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View Full Version : Merckx pushes to renew Tour of Oman contract despite rider protest

enr1co
02-25-2015, 09:37 AM
I get it- its all about the $ and your job as a pro rider but personally would rather get early season training in the cold elsewhere than have to ride a race in this area.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/02/news/merckx-pushes-to-renew-tour-of-oman-contract-despite-rider-protest_361628
Lewis Moon
02-25-2015, 09:42 AM
I get it- its all about the $ and your job as a pro rider but personally would rather get early season training in the cold elsewhere than have to ride a race in this area.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/02/news/merckx-pushes-to-renew-tour-of-oman-contract-despite-rider-protest_361628

This is one of the reasons there needs to be an effective rider's union. No matter the organization, UCI, USAC, whatever, the safety, needs and preferences of the riders always take the very back seat.
LJohnny
02-25-2015, 09:48 AM
I saw the video of the canceled stage where it was so hot that tires started blowing up on lots of riders. Crazy. Merckx still wanted the riders to keep going. WOW, I mean I would expect maybe someone that is not familiar with cycling and how dangerous downhill blow ups at high temps are, but Merckx?
nooneline
02-25-2015, 10:10 AM
Zinn's column on Oman, and tires heat-exploding, is pretty interesting (http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/02/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/technical-faq-hot-tires-rims-oman_361634).

Meanwhile, Merckx's criticism of riders is some boring "in my day we walked uphill both ways" stuff.
weisan
02-25-2015, 10:14 AM
"Come, let us reason...."
http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2007/0703/360_300_persia_0313.jpg
thwart
02-25-2015, 11:08 AM
I have tons (and tons) of respect for Eddy… but one has to wonder about his own financial involvement here if the race dries up and blows away.
FlashUNC
02-25-2015, 11:12 AM
Eddy is a co-owner of this thing. He's totally conflicted. No way he's offering an impartial view on things.

Some sources were quoting temps as high as 120 on the road, with some of the flats allegedly coming from carbon clinchers used by some of the teams there. I've seen some comments from Josh at Silca and others that the temps may have worked to melt tubes, bonds with valves, the works.

Really nasty stuff and I agree the riders have to look out for their own safety. Isn't as if Eddy is.
MattTuck
02-25-2015, 11:32 AM
UCI and Race organizers have entirely too much power in the current system.

First step is creating a league system with fixed number of licenses and revenue sharing between them. Then let the race organizers negotiate with the league.

Second, stronger rider union with collective bargaining.

Knowing what needs to be done is the easy part. Getting entrenched incumbents to give up their hold on the money and power... that is the hard part.
nooneline
02-25-2015, 11:40 AM
UCI and Race organizers have entirely too much power in the current system.

Agreed, but worth pointing out that once riders are in a peloton and on a race course, they have a ton of power. Promoters almost always acquiesce to rider protests.
MattTuck
02-25-2015, 12:12 PM
Agreed, but worth pointing out that once riders are in a peloton and on a race course, they have a ton of power. Promoters almost always acquiesce to rider protests.

Yes, but only on certain issues. Case in point, the safety of the riders...

I don't think the peloton would be successful in stopping a race and demanding a bigger purse for the 10 winners, or a share of TV broadcasting revenue. That is the kind of stuff that takes negotiations ahead of time.
bcroslin
02-25-2015, 01:25 PM
Video of the downhill and popping tires (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSv9WKOyHCA)

We ride in insane heat here in FL in Aug and Sept but I can't imagine riding in temps about 105 F. I don't blame them for stopping the stage.
Lewis Moon
02-25-2015, 01:37 PM
Video of the downhill and popping tires (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSv9WKOyHCA)

We ride in insane heat here in FL in Aug and Sept but I can't imagine riding in temps about 105 F. I don't blame them for stopping the stage.

That's called Spring, around here. Of course, you folks have the humidity. Poached rather than fried.
cloudguy
02-25-2015, 01:54 PM
Only gonna get hotter in the long-term, too. Can't imagine what the race will be like in 2050...
enr1co
02-25-2015, 05:55 PM
Video of the downhill and popping tires (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSv9WKOyHCA)



C'mon Eddy- yes, le Carrefour de l'Arbre, cold and wet in April or steep descents in the Pyrenees in July heat can be extremely dangerous but who really wants to get a season ending injury during a early POS training race in the desert :rolleyes: