Cycling thread


The Sky media/PR policy is worse than US Postal.

There are no official press conferences (an absolute joke that-it's cycling one of the most accessible sports). You can just ask them (mainly Froome) some questions before departing on training. Apparently they don't want to do press conferences since they are under fire in the UK and and open hour of questions wouldn't be the most fun activity. Boo hoo.

They have a ribbon policy. French speaking journalists behind one ribbon; English speaking behind another. Then in groups they let you near Froome et al and you're allowed to ask 3 questions. Horrible system; you aren't allowed to criticize it; since then you need to leave.

Then you had an incident between a cycling news reporter and Brailsford. As a consequence the journalist was no longer welcome. They have a black list of journalists. It's worse than US postal; proper cycling reporters can no longer do their job. Apparently you're supposed to be extremely thankful for asking one question. On top of that they only answer with pre-rehearsed clichés; the same to every media outlet. It's a disgrace; it's cycling not F1 or something like that.

Cycling is about painting emotions; and pure and honest answers. They are not good for the sport; extra surprising because Sky is a media company.
 
Armel said:
The Sky media/PR policy is worse than US Postal.

There are no official press conferences (an absolute joke that-it's cycling one of the most accessible sports). You can just ask them (mainly Froome) some questions before departing on training. Apparently they don't want to do press conferences since they are under fire in the UK and and open hour of questions wouldn't be the most fun activity. Boo hoo.

They have a ribbon policy. French speaking journalists behind one ribbon; English speaking behind another. Then in groups they let you near Froome et al and you're allowed to ask 3 questions. Horrible system; you aren't allowed to criticize it; since then you need to leave.

Then you had an incident between a cycling news reporter and Brailsford. As a consequence the journalist was no longer welcome. They have a black list of journalists. It's worse than US postal; proper cycling reporters can no longer do their job. Apparently you're supposed to be extremely thankful for asking one question. On top of that they only answer with pre-rehearsed clichés; the same to every media outlet. It's a disgrace; it's cycling not F1 or something like that.

Cycling is about painting emotions; and pure and honest answers. They are not good for the sport; extra surprising because Sky is a media company.
Click to expand...
Kopites on two wheels.
 
Armel said:
The Sky media/PR policy is worse than US Postal.

There are no official press conferences (an absolute joke that-it's cycling one of the most accessible sports). You can just ask them (mainly Froome) some questions before departing on training. Apparently they don't want to do press conferences since they are under fire in the UK and and open hour of questions wouldn't be the most fun activity. Boo hoo.

They have a ribbon policy. French speaking journalists behind one ribbon; English speaking behind another. Then in groups they let you near Froome et al and you're allowed to ask 3 questions. Horrible system; you aren't allowed to criticize it; since then you need to leave.

Then you had an incident between a cycling news reporter and Brailsford. As a consequence the journalist was no longer welcome. They have a black list of journalists. It's worse than US postal; proper cycling reporters can no longer do their job. Apparently you're supposed to be extremely thankful for asking one question. On top of that they only answer with pre-rehearsed clichés; the same to every media outlet. It's a disgrace; it's cycling not F1 or something like that.

Cycling is about painting emotions; and pure and honest answers. They are not good for the sport; extra surprising because Sky is a media company.
Click to expand...

To be fair, 'if' you'd done absolutely everything the right way, had done the whole marginal gains thing and improved performances to the extent that not only have you delivered unprecedented success in terms of Olympic medals, not only had you won the Tour with a British rider for the 1st time ever, but then backed that up 3 more times, and had played a sizeable role in the incredible surge in popularity cycling has seen in Britain in the past few years, and after all that you had hacks digging dirt and looking for negatives, then you'd probably be pissed off too.

I'd be the same to be honest. I know a little about how tough the sport is, the kind of lives they (and this is all cyclists) have to lead to be where they are, so I'd be annoyed if people with no clue (@Sapie88) label you cheats and dopers. I'd be sickened if things were thrown over me as I competed. Cycling is about emotions, you're right, but that runs both ways. It's a beautiful thing that we can watch our heroes for free on the roadside, and ride the same hills they've made legends on, that's an incredible thing, but it comes with responsibility too. If we want that level of access then we need to behave responsibly.

It's the same every single year. Doping question after doping question, and you mention robotic answers, but there's surely only so many times and so many ways you can answer the same questions? A big part of that is that it's the Tour and so attracts a lot of people with barely a passing interest in the sport, and hence you don't get similar silliness at the classics, or even the Giro, but there's also a big part that is simply because it's Sky.
 
Bruce Wayne said:
To be fair, 'if' you'd done absolutely everything the right way, had done the whole marginal gains thing and improved performances to the extent that not only have you delivered unprecedented success in terms of Olympic medals, not only had you won the Tour with a British rider for the 1st time ever, but then backed that up 3 more times, and had played a sizeable role in the incredible surge in popularity cycling has seen in Britain in the past few years, and after all that you had hacks digging dirt and looking for negatives, then you'd probably be pissed off too.

I'd be the same to be honest. I know a little about how tough the sport is, the kind of lives they (and this is all cyclists) have to lead to be where they are, so I'd be annoyed if people with no clue (@Sapie88) label you cheats and dopers. I'd be sickened if things were thrown over me as I competed. Cycling is about emotions, you're right, but that runs both ways. It's a beautiful thing that we can watch our heroes for free on the roadside, and ride the same hills they've made legends on, that's an incredible thing, but it comes with responsibility too. If we want that level of access then we need to behave responsibly.

It's the same every single year. Doping question after doping question, and you mention robotic answers, but there's surely only so many times and so many ways you can answer the same questions? A big part of that is that it's the Tour and so attracts a lot of people with barely a passing interest in the sport, and hence you don't get similar silliness at the classics, or even the Giro, but there's also a big part that is simply because it's Sky.
Click to expand...
How dare you!

I have a slight clue.
 

Bruce Wayne said:
To be fair, 'if' you'd done absolutely everything the right way, had done the whole marginal gains thing and improved performances to the extent that not only have you delivered unprecedented success in terms of Olympic medals, not only had you won the Tour with a British rider for the 1st time ever, but then backed that up 3 more times, and had played a sizeable role in the incredible surge in popularity cycling has seen in Britain in the past few years, and after all that you had hacks digging dirt and looking for negatives, then you'd probably be pissed off too.

I'd be the same to be honest. I know a little about how tough the sport is, the kind of lives they (and this is all cyclists) have to lead to be where they are, so I'd be annoyed if people with no clue (@Sapie88) label you cheats and dopers. I'd be sickened if things were thrown over me as I competed. Cycling is about emotions, you're right, but that runs both ways. It's a beautiful thing that we can watch our heroes for free on the roadside, and ride the same hills they've made legends on, that's an incredible thing, but it comes with responsibility too. If we want that level of access then we need to behave responsibly.

It's the same every single year. Doping question after doping question, and you mention robotic answers, but there's surely only so many times and so many ways you can answer the same questions? A big part of that is that it's the Tour and so attracts a lot of people with barely a passing interest in the sport, and hence you don't get similar silliness at the classics, or even the Giro, but there's also a big part that is simply because it's Sky.
Click to expand...

It's not a hard life Bruce, they roll out of bed straight onto some needles to get their daily hit and then fly up the road high as a kite.

I could chuck my toddler on a BMX and as long as I gave him more peds than one of your lot he would blitz the tour de france, so stop crying.
 
Bungle said:
It's not a hard life Bruce, they roll out of bed straight onto some needles to get their daily hit and then fly up the road high as a kite.

I could chuck my toddler on a BMX and as long as I gave him more peds than one of your lot he would blitz the tour de france, so stop crying.
Click to expand...
Team Sky all use those G-Tech bikes as well the vapid cheats.
 
Bruce Wayne said:
To be fair, 'if' you'd done absolutely everything the right way, had done the whole marginal gains thing and improved performances to the extent that not only have you delivered unprecedented success in terms of Olympic medals, not only had you won the Tour with a British rider for the 1st time ever, but then backed that up 3 more times, and had played a sizeable role in the incredible surge in popularity cycling has seen in Britain in the past few years, and after all that you had hacks digging dirt and looking for negatives, then you'd probably be pissed off too.

I'd be the same to be honest. I know a little about how tough the sport is, the kind of lives they (and this is all cyclists) have to lead to be where they are, so I'd be annoyed if people with no clue (@Sapie88) label you cheats and dopers. I'd be sickened if things were thrown over me as I competed. Cycling is about emotions, you're right, but that runs both ways. It's a beautiful thing that we can watch our heroes for free on the roadside, and ride the same hills they've made legends on, that's an incredible thing, but it comes with responsibility too. If we want that level of access then we need to behave responsibly.

It's the same every single year. Doping question after doping question, and you mention robotic answers, but there's surely only so many times and so many ways you can answer the same questions? A big part of that is that it's the Tour and so attracts a lot of people with barely a passing interest in the sport, and hence you don't get similar silliness at the classics, or even the Giro, but there's also a big part that is simply because it's Sky.
Click to expand...
It does run both ways of course. Cycling is a wonderful but brutal sport. The sacrifices of the riders are emence and for the few so too are the rewards. I want to watch cyclists give their all and I'll support them doing so.
But I also want that from the journalists I read. I want investigative journalists to investigate I.e do their job. I'm quite capable of choosing what I want to read & believe. I don't need Dave Brailsford to censor it for me.
Most questions are mundain with robotic answers, that applies to all sports. But there is a story here that needs to be investigated. Not digging dirt, just questions requiring honest answers.
Brailsford is a control freak who is beginning to loose the power to control the agenda. Banning journalists because they've written an unfavourable story is not going to stop people asking those questions.
 

Walken said:
don't forget their innovative pillows, no surprise to see mr free market supporting murdoch and his drugers
Click to expand...

Indeed, because a good night sleep is in no way linked to better performance. When you've got 20 or so teams, plus media and so on, descending on what are often quite small towns, the quality of the hotels are often not great. It's really not rocket science.
 
Bruce Wayne said:
Indeed, because a good night sleep is in no way linked to better performance. When you've got 20 or so teams, plus media and so on, descending on what are often quite small towns, the quality of the hotels are often not great. It's really not rocket science.
Click to expand...
Bruce you've hurt me today.
 
Blue toffee said:
It does run both ways of course. Cycling is a wonderful but brutal sport. The sacrifices of the riders are emence and for the few so too are the rewards. I want to watch cyclists give their all and I'll support them doing so.
But I also want that from the journalists I read. I want investigative journalists to investigate I.e do their job. I'm quite capable of choosing what I want to read & believe. I don't need Dave Brailsford to censor it for me.
Most questions are mundain with robotic answers, that applies to all sports. But there is a story here that needs to be investigated. Not digging dirt, just questions requiring honest answers.
Brailsford is a control freak who is beginning to loose the power to control the agenda. Banning journalists because they've written an unfavourable story is not going to stop people asking those questions.
Click to expand...
Restricting French media access to your team in le Tour de France is quite funny really, a bit of panache from old Dave.

Basically it's a sad situation all round, and there doesn't appear to be any trust left. Censoring journalists, bunker mentality from the team etc is obv wrong, but equally Sky shouldn't have to line up day in day out to have their baws kicked by lowest-common-denominator 'journalism' - Froome especially shouldn't have to field gotcha questions from the equivalent of the Sun each day after he's turned himself inside out on the road.

Hard to reverse out of this once things have broken down to this extent and I suspect Dave B will probably go in the near future. Not for any sensible or real reason, but the public ear is no longer at his disposal - you can keep showing your aris to it all for a time but you can't keep this up long term.
 

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