Why the Tour de ... race never have Asian or Black people?
10-07-05, 08:46 AM
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An Asian man placed 5th overall in the Tour de France this year. Other Asians have won stages in the Tour de France in past years.
10-07-05, 09:01 AM
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Our best Asian is currently stuck at Cat4 somewhere in New York.
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10-07-05, 09:10 AM
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Clearly, cycling is european influenced sport. As some of the previous posters noted, there are some asians in previous tours. Just as a side note, in my club, there's probably 3 asians that I see on a regular basis, compared to about 60-100 that I normally see on a ride. That should tell you something right there. And I live in Silicon Valley!
10-07-05, 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by EURO
... similarly before Woods with golfing.
Back to the point, the US could probably field an all-black team that would be world class. Cycling is hardly "the" sport in the US. Football (American), basketball, baseball, even hockey draw far more athletes. When US youngsters see pro-athelets and $$$, they don't think cycling.
And cycling, like golf, is not exactly a cheap sport.
10-07-05, 09:15 AM
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Originally Posted by spingineer
Clearly, cycling is european influenced sport. As some of the previous posters noted, there are some asians in previous tours. Just as a side note, in my club, there's probably 3 asians that I see on a regular basis, compared to about 60-100 that I normally see on a ride. That should tell you something right there. And I live in Silicon Valley!
Track racing is HUGE in Japan-one of the biggest sports in the country. Lots of japanese track racers.
10-07-05, 09:17 AM
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Back to the point, the US could probably field an all-black team that would be world class.
There's a lot more to being a grand tour cyclist than good legs.
Rent a globe-Kazahkstan is in asia.
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10-07-05, 09:21 AM
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To see African riders, you only need to go to the upcoming Tour de Faso. Why aren't Africans riding in the Euro peloton right now? Because they're not yet good enough. They need more support and development.
But the question of the gap between the Africans and the European elite riders remains. For example, seeing an African rider competing in the Tour de France, considered as a fantasy a few years ago, is no longer that impossible. If one can only admit that they have riding qualities, it's difficult to tell what they would manage in the difficult climbs and how they would adapt to the European rhythm: “to now more about that, we will have to let more riders come regularly and for longer periods in the training camps of the French teams”, suggests race director Laurent Bezault. In Burkina, the enthusiasm is at its peak, especially for Sawadogo: “I believe that in 5 or 6 years, one or more Burkina riders could have their place in the Tour de France peloton”. Jean-Marie Leblanc, a little more patient still remains rather optimistic: “that could well happen in a dozen years”. We'll have to wait for the Tour 2014 for an answer.
But the question of the gap between the Africans and the European elite riders remains. For example, seeing an African rider competing in the Tour de France, considered as a fantasy a few years ago, is no longer that impossible. If one can only admit that they have riding qualities, it's difficult to tell what they would manage in the difficult climbs and how they would adapt to the European rhythm: “to now more about that, we will have to let more riders come regularly and for longer periods in the training camps of the French teams”, suggests race director Laurent Bezault. In Burkina, the enthusiasm is at its peak, especially for Sawadogo: “I believe that in 5 or 6 years, one or more Burkina riders could have their place in the Tour de France peloton”. Jean-Marie Leblanc, a little more patient still remains rather optimistic: “that could well happen in a dozen years”. We'll have to wait for the Tour 2014 for an answer.
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10-07-05, 09:21 AM
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What's going to be the greatest ROI?
Related to the cultural comment made earlier, a country interested in competitive sports is going to invest their time/energy/money into those sports where they think they will win. It's easier for certain sports to thrive in some countries than others. Is a country that focuses heavily on developing winners for gymnastics or running going to want to put money into cycling? Some people heavily lean on the winnings from compititions. It's hard to take a risk that would mean losing that money.
Related to the cultural comment made earlier, a country interested in competitive sports is going to invest their time/energy/money into those sports where they think they will win. It's easier for certain sports to thrive in some countries than others. Is a country that focuses heavily on developing winners for gymnastics or running going to want to put money into cycling? Some people heavily lean on the winnings from compititions. It's hard to take a risk that would mean losing that money.
10-07-05, 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by swifferman
Well, how many black road cyclists do you know? How many Chinese road cyclists do you know? It's all proportional. How can you expect 1% of the cycling demographic to make up a huge part of the racer's total?
Also, on the Tiger Woods comment: Tiger in no way shape or form "paved the way" for Black golfers. First of all, the only other predominant "black" golfer is Vijay Singh who is Fijian(sp?). Second of all, Tiger Woods isn't even half black.
Taken from a website:
Tiger is not completely of African-American descent. Earl Woods, his father, is half black, one-quarter American Indian and one-quarter Chinese. Kultida is half Thai, one-quarter Chinese and one-quarter white.
Now, this makes Tiger 1 quarter black, one eigth native american, one quarter chinese, one quarter thai, and one eigth caucasian.
I really have no idea why everyone sees him as Black.
Also, on the Tiger Woods comment: Tiger in no way shape or form "paved the way" for Black golfers. First of all, the only other predominant "black" golfer is Vijay Singh who is Fijian(sp?). Second of all, Tiger Woods isn't even half black.
Taken from a website:
Tiger is not completely of African-American descent. Earl Woods, his father, is half black, one-quarter American Indian and one-quarter Chinese. Kultida is half Thai, one-quarter Chinese and one-quarter white.
Now, this makes Tiger 1 quarter black, one eigth native american, one quarter chinese, one quarter thai, and one eigth caucasian.
I really have no idea why everyone sees him as Black.
10-07-05, 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by CycleFreakLS
Actually there have been other black golfers before Tiger ... Lee Elder and Jim Dent come to mind. And Tiger is only half black, right?
But americans only see skin color. This whole thread is kind of disturbing.
10-07-05, 09:46 AM
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Originally Posted by DocRay
Track racing is HUGE in Japan-one of the biggest sports in the country. Lots of japanese track racers.
10-07-05, 09:49 AM
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Up until what, 20 years ago, there were no Americans in the TdF either. There were virtually no black pitchers in the major leagues or black QBs in the NFL until about 15 years ago. Now look around. Give it some more time, they're on the way.
10-07-05, 10:09 AM
#41
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Originally Posted by terrymorse
To see African riders, you only need to go to the upcoming Tour de Faso. Why aren't Africans riding in the Euro peloton right now? Because they're not yet good enough. They need more support and development.
But the question of the gap between the Africans and the European elite riders remains. For example, seeing an African rider competing in the Tour de France, considered as a fantasy a few years ago, is no longer that impossible. If one can only admit that they have riding qualities, it's difficult to tell what they would manage in the difficult climbs and how they would adapt to the European rhythm: “to now more about that, we will have to let more riders come regularly and for longer periods in the training camps of the French teams”, suggests race director Laurent Bezault. In Burkina, the enthusiasm is at its peak, especially for Sawadogo: “I believe that in 5 or 6 years, one or more Burkina riders could have their place in the Tour de France peloton”. Jean-Marie Leblanc, a little more patient still remains rather optimistic: “that could well happen in a dozen years”. We'll have to wait for the Tour 2014 for an answer.
But the question of the gap between the Africans and the European elite riders remains. For example, seeing an African rider competing in the Tour de France, considered as a fantasy a few years ago, is no longer that impossible. If one can only admit that they have riding qualities, it's difficult to tell what they would manage in the difficult climbs and how they would adapt to the European rhythm: “to now more about that, we will have to let more riders come regularly and for longer periods in the training camps of the French teams”, suggests race director Laurent Bezault. In Burkina, the enthusiasm is at its peak, especially for Sawadogo: “I believe that in 5 or 6 years, one or more Burkina riders could have their place in the Tour de France peloton”. Jean-Marie Leblanc, a little more patient still remains rather optimistic: “that could well happen in a dozen years”. We'll have to wait for the Tour 2014 for an answer.
I know there are a couple of Kenyan riders riding for European teams, lemme dig around and I will post.
10-07-05, 10:15 AM
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Originally Posted by EURO
That's three Pro Tour teams with US sponsorship, and all of them sell products available in Europe. I think you could only argue that Discovery are trying to sell product to Americans through the Pro Tour. CSC being an international company, and Liberty Mutual using the spanish name for the team.
sheesh....
sheesh....
Id just like to point out to, being in the uk that all the American sponsers do indeed sell product over here, and the Discovery channel is one off the biggest documentry channels (4-5 channels) avaible on the UK TV network, available through Sky, cable, or other digital means.
Even UPS have a postal serivice over here to.
10-07-05, 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by DocRay
Woods' father is half african-american, quarter native indian, quarter chinese. His mother is half Thia, quarter chinese and quarter caucasian.
But americans only see skin color. This whole thread is kind of disturbing.
But americans only see skin color. This whole thread is kind of disturbing.
However, ignoring the history and reality of the one-drop rule would also be naive.
10-07-05, 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Dan0930
Asian people aren't in the pro peloton because of the following reasons
[Mod-editted to remove inflammatory ethnic insults in quoted text]
[Mod-editted to remove inflammatory ethnic insults in quoted text]
And even if you are, it's in really bad taste.
Last edited by khuon; 10-07-05 at 04:15 PM. Reason: removed quoted ethnic insults
10-07-05, 10:21 AM
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Don't you worry, I came from south east Asia & am training hard in southern Maine......some day...TDF
Oh, almost forgot- too old, too small, small lung capacity etc.. etc...
Funny: I may ride the smallest frame in 3 different group rides around here but I stick out like a sore thumb; don't see anyone else of color. Doesn't bother me at all- this is too much fun to worry 'bout skin color.
Oh, almost forgot- too old, too small, small lung capacity etc.. etc...
Funny: I may ride the smallest frame in 3 different group rides around here but I stick out like a sore thumb; don't see anyone else of color. Doesn't bother me at all- this is too much fun to worry 'bout skin color.
10-07-05, 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Dan0930
Asian people aren't in the pro peloton because of the following reasons
[Mod-editted to remove inflammatory ethnic insults in quoted text]
[Mod-editted to remove inflammatory ethnic insults in quoted text]
Last edited by khuon; 10-07-05 at 04:16 PM. Reason: removing inflammatory ethnic insults in quoted text
10-07-05, 10:56 AM
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An old training partner of ours won the 2002 Tour of Hokkaido. I imagine that if it weren't for liguistic barriers that we would have persued a pro contract outside of Japan. There are a number of Keirin riders who are much better suited for road racing, but that's not were the domestic money or focus of their system is. Believe me, when and if Japan comes up with a good domestic road development system, you'll see some very strong Japanese riders in international pelotons..then there's China... It's only a matter of time before we see East Asian riders in the top UCI ranks. Physiology isn't the issue. Access, domestic ad markets that can pay for professional teams, domestic development programes, etc... are. The raw talent isn't an issue.
10-07-05, 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Dan0930
Asian people aren't in the pro peloton because of the following reasons
[Mod-editted to remove inflammatory ethnic insults in quoted text]
[Mod-editted to remove inflammatory ethnic insults in quoted text]
wow...pretty sad even if it's an attempt at humor.
Last edited by khuon; 10-07-05 at 04:18 PM. Reason: removing inflammatory ethnic insults in quoted text
10-07-05, 11:00 AM
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Originally Posted by johnny99
Definately. Several world champion track racers are Japanese.
in 1900's NewYork, there were more velodromes than baseball diamonds, the #1 sport was track cycling. Now it's baseball-I just don't get baseball, if I wanted to spend two hours watching chubby guys satnding around, scratching themselves and spitting, I'd ride the bus..