The Biggest Losers.

It's really cold right now. And I'm indoors. They've got the big loading door open and it's just sucked all the heat out of the building. I guess I should be thankful to be working during the slow part of the year for touring, but it doesn't change the fact that I can see my breath and not feel my hands!

But today I will continue to bring you news from the world of cycling.

In the past two days, three of the Pro Tour teams have more or less sided with the ASO and are going to participate in the upcoming Paris-Nice. Rumour is, the rest of the Pro Tour teams will follow suit. They do it grudgingly, from what I can tell, because they don't like being caught in the middle. They have to participate because that is what the sponsors want, and the sponsors sign the checks. They understand where the UCI comes from. No one wants chaos, and the UCI provided a standard across the board in terms of rules and regulations, as well as doping control. But if they don't ride the biggest races in the season, the sponsors aren't going to want to keep shelling out money for no exposure (think Unibet).

How can the organizers of the biggest cycling races not want to play nice? What are they trying to prove? What does the UCI do that is so terrible that they don't want to abide by their rules? Does the UCI ask for too much?

I think the statement put out today by Cedric Vasseur, a former professional cyclist and the head of the CPA, the Professional Cyclists Association, says it all.

"The decision ASO took not to organise Paris–Nice according to the UCI International regulations put the riders in front of a dilemma, which they are incontestably the victims and the hostages."

"Even if nobody can contest the fact that they are the major actors, the riders have no other choice than following their employers' instructions; otherwise they risk losing their job without any compensation. What the riders desire is to – first of all – have the possibility to exercise their job with serenity and in the respect of the established regulations.

"The riders are deeply shocked and exhausted by the conflict which has been lasting for too long. ... The riders really hope that cycling will be again the sport it was before, the one which used to fascinate the fans."

If I was a rider, or even a team manager, I would go to Paris-Nice and protest. Whether, I had a sit-in at the start, or stopped before crossing the finish line. Something to let the ASO know, the power lies with us, the riders, the people who earn you the money by exposing the sponsors, and making the race exciting. Power to the people!

And just who are the biggest losers in this? The fans. We can't see the top athletes in the sport compete against each other because they aren't being invited to the big dances (think Astana). There will be good riders, and I won't deny that the race could be exciting. But it could be more exciting if the defending champion was there. Or the team that has 3 top riders on it (again, think Astana).

Oh well, I guess the ASO is going to continue to win the battles. The UCI seems to have no leg to stand on. All they can do is pull what ever assistance they gave to the races, and hope that someone will come to their senses.

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