Originally Posted by
xfimpg
Makes business sense.
If that is the case where a rider rides with his wallet and not his country, which really takes away from a race of this type, they should remove road racing from the Olympics.
Why? Because you have an impossible to maintain ideal of fair play?
Professional cycling is the most interesting sport there is because cyclists are individuals who always need their team to perform. And the World Championship may be the most interesting tactical race of the year because of the dual loyalty suddenly demanded of the riders. Because, why should the riders really be supposed to pledge allegiance to their flags and their flags only?
Valverde hates Rodriguez' guts and vice versa. Anyone who watched this year's Vuelta has seen the two rode against each other more than any other opponent. So a 41 year old American could win.
And Valverde and Rui Costa are not only team mates, Valverde owed him big time, because he destroyed his team mates chances in the Tour de France GC the moment when he demanded that Rui Costa waited as well in the echelon stage -- so they both lost minutes that day.