How badly will American interest drop in a TdF sans Lance?

[tourist]

I know the members of this forum will still avidly watch the TdF, but how bad a hit will overall American interest in the event take? Personally, I think it will spice up the Tour. But, I'm not sure the general population will see it that way.

[kubla khan]

pretty badly.

[ZappCatt]

Almost totally...

Many people on this board are *****ing about how most of the coverage/advertising is all about Lance...umm that is because that is what the average Joe knows about bicycle racing.

I know there is the Specialized commercials for Levi..but that is totally geared toward cyclists, not the average fan.(Kinda think they missed their mark with them)

[waltergodefroot]

It doesn't have anything to do with Lance. It has everything to do with Lance winning.

If you have been reading the posts calling Levi and Floyd disappointments and suggesting they are merely secondary "feel good" stories,
the posts calling Zabriskie a quitter and sprinters quitters and losers and denigrating the riders who finish less than first,
it is obvious that the casual American fan is more interested in having a victory to associate themselves with than they are in following bike racing.
Instead of trying to understand the nuances of racing, they have a win at all costs attitiude, anything goes as long as an American wins.
Most of the posters here could not tell you much about John Eustice, Ron Kiefel, Roy Knickman, or other contemporaries of Lemond,
but they know about Lemond because he WON the TDF.

So if another winner comes along, they will continue to follow the TDF. Otherwise, they will be back to their old routine.

[ed073]

Cycle Sport covered this a couple of months ago....

There's a small hard core of cycling fans in the US that followed pro racing before Lance began to dominate the Tour. Once he retires, US cycling's fanbase will retreat to the original few.

[Monument Man]

personally i can't wait until next year. think of all the possibilities! it's going to be a great tour and hopefully a very close race.

i think ratings will be way down next year. after we see who is the next big winner, money will start to really flow again and maybe we'll get higher ratings?

[SunSwingsLow]

If we assume that current interest is at 100 percent its max with Lance, the tour without Lance will be somewhere around 7.2%. In other words not good.

ps. All you have to do is watch the nightly sports guy try to cover just the A B C's of te Tour. I mean hes the sports guy and he doesnt understand ANYTHING!! Really quite dissapointing.

[collegeskier]

Cycle Sport covered this a couple of months ago....

There's a small hard core of cycling fans in the US that followed pro racing before Lance began to dominate the Tour. Once he retires, US cycling's fanbase will retreat to the original few.

I think that there will be the orginal plus some residuals too. Hopefully OLN will keep showing it.

[ed073]

I think that there will be the orginal plus some residuals too. Hopefully OLN will keep showing it.


The Only Lance Network?


sorry....saw that the other day and had to use it before I forgot!!

:D

[MasterSezFaster]

I believe it will depend on how much "advertising" is done for the Tour and who ever gets LA's job next year. If it is some one from the U.S. then there may still be some intrest because a lot of Americans(U.S.) want to see their "man" beat the rest of the world and prove, in their minds, that we are the best.

If Hincapie gets to be the man it will be a bit easier to keep some interest in the TDF because they will say something along the line of "Lance Armstrong's protégé George Hincapie will try to become the next American to wear the Maillot Jaune in the TDF".
There will definitly not be as much interest as there is now but with another U.S. rider gunning for the top spot they will be able to keep some intrest.

It will also have to be a rider on the U.S. team because the non-cyclists will not care about any other team.

:beer:

[jitteringjr]

Come on people think positive thoughts. I couldn't handle OLN dropping cycling due to lack of interest.

[Smoothie104]

It doesn't have anything to do with Lance. It has everything to do with Lance winning.

If you have been reading the posts calling Levi and Floyd disappointments and suggesting they are merely secondary "feel good" stories,
the posts calling Zabriskie a quitter and sprinters quitters and losers and denigrating the riders who finish less than first,
it is obvious that the casual American fan is more interested in having a victory to associate themselves with than they are in following bike racing.
Instead of trying to understand the nuances of racing, they have a win at all costs attitiude, anything goes as long as an American wins.
Most of the posters here could not tell you much about John Eustice, Ron Kiefel, Roy Knickman, or other contemporaries of Lemond,
but they know about Lemond because he WON the TDF.

So if another winner comes along, they will continue to follow the TDF. Otherwise, they will be back to their old routine.


Wow, I couldn't have said it better myself. There are way more Lance fans than cycling fans, and yes there is a difference.

[bockwho]

I agree with what is being said but as a cyclist I have been getting all sorts of questions at work about the tdf .. rules why dose this happen ect. I guess they are watching to see lance but it is also makeing them aware of cycling as a hobby / sport. further more I have had a few ask to barrow my extra bike and go for a ride so win lose or draw I think cycling is winning.

[jitteringjr]

If you have been reading the posts calling Levi and Floyd disappointments and suggesting they are merely secondary "feel good" stories,

Hold on now. Saying that I was disappointed that Levi and Floyd weren't doing as well as I thought they could be is a far cry from calling them "disappointments"

This is comming from someone who took the time to look up the name of a great cycling hero and not take the time to learn race tactics as to why Lance would not want to defend the Yellow jersey at all costs and calling other people who did know wrong for suggesting it. When you are done getting schooled on race tactics, please read move on to improving your reading comprehension skills.

[ZappCatt]

grabs popcorn.....munch....

[waltergodefroot]

Hold on now. Saying that I was disappointed that Levi and Floyd weren't doing as well as I thought they could be is a far cry from calling them "disappointments"

This is comming from someone who took the time to look up the name of a great cycling hero and not take the time to learn race tactics as to why Lance would not want to defend the Yellow jersey at all costs and calling other people who did know wrong for suggesting it. When you are done getting schooled on race tactics, please read move on to improving your reading comprehension skills.

If you only knew. ;) Whatever. Enjoy the race. :)

[jitteringjr]

If you only knew. ;) Whatever. Enjoy the race. :)

Don't even suggest it. Nobody would believe that a pro team manager and former nemesis of Eddie Merckx would ever ask some of the questions you have asked here.

[waltergodefroot]

The Socratic Method:

The method which Socrates employed in his philosophical analyses has five readily distinguishable characteristics:

1. The method is skeptical. It begins with Socrates' real or professed ignorance of the truth of the matter under discussion.

[jitteringjr]

You forget to look up the other 4?

[Marge]

A lot of Americans although aware of Lance really do not watch the Tour.
So I don't think it will change one whit

[JrCyclingFan]

Either way, this question has simply turned into a *ucking cliche...

Spare us the endless troll bait....!!

[allgoo19]

A lot of Americans although aware of Lance really do not watch the Tour.
So I don't think it will change one whit

True.

[JungleCat]

Two words: Michael Jordan

[* jack *]

OK, maybe I'm a tad optimistic, but I don't see American interest in the TdF dropping to pre-Lance numbers. Surely, the 'Lance' phenom has drawn so many people to the sport, that even when the fair-weather fans drop off, there will remain a substantial number of folks who got into the sport as a result of the increased media spotlight on Lance, and who are now die-hard cycling fans.

[timmhaan]

i've been seeing some general media coverage about "upcoming" american riders like Levi, Floyd, Craig Lewis, Dave Z, etc. the truth is that americans are doing quite well in cycling, more so than ever before. given this, and the lance effect, i don't doubt for a minute that americans will be more interested in the tour than they were before lance. but not nearly as much as when lance was winning.

we'll be going through a phase of a couple of years where if any american does really well, they will be labeled "the next lance".

[jbonus]

I wonder if there will be a "Cyclism III" next year on OLN or if it will become "Cyclism: Year Zero."

[PepsiMan]

It doesn't have anything to do with Lance. It has everything to do with Lance winning.

If you have been reading the posts calling Levi and Floyd disappointments and suggesting they are merely secondary "feel good" stories,
the posts calling Zabriskie a quitter and sprinters quitters and losers and denigrating the riders who finish less than first,
it is obvious that the casual American fan is more interested in having a victory to associate themselves with than they are in following bike racing.
Instead of trying to understand the nuances of racing, they have a win at all costs attitiude, anything goes as long as an American wins.
Most of the posters here could not tell you much about John Eustice, Ron Kiefel, Roy Knickman, or other contemporaries of Lemond,
but they know about Lemond because he WON the TDF.

So if another winner comes along, they will continue to follow the TDF. Otherwise, they will be back to their old routine.

that reminds me of the famous george patton speech (for anyone who doesn't know he was a general in WW2, kind of like the american rommel)

"All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. You are here today for three reasons. First, because you are here to defend your homes and your loved ones. Second, you are here for your own self respect, because you would not want to be anywhere else. Third, you are here because you are real men and all real men like to fight. When you, here, everyone of you, were kids, you all admired the champion marble player, the fastest runner, the toughest boxer, the big league ball players, and the All-American football players. Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win all of the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American."

[Cromulent]

I got into cycling because I like bike riding. I watched the tour last year to see if Lance could win six. Then I started going to some of the local races and found out they are a ton of fun. This year, I've followed the spring classics, the Giro, the Tour of CT, GA... pretty much whatever OLN has had for us. I enjoy it more because I know more than I did last year. To me, Paul and Phil have done more than LA to make cycling fun to watch. I even have a new appreciation and respect for Bob Roll.

So Lance got me watching cycling, and I found out I enjoy it a lot. And yeah, the pros - Lance included - have inspired me to climb hills, to try and ride longer and faster. Some of you out there inspired me to try racing, which I am learning is a do or do not, there is no try kind of thing.

Am I a Lance fan? Am I a Postal/Discovery Channel Fan? You bet. But I'm also a fan of pro cycling. And that'll stick around after he's gone. It also may have a lot to do with the new Pro Tour structure too... I don't know. I'm not sure what the old one was.

I hope and I think that there are other Lance fans out there who come for the win and stay for the sport.

[SunSwingsLow]

I wonder if there will be a "Cyclism III" next year on OLN or if it will become "Cyclism: Year Zero."

I never liked that name "Cyclism" Id really like to shoot the person who came up with it at OLN. Well maybe not shoot, but more like kick really hard in the shin. And then the *****muncher that wasnt creative enough to come up with a better name and just put a II at the end of last years. Yeah him/her would get a kick as well. :p

[DocRay]

I doubt Discovery will continue sponsorship post-lance. They make too much money with fascinating "chopper builder" shows.

They could have used the opportunity over the last seven years to teach viewers the sport of cycling, kept them interested with track racing and other tours, educated the viewer, but that would have been work.

I think track racing makes great TV, once the #1 sport in the US, now it's just 4am olympic coverage.


Seriously, outside of the TDF, who watches OLN? TV for those who don't sit around watching TV.

[SunSwingsLow]

The more I think about it the more I think intrest will wain in the US but viewership wont decrease that much. Lots of people are interested in Lance and I am sure it brings in viewers, but the people that watch are either a)avid bike fans or b)avid sports fans for the most part, which with or without Lance will remain constant.

So hopefully OLN will continue it broadcast of this amazing event.

[lotek]

The Only Lance Network?


sorry....saw that the other day and had to use it before I forgot!!

:D
thanks!

I have to believe that there will be a drop in viewers, however there
are those who through the miracle of Lancism (rhymes with cyclism)
will have found they like bike racing. Now if those 3 or 4 people can
each write a few thousand discreetly diffrent letters to OLN maybe we
can get same month coverage of paris roubaix, Het Volk, Flanders etc.
The Giro might be covered since a Discovery team rider won it.
the tour? 1/2 hour nightly warp ups with all Troutwig and bobke.
that is until Tom Danielson becomes team lead, or any of the other
american riders start looking like serious CG contenders. the Vuelta?
isn't that some bike race in portugual or morroco or somewhere they
speak spanglish? forget it, you won't see that for a while (until some
up and coming 'murican rider like antonio cruz of east la starts winning
(no, not whining or whinging, winning!).

So, we rember the likes of Ron Kiefel?
what about Dave Staub? Ted Ernst?
dale and wayne?

Marty

[noisebeam]

Its scary to think it could be less - at least in television news coverage.
I get what little TV I get thru attenna only, so I sometimes lately eagerly the sports time slot (last ~8min) of local news which I don't normally do, just to get a glimpse of some coverage - But there isn't any, its all baseball, golf, etc. There was some mention a few days ago about how Lance has yellow, but that compared to some new young female golfer its minor as he as a team and she has to go it on her own ??? There was one day a 15sec shot of Lance talking to camera while riding. Why can't they give 1-2min a day? Sure they can pay someone (OLN or whoever OLN pays?) for some footage.

Newspaper coverage has been better though, an article or two.

And of course OLN, but I have to get myself to a local bar to see it and BEG for them to put it on one of the dozens of screens, and of course don't get any sound.

So its scarry to think it could get worse.

Al

[webist]

Disinterested folks can catch the news or a brief synopsis of the race just about anywhere. No one need watch every pedal stroke to enjoy the benefit of associating with a winner.

OLN got me to follow the tour. My interest in cycling motivated me.I'll watch coverage of other races as well, however limited that coverage may be. Lance certainly is the focal point of my interest while watching the tour, but is not the reason I watch it.

American interest in the TdF will wane as the media dictates. No ads, no stories, no coverage. No interest.

[noisebeam]

Disinterested folks can catch the news or a brief synopsis of the race just about anywhere.

Where have you found brief television synopsis coverage?

Al

[jitteringjr]

They could have used the opportunity over the last seven years to teach viewers the sport of cycling, kept them interested with track racing and other tours, educated the viewer, but that would have been work.

I disagree, I think they have done a lot of teaching to those who have been watching the entire cycling season and not just the TdF.

I think track racing makes great TV, once the #1 sport in the US, now it's just 4am olympic coverage.

I don't think track racing was ever mainstream in the U.S


Seriously, outside of the TDF, who watches OLN? TV for those who don't sit around watching TV.

I must admit that my OLN participation is slim outside of cycling, but some of the countdowns are quite interesting. It is like it is an entirely different network though when the rodeo, hunting and fishing come on.

[ed073]

I don't think track racing was ever mainstream in the U.S





Au contraire...


where do you think the Madison got it's name from?? In French, it's even called le americain.

[Marge]

thanks!

I have to believe that there will be a drop in viewers, however there
are those who through the miracle of Lancism (rhymes with cyclism)
will have found they like bike racing. Now if those 3 or 4 people can
each write a few thousand discreetly diffrent letters to OLN maybe we
can get same month coverage of paris roubaix, Het Volk, Flanders etc.
The Giro might be covered since a Discovery team rider won it.
the tour? 1/2 hour nightly warp ups with all Troutwig and bobke.
that is until Tom Danielson becomes team lead, or any of the other
american riders start looking like serious CG contenders. the Vuelta?
isn't that some bike race in portugual or morroco or somewhere they
speak spanglish? forget it, you won't see that for a while (until some
up and coming 'murican rider like antonio cruz of east la starts winning
(no, not whining or whinging, winning!).

So, we rember the likes of Ron Kiefel?
what about Dave Staub? Ted Ernst?
dale and wayne?

Marty
I like every idea you presented except the one with TROUTWIG!!!!! John Madden, would make a better
colour man!!!

[jitteringjr]

Au contraire...


where do you think the Madison got it's name from?? In French, it's even called le americain.

Ok I looked it up. You're right. That was in the 1920's, which is so far beyond my time that I didn't even think to consider it. He mentioned how it was now only on early morning TV so I figured he was talking about times modern enough to at least have television. Please excuse my ignorance.

[wyobiker]

I agree that the sport will have gained. Yes, Lance has taken the sport to a much higher awareness level and they may be some dimishing of interest. But I don't see that level dropping all the way back to pre-Lance days. It may happen over a number of years depending on who can replace Lance and with how much success they have.

Guilty as charged - I love a winner. I really think most people do want to be associated in someway or other with a winner. When did winning become such a "bad" thing anyways! Overall Lance has done the sport more good then harm.

[TheKillerPenguin]

Lance has gotten a lot of people to buy bikes. I don't think that most of them are going to lose enthusiasm for the sport after he retires, if only because they spent so much getting into it. Tons of people are watching the TdF now. Even if only half of them continue to watch, that's probably a hell of a lot more than were interested BL (before lance :D)

[spingineer]

Gee, the interest in cycling in America will go down ... hmm ... current standings in the tour ... 5 in the top 20, 3 in the top 10. I guess having more Americans in the Top 20 than any other country in the world ... interest will go down next year??? It'll be a shame if it does

[ed073]

Ok I looked it up. You're right. That was in the 1920's, which is so far beyond my time that I didn't even think to consider it. He mentioned how it was now only on early morning TV so I figured he was talking about times modern enough to at least have television. Please excuse my ignorance.


No worries!!

I don't think the US is in any danger of a sudden rise in the popularity of 6-day racing.

[jondubus]

I was at the Stage 19 time trial at Besancon and Stage 20 in Paris last year. I'm American. Americans are so insular; they think (and it shows in these posts) that everything in the world revolves around Americans' opinions/perceptions. It does not. The real issue is the rest of the world's response to the TDF: how they attend, how much devotion the French continue to give it. It will be the same incredible sporting event with the most wonderful history in sports that exists, with or without the presence of Americans or OLN or otherwise. I still see cycling growing worldwide, and that's (one of) the points, ism't it? Europe and the TDF doesn't necessarily need Americans.

[TheKillerPenguin]

I was at the Stage 19 time trial at Besancon and Stage 20 in Paris last year. I'm American. Americans are so insular; they think (and it shows in these posts) that everything in the world revolves around Americans' opinions/perceptions. It does not. The real issue is the rest of the world's response to the TDF: how they attend, how much devotion the French continue to give it. It will be the same incredible sporting event with the most wonderful history in sports that exists, with or without the presence of Americans or OLN or otherwise. I still see cycling growing worldwide, and that's (one of) the points, ism't it? Europe and the TDF doesn't necessarily need Americans.
I think you're missing the point?

[collegeskier]

I doubt Discovery will continue sponsorship post-lance. They make too much money with fascinating "chopper builder" shows.

I think Discovery will keep sponsoring them not for the US market though. Remember Discovery is international. We will have to see what Discovery does with their sponsorship as far as how they use it.

[jondubus]

I think you're missing the point?
No Eric, I'm trying to MAKE a point. I'm trying to say Americans need to be less superficial about what occurs elsewhere in the world, including the TDF. It can do just fine without us. The French run the TDF and love it dearly, right? I don't see a lot of conciousness about our own attitudes here , but it does get discussed a lot when you go to Europe. Thanks, John

[TheKillerPenguin]

No Eric, I'm trying to MAKE a point. I'm trying to say Americans need to be less superficial about what occurs elsewhere in the world, including the TDF. It can do just fine without us. The French run the TDF and love it dearly, right? I don't see a lot of conciousness about our own attitudes here , but it does get discussed a lot when you go to Europe. Thanks, John
*Erik :p

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think most of us are just concerned that if less Americans are interested in the TdF, OLN isn't going to cover it as well. Nothing to do with whether or not the TdF can survive without the USA (and of course it can).

[tourist]

*Erik :p

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think most of us are just concerned that if less Americans are interested in the TdF, OLN isn't going to cover it as well. Nothing to do with whether or not the TdF can survive without the USA (and of course it can).

That was the original point. I have always thought that the European support was there. The TdF will be a gigantic event even if another American never rides in it again. It's here in the US that this event took a leap forward with Greg Lemond, which is where I started to pay attention, and then a QUANTUM leap forward with LA winning 6 in a row. I was curious as to the opinions of the members of this forum in regard to whether or not this momentum would be sustainable. In it's original sentiment I was not intending to be America-centric.

[Cranks]

OK, maybe I'm a tad optimistic, but I don't see American interest in the TdF dropping to pre-Lance numbers. Surely, the 'Lance' phenom has drawn so many people to the sport, that even when the fair-weather fans drop off, there will remain a substantial number of folks who got into the sport as a result of the increased media spotlight on Lance, and who are now die-hard cycling fans.
Nope, you are spot on. I've got so many friends that have gotten turned on to the TdF since Lance started, but now have other favorites that they are cheering for. My wife will always look for Voekler, Shannon will be perpetually disappointed by Jan, Greg has a great future cheering Valverde. July is the best month of the year - get up in the AM and go to France in the family room over coffee, and long hot rides after work.