Why Join the Pro Tour

by John.. on Jan 25, 2008 9:37 PM EST

Slipstream's schedule is posted. If this is an accurate schedule (which I assume they have invites to most of these races), why would a team pay the money to join the Pro Tour?

It looks like they are going to miss Amstel Gold, Romandie, and Tour of Switzerland, but that is about it. They will be in all the other big races the first half of the season including the Giro (and maybe the Tour). The will be in Milano-Sanremo, Paris-Roubaix, LBL, Paris-Nice, etc.

If I were running a team, I would consider saving my Pro Tour dues and the other obligations that go with it and staying as a pro continental team.

If Slipstream is able to race almost all of the high profile races without joining the Pro Tour, I wonder if others will follow the same format.

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Just goes...

to show how dead of a concept the ProTour is once it was emasculated by the organizers of all the main races in Europe.

I for one am excited to see how things go for them. I really want to see Maggie do something beautiful in the Spring Classics!

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on Jan 26, 2008 9:41 AM EST reply actions

Maybe...

Maggie will roll up the Muur first, right in front of me, and the ride off to win the Ronde!

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on Jan 26, 2008 9:45 AM EST up reply actions

But they can't get in the Tour Down Under

without a Pro Tour license. Worth the extra millions, no? (No offense meant to the Aussies, who are putting on a great race)

I've noticed a large number of very good pros signing with pro continental and even continental teams this year. The UCI is trying it's best to dress up the corpse of the Pro Tour, but it's going to stink just the same.

That's just my uninformed opinion, so it's probably wrong.

by ghisallo on Jan 26, 2008 10:01 AM EST reply actions

"its best"

by ghisallo on Jan 26, 2008 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

Pro Tour?

What's a Pro Tour?

by ursula on Jan 26, 2008 10:06 AM EST reply actions

it's a special

stage race, where the world's best pros have to ride fully-loaded Rivendell tourers (carrying all of their own stuff in front and rear panniers) as they zip and toodle along the courses of the monuments of cycling.

Extra points given for completing masterworks of art during a stage.

by R Mc on Jan 26, 2008 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

Slipstream is playing it smart

and will come away from the '08 season looking like geniuses if they can just achieve some of their goals. The Pro Tour is basically dead but McQuaid & Co., not wanting to face reality, will continue to keep it on life support. I hope Slipstream shows how successful a Pro-Conti team can be without selling their souls to the control freaks.

As you might have noticed I'm not a big fan of the PT. While there are some positives to the PT (mostly for the sponors, though), the UCI's domineering, "our-way-or-the-highway", refusing to meet others half-way attitude has killed it. The race organisers are not 100% innocent either but the UCI backed them up against a wall.

I fully agree that if Slipstream is successful this season, other Pro-Conti teams will follow suit and try to recruit more PT riders, and some PT teams may decide to downgrade to Pro-Conti when their licenses expire. Less cash outlay but still good exposure (if you're a legit team). Bet the UCI never considered that.....

"It doesn't get easier; you just go faster" - Greg LeMond

by Red Tornado on Jan 26, 2008 11:13 AM EST reply actions