I Was Afraid of This...

I have to keep reminding myself, cycling isn't really a sport...at least to Americans.

Unfortunately, cycling is only as popular as the next great American cyclist. It will remain a fringe sport just like soccer and tennis, or until the next Lance Armstrong or Greg Lemond arises, where it will once again yo-yo to popularity. Does that sound cynical enough for you? Or is Oude Granny just being realistic?

Last week, the news came out that the Tour of Georgia was having difficulties securing a main sponsor. After 5 very successful years, there is the possibility that the race that brought us some memorable one on one battles up Brasstown Bald could go the way of the Red Zinger/Coors Classic. What's even more upsetting is that this news came on the heels of Discovery Channel ending their sponsorship, after this season, of America's only ProTour Cycling team. So even though there seems to be more cyclists and fans of cycling than in recent memory, US corporations still haven't bought into the overall product, only the personalities.

Photo: Courtesy of Emily K

How long will it be when a scene like this, at the final stage of the Tour of California, is just another memory of a race gone by, "hey remember when California had a tour," or "hey why doesn't a state like Colorado have a race? It seems like the perfect place with all the cyclists and the beautiful scenery and the great climbs?" Been there, GONE that!

Jobbed
Where in the world could you pay somewhere in the neighborhood of 32 million Euros in membership fees and still not be allowed into a club? How about when joining the ProTour. Unibet.com and Astana are doing just that after the latest deal between the UCI and the lead organizations of the three Grand Tours. A deal which could only be described as a bandage on a massive hemorrhage. In order to supposedly "save the cycling season," Unibet.com and Astana will be allowed to race as ProTour teams, but will not given automatic berths into the three Grand Tours (or any of the other races under the jurisdiction of the three governing bodies, the ASO, RCS, and Unipublic) like the other 18 ProTour teams. Huh? At least we now know who is really running professional cycling. I hope UCI President, Pat McQuaid, at least asked for a reach around? "L-UCI, You Got Some "Splainin' To Do!"