Road Cycling · Public discussion

Women's Cycling

Wm · 2003-09-29T17:36:35+00:00

How many of us followed the Grande Boucle Feminine in August, which looks as if it was at least as interesting as the TDF? Why is women's cycling so poorly covered by the media? Because they don't go as far or as fast as the men? The competition is just as exciting, just as women skiing or tennis is just as exciting (sometimes much more exciting) than the men's competition, even if they don't hit the ball quite as hard. Here is my idea for better equality in coverage and to increase women's participation in the sport from 10% to 50% - merge the organisation of the men's and women's events. Just like tennis, why don't we have a joint TDF or Giro - maybe men in the morning and women in the afternoon, maybe on slightly different courses - but basically the same event for both. waddayathink?

Started by Wm · 29 September 2003 · Last activity 5 October 2003 · 44 posts · 2,894 views

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01 / Original postWomen's CyclingWm · 29 Sep 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–20Page 1 of 3 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #44Bruce Johnston · 5 Oct 2003

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Original section: Road Cycling
Published: 29 September 2003
Last activity: 5 October 2003
Original author: Wm
Posts: 44
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 2,894
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Group riding Women's professional racing

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Original post
Wm
Archived post

29 September 2003, 17:36 UTC #1

How many of us followed the Grande Boucle Feminine in August, which looks as if it was at least as
interesting as the TDF? Why is women's cycling so poorly covered by the media? Because they don't go
as far or as fast as the men? The competition is just as exciting, just as women skiing or tennis is
just as exciting (sometimes much more exciting) than the men's competition, even if they don't hit
the ball quite as hard.
Here is my idea for better equality in coverage and to increase women's participation in the sport
from 10% to 50% - merge the organisation of the men's and women's events. Just like tennis, why
don't we have a joint TDF or Giro - maybe men in the morning and women in the afternoon, maybe on
slightly different courses - but basically the same event for both.
waddayathink?

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James Calivar
Archived post

29 September 2003, 20:36 UTC #2

"WM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
How many of us followed the Grande Boucle Feminine in August, which looks as if it was at least as
interesting as the TDF? Why is women's cycling so poorly covered by the media? Because they don't
go as far or as fast as the men? The competition is just as exciting, just as women skiing or
tennis is just as exciting (sometimes much more exciting) than the men's competition, even if they
don't hit the ball quite as hard.
Here is my idea for better equality in coverage and to increase women's participation in the sport
from 10% to 50% - merge the organisation of the men's and women's events. Just like tennis, why
don't we have a joint TDF or Giro - maybe men in the morning and women in the afternoon, maybe on
slightly different courses - but basically the same event for both.
waddayathink?
I did not "follow" the event because it wasn't covered anywhere I could see without digging for it.

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Bob Schwartz
Archived post

29 September 2003, 21:55 UTC #3

WM said:
Here is my idea for better equality in coverage and to increase women's participation in the sport
from 10% to 50% - merge the organisation of the men's and women's events. Just like tennis, why
don't we have a joint TDF or Giro - maybe men in the morning and women in the afternoon, maybe on
slightly different courses - but basically the same event for both.
Quoted message said:
waddayathink?
What you describe is exactly how the Women's Tour started out. It was run by the same organization
and used the same courses as the men. Starting from a point closer to the finish so that the stages
were shorter and the women finished earlier.
It didn't work at all, the women were overshadowed by the men's race. The tour organization did this
for a few years and then abandoned it.
Bob Schwartz [email hidden]

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Swj
Archived post

29 September 2003, 22:55 UTC #4

i'll watch or follow any race that includes the 'machine from lachine' genevieve jeanson. now its
not only because she's a cutie but because i've loosely followed her career since she was a double
world junior champion in '99. there is something to be said about someone who races so hard that she
is completely burnt out at the end of the year, which probably explains why she hasn't achieved very
much in the elite worlds. however, i think she will do quite well in the hamilton worlds race this
year, being that it is in canada and all. anyway, i bet i follow the women's events closer than most
cycling fans. this is all besides the fact that women's races get minimal coverage at best,
cyclingnews has good coverage of the big races.
shawn
"WM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
How many of us followed the Grande Boucle Feminine in August, which looks as if it was at least as
interesting as the TDF? Why is women's cycling so poorly covered by the media? Because they don't
go as far or as fast as the men? The competition is just as exciting, just as women skiing or
tennis is just as exciting (sometimes much more exciting) than the men's competition, even if they
don't hit the ball quite as hard.
Here is my idea for better equality in coverage and to increase women's participation in the sport
from 10% to 50% - merge the organisation of the men's and women's events. Just like tennis, why
don't we have a joint TDF or Giro - maybe men in the morning and women in the afternoon, maybe on
slightly different courses - but basically the same event for both.
waddayathink?

Report
Tritonrider
Archived post

30 September 2003, 00:56 UTC #5

Quoted message said:
From: "swj" swjelley@spamshit.<just'yahoo.com' >
Quoted message said:
she will do quite well in the hamilton worlds race this year, being that it is in canada and
all. anyway, i bet i follow the women's events closer than most cycling fans. this is all
besides the fact that women's races get minimal coverage at best, cyclingnews has good coverage
of the big races.
shawn
For Canadain news. I like:
pedalmag.comindex.php
and: canadiancyclist.comdailynews.shtml They both cover the women well. Bill C

Report
The Black Adder
Archived post

30 September 2003, 07:09 UTC #6

Your subject line should have read: Another Delusional Egalitarian Confronts Reality.
"WM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
How many of us followed the Grande Boucle Feminine in August, which looks as if it was at least as
interesting as the TDF? Why is women's cycling so poorly covered by the media? Because they don't
go as far or as fast as the men? The competition is just as exciting, just as women skiing or
tennis is just as exciting (sometimes much more exciting) than the men's competition, even if they
don't hit the ball quite as hard.
Here is my idea for better equality in coverage and to increase women's participation in the sport
from 10% to 50% - merge the organisation of the men's and women's events. Just like tennis, why
don't we have a joint TDF or Giro - maybe men in the morning and women in the afternoon, maybe on
slightly different courses - but basically the same event for both.
waddayathink?

Report
B. Lafferty
Archived post

30 September 2003, 12:35 UTC #7

The abject failure of CycleSport and ProCycling to cover women's racing is unfortunate. I'll bet
their subscription numbers would increase if they
did. Perhaps they're unaware that women race bicycles and that some make their living at
it---they're Professionals.
"TritonRider" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
From: "swj" swjelley@spamshit.<just'yahoo.com' >
Quoted message said:
she will do quite well in the hamilton worlds race this year, being that it

is
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
in canada and all. anyway, i bet i follow the women's events closer than most cycling fans. this
is all besides the fact that women's races get minimal coverage at best, cyclingnews has good
coverage of the big races.
shawn
For Canadain news. I like:
pedalmag.comindex.php
and: canadiancyclist.comdailynews.shtml They both cover the women
well. Bill C

Report
Davey Crockett
Archived post

30 September 2003, 12:35 UTC #8

The Black Adder said:
Your subject line should have read: Another Delusional Egalitarian Confronts Reality.
"WM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
How many of us followed the Grande Boucle Feminine in August, which looks as if it was at least
as interesting as the TDF? Why is women's cycling so poorly covered by the media? Because they
don't go as far or as fast as the men?
Delusional? Unfortunately, Yes.
There doesn't seem to be the interest in womens cycling that there is in their male
counterparts' events.
I did start to post results of La Grande Boucle Feminine here. but desisted as the comments were
all adverse.
The comments I received were all negative unfortunately and I have no desire to rufle any male
hackles unnecessarily.
Had there been a single supportive comment I should have continued posting, despite even the snide
remarks about the prior year Lanterne Rouge, Cynthis Compain, by some ignorant [censored] who was stupid
enough to think that Bobet rode on Coppis squad.
What many of us fail to appreciate at times is that without the last rider home, there could never
be a winner.
For whatever reason, unfortunately, the women seldom make the major news networks, unless they
happen to be Paola Pezzo showing more than enough to pique the interest of the tifosi, or the Dutch
rider showing it all as she cooled off before the start in Atlanta.
Here's Paola - no bike in evidence though but she looks even better, methinks, off the bike.
members.rogers.compaola.jpg
Then there was the kerfuffle about the three Romanian Gymnastic Olympians who performed a few
pirouettes in the buff for a Japanese CD producer.
news.bbc.co.uk2583965.stm
But heck with the BeeB blurb, see the real stuff.
[WARNING - These are the real shots off the Nudie CD so if you are likely to be offended, Davey
suggests that you skip these 14 pix of Roumanians Aurelia, Corina and Cvanda]
members.rogers.comaurelia1.jpg
members.rogers.comaurelia2.jpg
members.rogers.comcorina1.jpg
members.rogers.comcorina2.jpg
members.rogers.comcvanda1.jpg
members.rogers.comcvanda2.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan1.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan2.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan3.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan4.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan5.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan6.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan7.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan8.jpg
In retrospect, it's sick. No, not that the lasses should show off their assets. Doubtless they are
proud of them and probably got more roubles for that session than they did out of the whole
Atlanta gig.
But what is sick is that they only get a modicum of, albeit negative, coverage when they have no
coverage at all.
Ita Missa Est
--
le vent a Dos
Davey Crockett

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Smiles
Archived post

30 September 2003, 13:38 UTC #9

For some reason you think cycling is popular here ... once LA wins number 6 and retires the TDF and
cycling in general will go away from the main stream. The average person on the street thinks that
all cycling revolves around the TDF and that's it ... interest happens here when an American can win
... then it goes away.
It's not that women's cycling is not being covered ... it's that nothing but the TDF is being
covered. Unfortunately, as with most women's events it's not until they perform better than the men
will they see major coverage ... look at gymnastics, no one cares about the mens stuff. I think the
only events where I see the women get any decent coverage with the men is track and field ... and
there i think it's just because they mix the events so much as they cannot ignore them. Flo Jo and
Moses became famous together ...
s boardnbike.comboardnbike.com

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The Black Adder
Archived post

30 September 2003, 13:38 UTC #10

"Davey Crockett" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]. ..
Quoted message said:
"The Black Adder" <[email hidden]> writes:

<snip>
Quoted message said:
[WARNING - These are the real shots off the Nudie CD so if you are likely to be offended, Davey
suggests that you skip these 14 pix of Roumanians Aurelia, Corina and Cvanda]
members.rogers.comaurelia1.jpg
members.rogers.comaurelia2.jpg
members.rogers.comcorina1.jpg
members.rogers.comcorina2.jpg
members.rogers.comcvanda1.jpg
members.rogers.comcvanda2.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan1.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan2.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan3.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan4.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan5.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan6.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan7.jpg
members.rogers.comjapan8.jpg
Sweet! Never thought I'd end up rubbing one out to a rec.bicycles.racing post, but there ya go. The
world is full of surprises!
- BA
Quoted message said:
In retrospect, it's sick. No, not that the lasses should show off their assets. Doubtless they are
proud of them and probably got more roubles for that session than they did out of the whole
Atlanta gig.
But what is sick is that they only get a modicum of, albeit negative, coverage when they have no
coverage at all.
Ita Missa Est
--
le vent a Dos
Davey Crockett

Report
H Squared
Archived post

30 September 2003, 13:38 UTC #11

Davey Crockett said:
Quoted message said:
Had there been a single supportive comment I should have continued posting, despite even the snide
remarks about the prior year Lanterne Rouge, Cynthis Compain, by some ignorant [censored]
i don't like to argue, but i think the main reason that the ignorant [censored] posted snide remarks
about cc is that he actually really likes women's racing and felt like cc was not in any way a racer
or racing. i don't think he has anything against the lantern rouge, per se. (in other words,
it's-out-of-shape-car-door-holding chicks pretending to be bike racers that he doesn't like, no
matter where they are on gc...)
hth heather

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Anonymous
Archived post

30 September 2003, 13:38 UTC #12

Davey Crockett said:
[WARNING - These are the real shots off the Nudie CD so if you are likely to be offended, Davey
suggests that you skip these 14 pix of Roumanians Aurelia, Corina and Cvanda]
members.rogers.comaurelia1.jpg
members.rogers.comaurelia2.jpg
members.rogers.comcorina1.jpg
members.rogers.comcorina2.jpg
members.rogers.comcvanda1.jpg
members.rogers.comcvanda2.jpg
You and Ewoud should consider investing in a new .com startup;
for you.

Report
Davey Crockett
Archived post

30 September 2003, 14:36 UTC #13

Quoted message said:
You and Ewoud should consider investing in a new .com startup;
Quoted message said:
for you.
Not a change. The shots on the CD were at least not too offinsive.
But what the punterz want these days is HardCore.
And Heather? Well who'd want to spoil the lads' phantasies 😉
--
le vent a Dos
Davey Crockett

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Davey Crockett
Archived post

30 September 2003, 14:36 UTC #14

h squared said:
i don't like to argue, but i think the main reason that the ignorant [censored] posted snide remarks
about cc is that he actually really likes women's racing and felt like cc was not in any way a
racer or racing. i don't think he has anything against the lantern rouge, per se. (in other words,
it's-out-of-shape-car-door-holding chicks pretending to be bike racers that he doesn't like, no
matter where they are on gc...)
It still took lotsa guts for that lass to finish that race, Heather.
That I admire in anyone.
And who hasn't pulled the ''Old Car Door handle Trick'' at least once in their career?
Seems to me that the Casablanca Kid got ejected from a recent gig for the same trick, and I'll tell
you sometime about Davey's shame on Les Forges. Double shame really because the Ockers Monument is
on top of Les Forges.
Hmmm. And again on the Poggio years ago where a 39 x 21 just wouldn't seem to turn on a relatively
minor climb that Kelly stormed up on a 53 x 14 a few years later!!.
~Laughing~
But life goes on
--
le vent a Dos
Davey Crockett

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H Squared
Archived post

30 September 2003, 17:36 UTC #15

Davey Crockett said:
Quoted message said:
It still took lotsa guts for that lass to finish that race, Heather.
That I admire in anyone.
And who hasn't pulled the ''Old Car Door handle Trick'' at least once in their career?
i'm not here to argue about whether or not it's ok. although it's my opinion that women have
enough bad attitude to overcome from men that they should be extra careful to avoid behavior that
may feed the fire.
and it's fine by me if you don't like him or his attitude, but at least he pays attention to women's
racing and goes to see it in person to support it and to meet the riders. he wasn't just looking for
an excuse to make fun of a girl, and i think it's refreshing that he has high standards.
also, when he was around more, he was always helping me with equipment issues, and he tried to get
me a racing bike for cheap (although i didn't take him up on it for my own goofy reasons). and he
was always hassling me to email weldon to find a good local group ride, even though i kept
protesting that i'm a terrible cyclist. (i realize that you wouldn't know this stuff. maybe it's not
even pertinent, but it seems so to me)
h

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H Squared
Archived post

30 September 2003, 17:37 UTC #16

Donald Munro said:
Quoted message said:
You and Ewoud should consider investing in a new .com startup;
Quoted message said:
for you.
sorry, i'm already under contract to womenwholooklikeyourmom.com
heather

Report
Bruce Johnston
Archived post

30 September 2003, 18:37 UTC #17

"smiles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
For some reason you think cycling is popular here ... once LA wins number

6
Quoted message said:
and retires the TDF and cycling in general will go away from the main stream. The average person
on the street thinks that all cycling revolves around the TDF and that's it ... interest happens
here when an American

can
Quoted message said:
win ... then it goes away.
It's not that women's cycling is not being covered ... it's that nothing

but
Quoted message said:
the TDF is being covered. Unfortunately, as with most women's events it's not until they perform
better than the men will they see major coverage

...
Quoted message said:
look at gymnastics, no one cares about the mens stuff. I think the only events where I see the
women get any decent coverage with the men is track and field ... and there i think it's just
because they mix the events so much as they cannot ignore them. Flo Jo and Moses became famous
together

...
Quoted message said:

s boardnbike.comboardnbike.com
Popular coverage of the Women's events like Gymnastics and Figure Skating is because they show the
grace and beauty of the athletes as well. Men don't fair as well in this respect to the viewers,
only in strength and speed. Women's cycling also shows grace and beauty of women but it's doesn't
fair anywhere near as well. Perhaps that could change with the coverage. Women's cycling is on hard
times as funds and support are drying up. Even the Tour De Femmes is in doubt for next year. Only a
few women prosper from the sport. LZ was reported to be paid around 350k back in the 1990. She is
probably the highest paid today from Farm Frites but I could be wrong, not sure about Jeanson,
Bessette, Cooke, earnings as well as other top girls. Jeanson is rumored to have her sights set on
the Tour De Femmes for 2005. From what I understand the Tour De Femmes wasn't picked up in Europe
this year by French TV as it has been in the past. Pierre Boué is struggling to find new funds to
cover next years tour but he says he is confident he can keep the race going. The book La Grande
Boucle Féminine Internationale is the only one I know of that's been produced for women's cycling.
velo-feminin.comarticle.php3
Women's cycling needs a superstar that also is also a huge media star like in Hollywood. That might
help a little. A women's cycling mag would help. And of course I would like to see all the women's
classics on a pay channel like OLN. That should do it!
B-
ps-I forgot, of course a first class website like CN devoted strictly to women's cycling.

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Bruce Johnston
Archived post

30 September 2003, 18:37 UTC #18

"Davey Crockett" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
The Black Adder said:
Your subject line should have read: Another Delusional Egalitarian

Confronts
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Reality.
"WM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
How many of us followed the Grande Boucle Feminine in August, which looks as if it was at least
as interesting as the TDF? Why is women's cycling so poorly covered by the media? Because they
don't go as far or as fast as the men?
Delusional? Unfortunately, Yes.
There doesn't seem to be the interest in womens cycling that there is in their male
counterparts' events.
I did start to post results of La Grande Boucle Feminine here. but desisted as the comments were
all adverse.
Yeah, there is limited fan base here for the girls and lots of women just lurk too and don't post.
Several have told me they just don't like the put down attitude of RBR. Women get hurt easier then
men and don't like taking the heat in here except Heather. Maybe a women's cycling forum might be
better for some but I like it when girls post. I want to hear their opinions too and they might
have better info on women's events. One time I was looking something up and I saw Cathy Bolands
posts go way, way back. I rarely see her post. It's much better IMO when the girls chime in and mix
it up like in the SF race. It's seems to bring out the best in threads, not that it always has to
be heated.
B-

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H Squared
Archived post

30 September 2003, 18:37 UTC #19

Donald Munro said:
Quoted message said:
You and Ewoud should consider investing in a new .com startup;
Quoted message said:
for you.
sorry, i'm already under contract to womenwholooklikeyourmom.com
heather

Report
K. J. Papai
Archived post

30 September 2003, 19:37 UTC #20

WM <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
How many of us followed the Grande Boucle Feminine in August, which looks as if it was at least as
interesting as the TDF?
"AT least as exciting" as the Tour? C'mon! How many women teams were there? How many participants?
The biggest different between men and women in cycling is the depth of the fields.
Quoted message said:
Why is women's cycling so poorly covered by the media? Because they don't go as far or as fast
as the men? The competition is just as exciting, just as women skiing or tennis is just as
exciting (sometimes much more exciting) than the men's competition, even if they don't hit the
ball quite as hard.
Here is my idea for better equality in coverage and to increase women's participation in the sport
from 10% to 50% - merge the organisation of the men's and women's events. Just like tennis, why
don't we have a joint TDF or Giro - maybe men in the morning and women in the
That would be awful and a nightmare for the organizers.
Quoted message said:
afternoon, maybe on slightly different courses - but basically the same event for both.
Slightly different? Please...
Quoted message said:

waddayathink?

Report

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