Stephen Roche's recent comments

Board2Death

Some interesting comments in here, i'm surprised at his comments regarding riders not getting back on the bike quick enough (especially after the farce recently in tour of korea)

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/stephen-roche-were-trying-to-upgrade-the-image-of-cycling

Vaughters' response:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vaughters-to-roche-cyclings-image-has-bigger-issues

apologies in advance - i'm not going to get too involved in the discussion, just think some would be interested to read the articles.

recent events in Korea:
http://bicycling.com/blogs/thisjustin/2012/05/01/south-korean-pro-cyclists-killed-in-road-accident/
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/04/rider-diaries/lee-rodgers-diary-tour-of-korea-stage-5-marred-by-multiple-crashes-sketchy-support_215643

ROK ON

Sure how could he be wrong. Of course open jerseys and drafting cars are serious issues in cycling.

It beggars belief.


I think in most sports, in order to advance at the political level one needs to crawl up ones own backside.

dvntie

I see that there hasn't been a peep outta Kelly yet
In fairness there were a few daft bits but there were some common sense said also

Cookie_Monster

well as long as thier socks are the correct height...
:rolleyes:

Mycroft H

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

well as long as thier socks are the correct height...
:rolleyes:

And you don't leave your jersey zip below a predetermined depth.


In all seriousness though. Back in late 80's what happened when you got a puncture/breakdown? We're you allowed to draft the cars or did you have to break your bollocks to try to get back to the group?

G2ECE

Fair enough with banning race radio, it would make for more excitement for the spectator/viewers, but to seem more worried about shirt zippers than drugs in the sport is laughable.

kincsem

I don't have an opinion on the zip, up or down. I would like to ban radios, and reduce the number of vehicles in/among the riders. It is more like a car rally than a bicycle race at times.

crumliniano

A load of twaddle from Roche. I have to agree with most of Vaughters reaction. Doping and the farcical machinations of the Contador case are far more detrimental to the sport. The UCI's efforts would be better served keeping their focus on that. Regarding the financial setup in cycling, rather than fighting with Vaughters all the time it might be worth bringing him into the fold in some way - some of his fairly radical (to cycling) ideas definitely have some merit.

RobFowl

I get the feeling the gist of his comments are "Do as I say, not as I did" and "I know better than you" ..

Lumen

RobFowl wrote: »

I get the feeling the gist of his comments are "Do as I say, not as I did" and "I know better than you" ..

...with a bit of Four Yorkshiremen thrown in for good measure.

GlennaMaddy

I agree with the three examples he mentioned, but there are bigger things to worry about as Vaughters says

Morrisseeee

A zipped up jersey is not going to clean up the image of cycling when you see the last 2 Tour de France's being spoiled/soiled by the Contador case !!

mcgratheoin

At the risk of sounding pervy, I have to say there's no better sight than a borderline anorexic man with a lycra shirt fluttering around his emaciated ribs struggling for oxygen on a major climb. Medallion hanging out, spectators puring water over his head, race radio dangling unlistened to from his ear. And then that final moment before victory - that ritual recognition of knowing that nobody can overhaul him as he sits up, takes the adulation of the crowd and zips his jersey up for the sponsors.

Hermy

"...if they haven't got sponsors...there's no reason to have guys riding bikes."

followed by

"At crashes, riders fall and spend five minutes on the ground straightening up their shirt..."

Because of the sponsors???

ashleey

Jonny hoogerlegend comes to mind. Clearly shirt sponsors were very important to him. Really

Inquitus

1) Zips, who gives a feck
2) Draughting - Personally I would rather not see a race favourites chances dashed by a mistimed mechanical if possible, so allowing them to get back on rather than lose minutes makes sense, especially in Grand Tours.
3) Race radio - Definitely allows teams much greater control over races, and removes the likelyhood of the improbable occurring, but wouldn't you rather the best rider in the best team won than randomness from either mechanicals in point 2 or bad comms in this point?

I like Vaughters, I follow him on twitter and he makes alot of sense.

Lumen

Inquitus wrote: »

wouldn't you rather the best rider in the best team won

No. The unfairness is what makes cycling so beautiful and tragic.

squeaky crank

by bringing up feckin zips he has undermined a reasonable and important debate about radios. That in itself shows bad judgment and gives fodder to the opposite side of the argument.

dave_o_brien

What I don't understand about the radio debate is that it seems to be either radio's giving everyone all the race information or else no radios at all. Why not have a centralised radio that only gives riders info about safety information; ie, crashes, road conditions, important route information, weather updates, etc? Surely this would easy enough to put in place, and would negate the discussion about rider safety while removing the tactical nullification of drip feeding riders info about break times, etc. Then the chalkboard and personal tactical nous becomes important again.

bardcom

dave_o_brien wrote: »

What I don't understand about the radio debate is that it seems to be either radio's giving everyone all the race information or else no radios at all. Why not have a centralised radio that only gives riders info about safety information; ie, crashes, road conditions, important route information, weather updates, etc? Surely this would easy enough to put in place, and would negate the discussion about rider safety while removing the tactical nullification of drip feeding riders info about break times, etc. Then the chalkboard and personal tactical nous becomes important again.

I like the idea. But what about language barriers?

doozerie

"At crashes, riders fall and spend five minutes on the ground straightening up their shirt and tie..."

Shirt and tie? Is that what gentlemen cyclists wore in Roche's time? Presumably they wouldn't undo the zip on their jerseys either for fear of their blindingly white and scrawny chests causing fair maidens on the roadside to swoon or fall instantly pregnant. I liked him when he raced, I don't like the talky version of him much.

In related news, I bet someone was in trouble when his cranky dad collected him at the end of this day:

el tel

Just because he has a thing about zips, radios and drafting doesn't mean he his ambivalent about doping...

But in any case I always though he was a bell-ender ever since he said he took his kids away from Ireland because there was a drug dealer on every street corner..

dave_o_brien

bardcom wrote: »

I like the idea. But what about language barriers?

I think if that's the most complicated issue to sort out, it'd probably be more viable than the back and forth of

UCI: "Give us those radio, now!"
JV et al: "No, we're playing with them!"
UCI: "Give them to us now, or there will be consequences!"
JV et al: "Oh yeah?! Try it, we'll go find our own friends to play with, then you'll be lonely!"

DirkVoodoo

Here here Stephen!

And let's see some modesty shorts for the podium presentations, I'm sick of seeing cyclist's junk mocking me from behind a thin veil of lycra.

mcgratheoin

bardcom wrote: »

I like the idea. But what about language barriers?

Different channels for different languages - like Eurosport really...

wpd

Do as i say not as i did

dave_o_brien

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Here here Stephen!

And let's see some modesty shorts for the podium presentations, I'm sick of seeing cyclist's junk mocking me from behind a thin veil of lycra.

I foresee downhill style team kit for every team, so that podium attire is still sponsor correct, and attractive for the cool kids.

DirkVoodoo

dave_o_brien wrote: »

I foresee downhill style team kit for every team, so that podium attire is still sponsor correct, and attractive for the cool kids.

Baggy shorts for all!

dave_o_brien

Frankly, I don't see the need for all the lycra anyway. Sure the average punter is put off by the image of men in lycra. Maybe they should all be made race in jeans and hoodys. That'd give cycling a way cooler image.

Lusk Doyle

dave_o_brien wrote: »

Frankly, I don't see the need for all the lycra anyway. Sure the average punter is put off by the image of men in lycra. Maybe they should all be made race in jeans and hoodys. That'd give cycling a way cooler image.

With guns and 40 ounces to really appeal to the grassroots!

Lusk Doyle

Lumen wrote: »

Inquitus wrote: »

wouldn't you rather the best rider in the best team won

No. The unfairness is what makes cycling so beautiful and tragic.

That's Andy schlecks mantra anyway!

dave_o_brien

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

With guns and 40 ounces to really appeal to the grassroots!

If cycling wants to be truly global, it's gotta get itself some swag, yo.

SWL

I agree with him on the radios, unzipped jerseys help to accurately portray the suffering rider go through especially to the non-cycling sports fans.

As Stephen has a new book out in 4 weeks I think he is looking for a little publicity to remind everyone he is still involved in cycling at the highest levels:rolleyes:

crumliniano

el tel wrote: »

?... ever since he said he took his kids away from Ireland because there was a drug dealer on every street corner..

Hadn't heard that before. I guess the safety of the peloton was a better environment for sonny boy. No dealers there!

barrabus

I have a book that was published after his tripe crown somewhere, as fair as i recall he spoke about the importance of the team leader not wearing sun glasses after the early part of the day...


Oakley and many other would drop their sponsorship if that was a norm.

Inquitus

barrabus wrote: »

I have a book that was published after his tripe crown somewhere, as fair as i recall he spoke about the importance of the team leader not wearing sun glasses after the early part of the day...


Oakley and many other would drop their sponsorship if that was a norm.

What was his reasoning for that?

Lusk Doyle

Inquitus wrote: »

What was his reasoning for that?

That if you are hard enough, the sun is scared to look directly at you so you don't need glasses :rolleyes:

Helps your team by seeing just how tough you are!

mcgratheoin

Bet he loved watching Boonen with no gloves....