wearyourtruth

so with all this talk of California being in an economic crisis, does anyone know, or have articles pertaining to, whether the Tour is at risk for next year? i hope it keeps going!

haimtoeg

I suspect it may become lower profile. Now that it is on the same time with the Giro it may attract less big names than it did in February when it was the first stage race of the year.

johnny99

Many top racers skip the Giro because it is too long a race ending just a month before the Tour de France. The shorter Tour of California will appeal to them.

The better weather in California in May will also bring out more spectators.

merlinextraligh

This is ignores that there are other Non Giro european options for TDF preperation, such as Dauphine Libere, Tour of Switzerland.

It's going to be difficult to get top European teams here in May. If they come, they are more likely to send second tier squads.

The intersting thing will be whether with better weather, the ATOC can continue to grow in Fan support and Media attention, in the absence of the best riders. If that happens, the race could grow in prize money and stature to attract top european riders.


ATOC organizers have to hope they can grow it to the point that the best European pros will come to California in May. My guess is that they are long way from that, and absent big names, the race will shrink in importance.

johnny99

As long as the top American teams (Radio Shack, Garmin, Columbia) show up, few people will care if the big European teams do not. The Euro teams (other than Astana) never took the Tour of California very seriously anyway.

julian

I think the shorter races leading up to the Tour are going to be the way to go in the future. If the TOC can put up enough money to get the top riders here, then it will get bigger and better year after year, probably to the detriment of the Giro.
The Giro is just way too hard for someone to take it seriously if they are pushing to do well at the TDF.
Time will tell.

erader

i'll probably attend one day, but not three or four anymore. last year was the peak for the ATOC. it is downhill from there. just take a look at the history of big stage races in the u.s..........

ed rader

merlinextraligh

I disagree. The American cycling fan, and to a lesser degree the American public, understand that Europe is the big deal in cycling. The presence of name European teams is what gives the race credibilty as a big deal event, and seperates it from the Tour of the Gila Monster.

And when Armstrong is gone from the mix in a couple of years, you really have a problem. See e.g., Tour of Georgia.

julian

The TOC made a big stride by coming into San Diego County which has a huge number of cyclists. I was up on Palomar that day and it was crazy. The fans want the bike race even without Armstrong, and will support it. It is up to the sponsors to make it happen though. I had a lot more interest this year, cause it was in our back yard. I really don't care if one person or the other doesn't race it, I just want to experience the race and the atmosphere, and I think a lot of people feel that way. The players always change, but that doesn't kill people's interest in the sport.

EventServices

I've heard nothing related to a downsizing.

I disagree strongly. AEG is WAY into it. And with Lance coming back next year, so are the sponsors.

Allen H

Lance & his new team will help with TOC the first year head-to-head with the Giro; to really "take", though TOC will need the lion's share of "name" Euro, non-Italian riders, I think.

IIRC, there were something like 20+ TdF stage winners in last year's TOC field, for example - I'd hope/expect TOC still has 60-70% of that "name" field next year.

erader

i said "downhill" not that the race is going away. at least not yet.

each year the field at the ATOC got better and better and now the decline begins.....

ed rader

diphthong

i guess everyone missed the announcement in may...