British cycling (result spoilers)

[ewenm]

Another good result for Nicole Cooke - now Olympic and World road race champion, first time both titles have been won in the same year by one woman. Apparently GB are now UCI ranked 1 in women's cycling.

A good 4th place in the U23 race for one of our blokes too.

[Morpeth]

aye, top performance, shame the boys couldnt do a bit more.

I am still waiting for millar to live up it all the hype.

[ewenm]

Interesting article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A41563271

[Morpeth]

Thanks for pointing that out, it is a good read,

I think the reality is that the domestic scene is not conducive to big salaries and top sponsors, that’s why the talent tends to join teams that give the opportunity to ride in prestige events on the continent. Solution…? No idea, more money, GB team based in France, Belgium, Italy? Few less egos?

[ewenm]

Morpeth said:

Thanks for pointing that out, it is a good read,

I think the reality is that the domestic scene is not conducive to big salaries and top sponsors, that’s why the talent tends to join teams that give the opportunity to ride in prestige events on the continent. Solution…? No idea, more money, GB team based in France, Belgium, Italy? Few less egos?

I think the idea is for a GB sponsored team riding on the Euro circuit with only GB riders in it (or majority GB riders, but like Astana)

[Exige46]

The British Under 23 squad race together based in Italy for the racing season. They had a 4th in the Worlds this year, and a 3rd last year with Jonathon Bellis. The team have been winning a fair number of events.

The World Road Race champs are very different to riding a 3 week tour, and it is only an elite few who have a Grand Tour and a World Championships gold medal in recent history. The courses used for the Worlds will also usually deliver a rider with very specific strengths - none of the contenders at the end of the Worlds for the men were the same as for the Olympics. And it helps massively to have a team behind you as per the article.