Originally Posted by DiabloScott

The discussion here is about diversity among cyclists in the pro ranks. Friend of mine from Eritrea says his country is crazy for cycling... a remnant left by Italian colonialists and something you might not appreciate just from watching the "Giro d'Eritrea" on TV. While the equipment and the roads suck, the level of athleticism and enthusiasm is as high as it is for any other sport in the country. So bike racing is thriving but the economic opportunity just isn't there to get the coaching and other necessary ingredients to make it pro.

The reverse side of the coin is that at the collegiate level (at least here in California) the ranks are very diverse... but there's lots more money to be made in business and technology so few of the collegiate racers of any ethnicity ever think about trying to go pro.