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ASO vs UCI

What do you think about the ASO/UCI feud? I have a write up concerning this on my blog. I would be interested in hearing everyone's opinion.

Introduction:

This past week, we learned that ASO bought into a significant stake of Unipublic (49% to be exact), the organization that controls the Vuelta. This continues the negative trend in pro cycling as we see ASO becoming a monopoly in the sport. With ASO controlling a large number of the major races, they have effectively become the Microsoft of cycling. I see many similarities between ASO vs UCI and Microsoft vs all other software companies. Microsoft uses bullying tactics to get their way; ASO uses bullying tactics to get their way. Microsoft buys their competitors; ASO buys their competitors. But before we totally blame ASO (or Microsoft) for all of this mess, we have to consider how they became the Goliaths of their industries.

Read more here.

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Totally disagree

For reasons you can find on previous threads here. For better or worse ASO (and the Giro and other main race organizers) MUST be the ones in charge. UCI was NEVER competition for ASO—they are (or are supposed to be) a regulatory body for heavens sake. Their attempt to be race organizers was always doomed. Since UCI wasn’t ever competition, the Microsoft analogy is false. In fact it looked to me like UCI was trying to do some kind of weird power grab from the race organizers, which made no sense.

ASO will now have the responsibility – and the power – to promote or reduce pro bike racing. They are the ones with the exposure and capital and the fact that they look like they are going to assert their authority is only a good thing. It is like accountability is slowly coming back in pro cycling. I am sure I will be ticked off at some of ASO’s decisions but at least they will be the responsible party all around.

by Markk on Jun 8, 2008 8:43 PM EDT reply actions  

point taken

definitely a conflict of interest in if a race organizer controls the sport as a whole w/o a governing body that is supported by all. to give ASO power to promote or reduce bike racing like you said, would be disaster. and if they had that power (which they are slowly doing), they are in fact a monopoly. the uci is trying to restore order and legitimacy to the sport. too bad aso is only in it for their own interests, $$$. but thanks for your opinion.

by jack376 on Jun 9, 2008 8:43 AM EDT reply actions  

I don't completely agree or disagree

Way back in the early-mid eighties the Societe du Tour de France (or what ever they were called) had the Tour and Roubaix.

I would pressume they made somewhat of a savy business decision/gamble to get Anglo-North America interested in cycling and tap into the money in the North American market. I pressume this only because I don’t remember seeing any other european bike races on television other than the World Championships during that time period.

That decision paid off very well for them. By way of CBS, or ABC they were able to tell us that there races were the best – and it’s not like any other race organizers were reaching out to us to say anything to the contrary. They quickly built up their own monopoly of the North America market, and I’d have to imagine they’ve used that strategy in other parts of the world too.

They were the ones that reached out to the world and said hey, check us out, and after a while the world started to listen. The Tour got bigger and other races got smaller. One might be able to say they have had an impact on the capacity of smaller races to get enough sponsorship money to cover their costs – e.g. Paris-Nice and the Midi-Libre. However, one could also say they have also been the saviour for races like Paris-Nice. When Laurent Fignon wasn’t able to get the bucks required to run the ‘02 edition, ASO came in and bought the race and it wasn’t cancelled.

To bring it back to microsoft, I have no idea if they could be accused of abusing it’s dominant place in the market, but that wouldn’t be something for the UCI to resolve.

by Superconfex on Jun 10, 2008 12:47 AM EDT reply actions  

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