from cycling has to pay attention on widest population. Widest population mostly knows just for Tour and Giro, I'm not sure if average viewer has ever heard for, say, Omloop Het Volk. So if they would talk about something that average viewer doesn't recognize, they'd lose money. Market dictates most of the things.
And yes, media has got lot with it 'cause of marketing and everything related with profits.
 
Andrija said:
As you say, the point is in money. TDF sells.
Every business which makes profit from cycling has to pay attention on widest population. Widest population mostly knows just for Tour and Giro, I'm not sure if average viewer has ever heard for, say, Omloop Het Volk. So if they would talk about something that average viewer doesn't recognize, they'd lose money. Market dictates most of the things.
And yes, media has got lot with it 'cause of marketing and everything related with profits.

Het Volk - I know that race well.
Belgian newspaper sponsor it : and it's staged toward the end of Feb.

I love those Belgian Classic races.
Sean Kelly used race them and I thought after Sean retired that I would lose interest but with the likes of Museeuw, Bartoli, Van Petegem and now more recently Boonen, O'Grady, Hincapie racing them who couldn't but be interested in them, eh?
 
limerickman said:
Het Volk - I know that race well.
Belgian newspaper sponsor it : and it's staged toward the end of Feb.

I love those Belgian Classic races.
Off course you know, you're not an average viewer.
I'm talking about majority whose way of thinking is: cycling = TDF, everything else - never heard of.
Can you belive that people here working in bike shops haven't heard for Paris - Roubaix!? If Boonen would come to their shop they wouldn'y notice (not to mention someone else, older). But, off course, if you ask them about Armstrong and TDF they'll think you're joking with them. There, in western Europe, the situation isn't so extreme but, more-less, average is the same.
 
limerickman said:
The postman dropped my copy of Cycle Sport : february 2006 : through the letterbox this morning.

Collecting the post, I see the magazine title "The Next Tour Winners" on the front cover.
(Disappointed sigh).

Granted the title doesn't specifically mention the TDF - but when the term Tour is used, fans normally
assume that it is the TDF to whom the term refers.

Giving CS the benefit of a very large doubt - I see the cover has DiLuca, Valverde & Savoldelli photographed.
Maybe, just maybe CS have the wherewithal to write about races other than the TDF.

I read the interview with Valverde : it's packed with TDF this, TDF that, TDF other.
I'm disappointed.

I gave up my subscription to Procycling because it focussed on the TDF practically to the exclusion of
many races.
Practiccally every edition had TDF this, that and t'other.

As a fan I am dismayed at the lack of attention that the other races get.
Cycling is bigger than the TDF !
I like the TDF but I like a lot more races too.
I am equally interested in the TDF and the Classics and the other grand tours.

I don't believe that the written cycling media is doing enough for our sport.
They don't appear to be interested in publicising other great races.
I am seriously considering not renewing my CS subscription.

Before terminating my sub, I intend to write to CS and ask them about their not covering other cycling events.
They used to cover other events in the past.

Does anyone else here agree with me?
What cycling events would you like to see having more coverage?
Tour De Nez ? Nevada City Classic?

I notice on many cycling related web sites you will see the typical links with only 1 race link and of course it's TdF.
News:
Health:
Training:
Gear:
Fix It:
Shop:
TDF:

I thought this was just a problem in the U.S. due to the lack of coverage of other races here but if you are to the point of not renewing your subscription to a popular European cycling magazine, then the TDF centric marketing (tunnel vision) is spreading.

Lw