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OPINION

"What do you mean 'we didn't win everything', Hugh?!"

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by Secret Squirrel
Fri, Mar 27, 2009 15:52
6

Okay, one Gold up to now.

It's all understandable - a young team has been taken to Poland, post-Olympic come down for some riders, other nations upping their game, our very best are absent. I personally haven't got an issue with the GB performance, if the second-stringers (in some events) can get a medal, that that bodes very well for the future and for the creme da la creme of GB track cycling upping their game further.

So, I'd like to pose a couple of questions regarding the BBC (that bastion of international cycling!) and their excellent coverage:

1. How excited do we think that the BBC will be in future about covering cycling (in as much depth as they have here) if we dont bring home a hat full of gold medals?

2. Will they be happy to dedicate prime-time, early evening slots on BBC2, and what's more the golden girl Gabby Yorath/Logan, in future?

3. Will they think that London 2012 is a long way off, and a cold trip to Poland in March to see us come 2nd, or 3rd or, god damn it 4th, is just not worth it?

4. Will they just not understand what is really going on, and think that we are just no good anymore?

Discuss...

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6 comments

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thebikeboy | 15 years ago
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All well and good as regards future Olympic medals, but is the BBC in on the grand plan? If they are and they're using these and the succeeding world champs in the run up to 2012 to practice for the Olympics great, if they were expecting a continuous procession of gold medals and the lack of them causes cold feet in broadcasting house about covering track cycling - no so great.

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John_the_Monkey replied to thebikeboy | 15 years ago
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I'd be surprised if they're not able to at least read between the lines - maybe someone from BC will fill them in on it?

(Unless the BC plan is to keep that quiet so as not to prejudice the chances of getting cycling coverage on t' telly...)

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purplecup | 15 years ago
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If there's one thing you can say about Brailsford it's that he'll have a plan. The goal is 2012, that's when it really matters. if we're still struggling a bit come the worlds before the next Olympics, then it's a major cause for worry. Right now it's neither here nor there. I'm sure team GB will be watching the new riders coming through to make sure that they've got the firepower to match them

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John_the_Monkey | 15 years ago
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My understanding is that this World Chsampionships is very much a stepping stone on the way to 2012 - I'm a bit surprised by the tone of some of the commentary, with that in mind, tbh.

If you've not heard it, the Dave Brailsford talk given recently at the House of Lords(?) gives an insight into just how focussed British Cycling is on particular goals.

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Tony Farrelly | 15 years ago
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Here's what BBC commentator Simon Brotherton has to say on the matter
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A49141000

Hopefully everyone else at the Beeb sees it the way he does

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hammergonewest | 15 years ago
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Yeah on Radio 5 Live they even interrupted a very important discussion of Championship club finances which the the presenters had spent ages trying to whip into a sensationalist froth to cross to live coverage of the keirn final in which our brave boys managed to come 4th and 5th out of five.

It was like somebody had farted in a lift afterwards - especially as Simon Brotherton had given the big 'two men in the final - they'll have worked their tactics out beforehand routine'…

Afterwards I had the same misgivings as you Mr Squirrel

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