Is the Tour de l'Aude finished?
by Monty. on Sep 9, 2010 3:21 PM EDT
in Women's Cycling
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PrintRumours of the end of the Tour de l'Aude have been floating around for almost since this year's race finished, but the people behind the Petitesreines website seem to have got a more definite confirmation today when they interviewed Jean Dousse, one of the organisers, while he was visiting at the Tour de l'Ardeche. The relevant bit is at about two minutes in and he seems pretty definite that the race is over.
Now if I'm not misunderstanding, that would be a pretty big blow for the women's calendar, since l'Aude is the women's equivalent of the Giro d'Italia on the men's calendar, one of the big highlights of the year and one of only two ten-day races. Losing it would be a real blow, yet M. Dousse doesn't seem to speak in any sort of code, "I can confirm that it's finished. I can't say more but I confirm that it's finished."
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wish they hadn't interviewed him in the car park...
oh dear, it doesn’t sound at all good
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
I tried hard to say that I couldn't understand
but I can’t even pretend that there’s other noise at that part. I’m just surprised that the French site linking to that video haven’t made it into a bigger story.
no, the gravel crunching kind of kicks in excuciatingly
just at the point at which he’s failing to give any decent reasons, doesn’t it
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
(paraphrased) “Is that definitive, won’t it return some day?” – “No no, no no no, it’s finished.”
Sad!
"you folks are a little loopy" - P. Stetina
IOW...business as usual.
That’s the state of women’s racing these days when the sport should be taking off, it is rather shrinking instead.
do we know money's the problem here?
wasn’t there a suggestion at some point it was something to do with the French federation and/or the UCI?
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
The fact that he doesn't want to explain
also suggests that it might be more complicated than just lack of funds.
"you folks are a little loopy" - P. Stetina
actually
I have no idea. I just assumed it was money, because that generally is why races go away. Also, money tends to make other complications less complicated.
Money was one problem
but there was also the feeling that everything was getting on a bit, includign the organising committee, most of whom apparently have been around since the race started.
Ah yes,
as outlined by organiser Anne-Marie Thomas: http://velofeminin.over-blog.com/article-anne-marie-thomas-inquiete-sur-l-avenir-du-tour-de-l-aude-51187559.html
Wielerland have just picked this one up
here, but they reckon that the Route de France is in trouble too.
Mind, when Dutch coach Eric Van Breda twittered: “The 2010 Tour de l’Aude Cycliste Féminin was the last one organized ever. So Sad! Let’s get it back on womens cycling calender soon again” Martine Bras replied “maybe they first pay the pricemoney from the last 3 years before they get back on the calender”
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