Is cycling an important sport?

[BalkanExpress]

Heading back to the OP’. Today Eurosport France is showing the tennis Live, the Dutch language Eurosport has the Giro live, French speaking Belgium TV has the Benelux tour live and Flemish TV, no live cycling .but fils and repeats of NCIS

No I cannot give this any broad interptetation, but I am about to read Harry Pearson’s “The Beast, the Emperor and the Milkman” so expect mtvnext post to be fill of borrowed semi- comedic social-cultural analysis

 

[The Crofted Crest]

UK media coverage can crudely be categorised as:
- football, and
- all other sport

When he was the minister for sport, Tony Banks once said, "When people think about sport, they think about football. When they think about football, they think about the Premier League. When they think about the Premier League, they think about Chelsea [it was a long time ago], Manchester United and Arsenal."

I think he wanted to change this.

 

[avecReynolds531]

Heading back to the OP’. Today Eurosport France is showing the tennis Live, the Dutch language Eurosport has the Giro live, French speaking Belgium TV has the Benelux tour live and Flemish TV, no live cycling .but fils and repeats of NCIS

No I cannot give this any broad interptetation, but I am about to read Harry Pearson’s “The Beast, the Emperor and the Milkman” so expect mtvnext post to be fill of borrowed semi- comedic social-cultural analysis

That's a brilliant & funny read: the book has many details that were true to our positive experiences in Flanders.

Media coverage isn't the only yardstick.

Agreed, yet I reckon increased media coverage of all cycling is worthwhile - racing included - to promote more mainstream accessibility, respect, & hopefully acceptance for the substantial benefits of a life on two wheels.

As an aside, we know people with no interest in the Tour de France - or any bike racing - who watch the Tour coverage just to see the spectacular geography of the country. 😊

 

[matticus]

As an aside, we know people with no interest in the Tour de France - or any bike racing - who watch the Tour coverage just to see the spectacular geography of the country. 😊

That's nice to hear!

It does raise the question of how they started watching in the first place ..

 

[avecReynolds531]

That's nice to hear!

It does raise the question of how they started watching in the first place ..

Good point - I think a love of France, & of travel there, is a starting place. The classic yellow Michelin series of maps have been known to be consulted & followed through the stages.

 

[DRM]

I've noticed in the various regions of France we've visited on holiday, the local paper has at least 2, sometimes 3 pages of cycle races from world tour level right through to the local juniors, along with football, rugby and Motorsport .

 

[Drago]

We have a few twats around here in twat cars that think they are Hamilton!

What, they talk bollards, have had hair transplants, and bought private jets through a warren of shell companies to avoid paying tax on it?

 

[Rusty Nails]

What, they talk bollards, have had hair transplants, and bought private jets through a warren of shell companies to avoid paying tax on it?

Don't start us on F1 racing.

He is a great driver, but how much of his dominance is due to the fact he's been driving for the best manufacturer?

At least with pro-cycling there is not a huge difference between the top manufacturers. It's mostly down to the riders......and their chemists.

 

[bitsandbobs]

Heading back to the OP’. Today Eurosport France is showing the tennis Live, the Dutch language Eurosport has the Giro live, French speaking Belgium TV has the Benelux tour live and Flemish TV, no live cycling .but fils and repeats of NCIS

No I cannot give this any broad interptetation, but I am about to read Harry Pearson’s “The Beast, the Emperor and the Milkman” so expect mtvnext post to be fill of borrowed semi- comedic social-cultural analysis

Flemish TV had live CX yesterday.

 

[BalkanExpress]

Flemish TV had live CX yesterday.

Yes, just realised I do not have Sporza so that explains the lack of cycling

 

[BigMeatball]

But cycling is much more than sport - it's transport, it's freedom, it's a stress reliever, it teaches kids to be self reliant and responsible, it's great for health and fitness.

Subjective

 

[boydj]

Subjective

That's what you get when people ask for opinions.

Is there anything you disagree with in there, or are you just being objectionable?

 

[Andy in Germany]

But cycling is much more than sport - it's transport, it's freedom, it's a stress reliever, it teaches kids to be self reliant and responsible, it's great for health and fitness.

Subjective

You could argue "Freedom" is subjective, as someone forced to cycle for economic reasons may not agree, but the rest are easily provable.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

The other question is where the "cause" and where the "effect" lie now: is the popularity of car use today attibutable to lots of motor sports in the media and the general support of car culture of which motor sport is a part?

Of the countless people I know who drive no more than a handful have any interest in motor sport. Neither are they part of any "Car culture", they drive because it is their preferred mode of transport. Many know bugger all about cars other than how to drive them.

 

[BigMeatball]

but the rest are easily provable.

no they aren't