No, it's big teams that are the problem
Why is the Saturn Women's team bad for woman's cycling?
Very simply put, they are the 400 pound gorilla at every single race they enter. They are the World's number one team, and they hog every podium spot at every race they do.
Sponsors do not want to hear "We had a strong race, and got a great 5th place!" Sponsors want victories.
Take a 'for instance:' The Saturn woman had this year's Solano classic wrapped up with two stage wins and the top 3 on the podium! Do they protect the lead on the last criterium and let another team share a little glory? No, they take 1-2 in the piddly little criterium, too.
A second 'for instance:' Last year's Sea Otter; Anna Millward won three stages and the overall, and one of her teammates, Ina Teutenberg, won the 4th stage. The Sea Otter is one of the biggest races in America, certainly best televised and Saturn dominated every aspect. How many Women's teams folded over the winter from sponsor's pulling out?
The Saturn Women's team is made up an amazing group of athletes. However, to be a great champion means realizing that when the big goal is accomplished, throw a few scraps to the rest, i.e., some times you need to take a back seat and let others get a little glory for the sake of the sport.
Perfect examples are Miguel Indurain and Lance Armstrong. Both of them have won the big prize, the overall in the Tour, and several stages along the way. But have shown generosity in sometimes not contesting the victory for the stage. In 2000, Armstrong was even too generous and didn't win a stage until the penultimate stage. He didn't even contest the biggest stage, Mt Ventoux, when the victory was right there for him to take. Anyway, for the sake of the sport, once you have the big prizes, share the wealth and don't contest every single finish!
Mike Elmer
Davis CA
But then if they didn't contest every finish it wouldn't be a sport, now would it? -- Editor
Surely, sir, you are not suggesting that...
One of Monday's letters a Mike Elmer wrote something about suggesting that the Saturn women's team should let some of the smaller teams win some.
So I just want to ask Mike, if he thought they should throw the race? Cause, to me that is surely what it sounded like he was suggesting.
Sorry, I just don't subscribe to that notion.
Ron Stanevich
Milton, WV
Page mise en ligne le 1 er avril 2002 par SVP
