An interesting question to say the least. After winning a tough head-to-head battle with Caisse D’ Epargne for the Team Classifcation at this year’s Tour de France, Team RadioShack was not invited to this year’s Vuelta a Espana and many questions arose as to why this happened.
Surely Johann Bruyneel made his feelings clear as he aired his ‘commentary’ in public but as a fan of not only American cycling but of all Pro cycling, I want to see the best compete and may the best man/team win. Surely we all have our favorites but even if yours doesn’t win, you can at least take away from it that you enjoyed the competition.
Unfortunately, this year’s Vuelta will not have all of the best competing and for us cycling fans, this is a letdown. As recently as this weekend, Haimar Zubeldia won a hard fought Tour de L’Ain and Levi Leipheimer won the incredibly tough Leadville 100. When you add the ever-present Andreas Kloden to this trio, how can you not say La Vuelta will now be won by someone who did not compete against the best?
Will I still watch and follow La Vuelta 2010? Yes, of course I will but without all of the best riders in the world present, has the best man won? This question can only be best answered by the race organizers but one thing is sure; cycling fans have already lost.
By Tom Donati, staff writer
Lo que esta claro es que la vuelta esta manipulada por un grupo de incompetentes . Radioshack si estara persente en la Vuelta, no estara con su equipo . Pero si en el corazon de sus aficionados. Animo Radioshack
Translate the Comment
Is Lance done riding for Team Radio Shack or is there more to come from him?
Translate the Comment
I can’t fathom how politics are NOT involved in this egregious decision, and I WON’T follow the Race. Why enable Their Sponsors?!?
Translate the Comment
I think it’s absolutely valid that Radioshack weren’t invited. The Vuelta management have the right to invite who they want and they didn’t want Radioshack. No point crying about it lads.
Bruyneel looks like a bitter old man by bleating about it on twitter.
Translate the Comment
The decision was valid, but not sound. It’s Egg on the Face of the Vuelta Organizers.
Translate the Comment