[Grojlach]

Originally posted by Yorick: Well the proof is in the medals. That's what the games are for. As said the Euro nations may have more cyclists, but then they have more PEOPLE. For now, due to the current olympic situation, Australia are being hailed by cycling critics/experts/media as the best cycling nation. The question at the top of the topic was rhetorical. A bit of one upmanship I know. Sorry. We're down in the arse end of the world so it's nice to beat the "old world" at it's own game(s).

Well, you *do* know that the Olympic road race was 'just another race' in an overly full season? Most of them were in full non-Olympics competition only mere days after the road race, couldn't care less that 'they' were having 'their' asses kicked on the Velodrome in the meantime... Most professional 'old european' cyclists just don't really care much for the velodrome anymore. There's no money in it, hardly any publicity or glory - even the world championships hardly cause a ripple in its press coverage. It's sad, but the days that cyclists spent their time between the road and the velodrome equally is way back in the fifties. Heck, in most countries (like in mine), most participants are younger cyclists, hoping that their accomplishments on the velodrome help them to get noticed by pro-team scouts.

I'm not trying to play down the Aussies' achievements (it's still quite impressive [img]smile.gif[/img] ), just trying to put things into perspective. Riding on the velodrome is simply wholly different from riding on the road, and as a (road) cycling fan, I can do nothing but frown when someone only looks at the Olympics results to judge that the Aussies 'are the best cycling nation in the world', while one should really look at an entire season and at all disciplines (also including cyclo-cross, mountainbike) instead to base such a bold statement on something.
Now, if you would have said 'Australia are the most succesful cycling nation on the Velodrome, as proven at the Olympics', then I might have agreed with you.

[ 08-28-2004, 02:53 PM: Message edited by: Grojlach ]