Comments on: Mt. Hood stage race adds new stages, but cancels women’s race

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:58:11 +0000

Tell her that there are only 2 profitable Womens Sports, Golf and Tennis. It is not cycling's fault that women's athletics are not "equal" to men's. There are tons of reasons, some of them societal and hence slow to change. Europe is the major league of cycling and women's cycling struggles there as well.

By the same token is it fair that men's gymnastics is not a big deal? Men's figure skating? Look at the success Danica Patrick is having based on Motorsports being a place where the gender difference is much smaller.

Cyclists in general have a sense of entitlement that is grating. Professional sports are a form of advertising. If people think a sport can sell stuff they will fund it, if not they won't. Seems like advertisers are trying to tell us something.

By: crrrash

crrrash — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:13:49 +0000

Read the article, nice guy or not this just rubs it in the Girls face – not enough sponsor $ – “The race also has expanded the challenge for amateur men by offering a 6-day (prologue plus five stages) Category 2 race”. Yeah right – this is BS. Don't hate on me neither, I'm a Father what do I tell my daughter?

By: Tassafaronga

Tassafaronga — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:46:00 +0000

Perhaps you should brush up on your grammar instead of spending all your time racing.

By: Just Race

Just Race — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:44:08 +0000

Only 24 Women Last year…They did give them a try and there just aren't enough elite Women racers in the country with a budget to travel out there…Women need some Women promoters to put on some Women only events…

By: Can't we just get along.

Can't we just get along. — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:37:53 +0000

So, I offer this suggestion. IF the women are so upset by Mt. Hood canceling the women's event, I offer this challenge . . .Instead of crying about it, pull together and bring in a title sponsor that would fund the Mt. Hood Women's Challenge and make sure there is a pre-reg, committed list of women would are willing to race the event. Chad is a nice guy and would most likely change his mind if there was backing to show the numbers and funding would be there to make it successful.BTW, don't hate on me either, I'm a woman and I race, 23 years worth -I just don't by into the whole discrimination thing -it's just simple math.

By: crankymcslik

crankymcslik — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:41:13 +0000

So easy to criticise at what you feel is discrimination.All that work you commenters put in trying to organize the womens events and….what?!!… you didn't volunteer time our money to the event but hate on the organizers when they don't hand you what you want. Go away haters!!!!!

By: crrrash

crrrash — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:23:40 +0000

Tulsa & Philly seem pretty long distant for the organizers excuse. How many Riders can actually travel to these Races? Last time I was in Portland it seamed like everybody rode bicycles. Too answer the discriminatory actions taken by the organizers – IF THERE IS 100 WOMEN OR JUST 2 I'M PRETTY SURE THEY WOULD DEFINITELY MAKE A RACE OUT OF IT !!! Athletes man or women & even children have a tendency to compete.

By: oregoncyclingaction

oregoncyclingaction — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:21:10 +0000

This will be a case of one step back, two steps forward of they're able to come back next year with NRC races for both the men and the women.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:14:00 +0000

We’ll that’s ef’d up

By: listbd

listbd — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:57:43 +0000

Sperry has been dedicated to growing pro women's racing for many years. They worked their butts off to make the UCI event happen a couple of years ago. It just didn't work out this year. And no, it is not “easy enough” to schedule events.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:26:39 +0000

Gotta agree with you. Seems easy enough to coordinate dates and schedule the event when it would be most attractive.Women's racing gets very little consideration and undeservedly so. The women are as tough as the guys and they race just as hard. I've seen lots of local criteriums here in Colorado and the women's pro-1-2 race is usually the best race of the day.

By: Constance

Constance — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:16:33 +0000

What a load of crap. Give women's cycling a chance! Have it a different date.