Cyclists ride the Vuelta, they don’t design it
From the Vuelta 2023 we will clearly draw several conclusions, but mainly two: that cyclists have the power, and I think that union, which we have traditionally missed and that the race is going to need his direct intervention, if he does not want a skit at each finish that presents some complication.
These two are, in my opinion, the two great conclusions that I come to seeing everything that happened in a race that is going for its halfway point with important changes in the backpack.
I read a couple of tweets from our friend Raúl Banqueri that can serve as an introduction to this reflection.
The Vuelta of “the best participation in history” does not stop engaging. The average audience on Spanish Television for the first 9 stages (764,000 viewers) is the lowest since 2013.
The neutralized endings and the changes between TDP, La 1 and La 2 are some reasons.
— Raúl Banqueri (@raulbanqueri) September 5, 2023
Reflection of Carlos de Andrés in La 2 on the events that occurred in #LaVuelta23 ????
“Some mistakes are being made that are greatly diminishing the prestige of the race. You can’t let the runners be the ones to decide when to race or not to race. In the…
— Raúl Banqueri (@raulbanqueri) September 5, 2023
On the one hand, audiences, weaker than expected in a house brand race, which has worked years ago, and with good names on the bill.
I think that the dance of channels, typical on TVE, but exaggerated this year (La1, La2 and TDP) together with insufficient production have a lot to do with it.
Another reason may be that feeling that emerges from all this, that in the face of any unforeseen event, the peloton will ground down and condition the development of the race.
It happened in Barcelona, also in Caravaca, I find it incredible that on a route planned months in advance, the worst scenarios are not taken into consideration and it happens that we see a stage through the Murcian mountains that ends ahead of schedule, with the stars talking , because they are exempted from taking risks, while a few risk their physique on the same ground.
I very much agree with what Carlos de Andrés says, cyclists cannot condition the development of the Vuelta in this way.
And here I go back to the beginning, the cycling collective shows, at least in appearance, that unity that a short time ago was not even glimpsed.
I don’t know how the strings move 100%, I find it hard to believe that everything is the initiative of the cyclists, but I do look at the result and this is that the union lives its best moments of unanimity.
Not so long ago, four years ago, the peloton did not say much about the Andorran sterrato and the deluge that fell on them, and it was also in the Vuelta.
But already the following year, in the Giro, in the last week they were able to cover a kilometer stage because it was raining and cold.
Since then Giro y Vuelta, mainly, have been the objective of modifications in the established plan.
The Tour goes the other way.
When Carlos de Andrés was on our podcast, a year ago, he talked about his coexistence with Javier Guillén and Unipublic in the design of the stages, also according to television criteria.
Well, they should also take someone from the cyclists’ union, who will give his placet and go ahead with the route designed and presented, because the drift that the Vuelta has taken is not lethal for cycling.
After all, the fact that it rains in Barcelona at the end of August and that the Caravaca road was not suitable is something that could be known a long time in advance, much more than the decision-making process in the middle of the stage and certain teams making a fuss at the front. of the squad
Arrival of the favorites to eight lanes #LaVuelta23 pic.twitter.com/x8BGSYW8oQ
— JoanSeguidor (@JoanSeguidor) September 6, 2023
Imagen: UNIPUBLIC / SPRINT CYCLING AGENCY
2023-09-06 22:02:27
#Tourmalet #Vuelta #big #words
