Comments on: Track Worlds – or training session? http://www.veloveritas.co.uk/2010/03/27/track-worlds-or-training-session/ cycling matters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:37:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: kris http://www.veloveritas.co.uk/2010/03/27/track-worlds-or-training-session/#comment-3798 kris Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:00:26 +0000 http://www.veloveritas.co.uk/?p=9167#comment-3798 OK, the funding is for Olympic results, but if you don't go for results in other "TOP" races, how can you justify expense? And remember they already dumped some track events - it will happen again, so getting fantastic results at the Worlds is also a pushing point. Every other country in the World of cycling is phased to the World Champs, be it Road or Track, but the UK has taken on the American Dream! I remember a multi World Champ in the 'States who was finding it hard - his mate (from another sport) had a bronze medal from the Olympics and could chose from several companies that wanted him. Don't degrade your sport, the Worlds is to beat the "Best" in the world OK, the funding is for Olympic results, but if you don't go for results in other "TOP" races, how can you justify expense?

And remember they already dumped some track events - it will happen again, so getting fantastic results at the Worlds is also a pushing point.

Every other country in the World of cycling is phased to the World Champs, be it Road or Track, but the UK has taken on the American Dream! I remember a multi World Champ in the 'States who was finding it hard - his mate (from another sport) had a bronze medal from the Olympics and could chose from several companies that wanted him.

Don't degrade your sport, the Worlds is to beat the "Best" in the world

]]> By: John Hopper http://www.veloveritas.co.uk/2010/03/27/track-worlds-or-training-session/#comment-3790 John Hopper Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:07:00 +0000 http://www.veloveritas.co.uk/?p=9167#comment-3790 All valid points except you miss one very valid and substantial point: The GB track squad is funded towards Olympic success, not World Championship success. That is the sole criteria that the funding bodies consider. This may seem narrow minded but is unavoidable. I am very happy to see British Cycling to continue to meet those targets and guarantee the future of Team GB. Don't you remember the pre-Olympic funding days? All valid points except you miss one very valid and substantial point:

The GB track squad is funded towards Olympic success, not World Championship success.

That is the sole criteria that the funding bodies consider. This may seem narrow minded but is unavoidable.

I am very happy to see British Cycling to continue to meet those targets and guarantee the future of Team GB.

Don't you remember the pre-Olympic funding days?

]]> By: Tony Smith http://www.veloveritas.co.uk/2010/03/27/track-worlds-or-training-session/#comment-3775 Tony Smith Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:35:54 +0000 http://www.veloveritas.co.uk/?p=9167#comment-3775 Good article. Listening to the commentary was a bit like those English football commentators where the world revolves around England and what happens there. There was some great racing from a number of countries. With the prospect of the track in Glasgow approaching, it's time to start looking at having a Scottish team based in Scotland and competing at the highest level around the world. Good article.

Listening to the commentary was a bit like those English football commentators where the world revolves around England and what happens there.

There was some great racing from a number of countries.

With the prospect of the track in Glasgow approaching, it's time to start looking at having a Scottish team based in Scotland and competing at the highest level around the world.

]]> By: Graeme Herd http://www.veloveritas.co.uk/2010/03/27/track-worlds-or-training-session/#comment-3774 Graeme Herd Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:18:26 +0000 http://www.veloveritas.co.uk/?p=9167#comment-3774 Well said - I think the obsession with Olympics damages the sport when the Worlds and Olympic programmes are so different. Whoever decided that World titles in non Olympic disciplines (especially with the recent pillaging of the Olympic programme) are of lesser importance will ultimately devalue track racing in the long term. If any events had been chopped from the Olympics it should have been the road events (for both genders). The pinnacle of road racing is not the Olympics - it should be the pinnacle of track racing. This can only happen if the programme is full and reflects the actual nature of the sport, not some convuluted medal limiting "adjustment" to suit politicians and overall numbers. It seems bizarre that the numbers are being capped in cycling but seemingly unlimited in sports like swimming and athletics where there are a multitude of events that seem remarkably similar. An actual progression would have been to add a womens event for every existing mens event (true gender parity), then have a nations omnium based on indivudual results in each event for men/women. If numbers need be limited then overall team size could stay the same with more doubling up of events across all teams. Well said - I think the obsession with Olympics damages the sport when the Worlds and Olympic programmes are so different.

Whoever decided that World titles in non Olympic disciplines (especially with the recent pillaging of the Olympic programme) are of lesser importance will ultimately devalue track racing in the long term. If any events had been chopped from the Olympics it should have been the road events (for both genders).

The pinnacle of road racing is not the Olympics - it should be the pinnacle of track racing. This can only happen if the programme is full and reflects the actual nature of the sport, not some convuluted medal limiting "adjustment" to suit politicians and overall numbers.

It seems bizarre that the numbers are being capped in cycling but seemingly unlimited in sports like swimming and athletics where there are a multitude of events that seem remarkably similar.

An actual progression would have been to add a womens event for every existing mens event (true gender parity), then have a nations omnium based on indivudual results in each event for men/women.

If numbers need be limited then overall team size could stay the same with more doubling up of events across all teams.

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