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Fergie
Wrecked
Joined: Jun 04, 2006
Posts: 4,911
Location: Taking up a lot of the cycle lane on a street near you!
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 Posted: Sun 7th Sep 11:33am Post subject: Bulls**t Excuses |
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| Quote: | Athlete, Team and Sponsor Info: Cyclists want apology from USOC over mask flap
By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports
The four American cyclists who arrived for last month’s Beijing Games wearing black masks and were subsequently ordered to apologize for offending the host nation are seeking an apology from the U.S. Olympic Committee.,
In a letter sent to the leadership group of the Athletes Advisory Council, an attorney for the four cyclists—Michael Friedman, Sarah Hammer, Bobby Lea and Jennie Reed—not only asked the USOC to apologize, but said the flap was “emotionally devastating” and adversely affected their performances at the Beijing Games, where none of them medaled and only Hammer managed a top-five finish. |
So this is why the US team failed miserably on the track in Beijing.
Uh huh
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psychavoc
going Crazy
Joined: Jul 17, 2003
Posts: 23,719
Location: Welly-town
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 2:05pm Post subject: |
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So they rode in the exact same conditions as everyone else, but felt they were more "adversely affected" than everyone else? 
HTFU 
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Dazzle
Mangled
Joined: Feb 11, 2002
Posts: 12,971
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 2:08pm Post subject: |
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Top cyclists are like thorough breed horses. You know, muscular, twitchy, full of drugs and easily spooked.
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Conners
Seeing Double
Joined: Jul 09, 2003
Posts: 3,773
Location: bjcfilms editing suite, Welly
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 2:50pm Post subject: |
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| psychavoc wrote: | So they rode in the exact same conditions as everyone else, but felt they were more "adversely affected" than everyone else?
HTFU |
While the conditions were the same for everyone, adverse condtions don't necessarily affect everyone in the same way 
BUT FOR FARKS SAKE HTFU YOU WHINGING roznucS!
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johnL
Worn
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 820
Location: ROTORUA
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 2:56pm Post subject: |
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i dont think they are talking about atmospheric conditions but the emotional stress of having to say sorry to a communist regime
either way.....america kcuf yeah
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istepinyards
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Joined: Feb 13, 2007
Posts: 5,898
Location: Rooting for the SunDevils
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 4:51pm Post subject: |
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I think they were shocked at having to say sorry. tihs I lived there for 18 years and almost never heard it said in any situation. The emotional stress that would come with that would be massive.
I am surprised they even knew where China was. Isn't it a small town in Nebraska.
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Fergie
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Joined: Jun 04, 2006
Posts: 4,911
Location: Taking up a lot of the cycle lane on a street near you!
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 6:22pm Post subject: |
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Naturally there has been much discussion on why some teams excelled (UK and NZ) and other teams failed to ignite (US and Aus).
The Brits were simply building on a successful Athens Olympics and this was essentialy a 90% successful dry run for London in 4 years time. No secrets just did everything possible and had the unlimited budget to make it happen. Shane Sutton has said they are working overtime to prepare riders so guys like Hoy and Wiggins are redundant for London!
NZ benefitted from funding thanks to Miss Ulmer (as did Rowing and the twins) which made it easier to put long term programmes in place. We have always had the riders but could give them proper support and racing over the last four years.
Australia had a programme I just think the leadership from the riders was not there. No Hoys or Wiggins driving the programme.
The US appeared fragmented in their approach. Lots of small groups doing their own thing. Thing I find amazing was Hammer's position. Saddle too low and all over the bike. Wind tunnel testing and raced that position at Worlds. Did no one think to tell her it was all wrong???
Emotional distress, give me a break!
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Joel
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Joined: Mar 26, 2002
Posts: 5,799
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 6:44pm Post subject: |
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what the hell is up with hammer's riding technique.. looked appalling! can not have been efficient. all that side to side motion is energy not put into going forward, i would have thought.
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istepinyards
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Joined: Feb 13, 2007
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Location: Rooting for the SunDevils
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 6:50pm Post subject: |
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Australia's programme has been downsized by around half since Sydney Fergie
There has been a massive tihsfight over here with regards to sports funding and the Track Endurance cycling team in particular.
It looks like Gary Sutton will work more closely with Shane Bannen from now on.
A sibling rivalry between the Sutton clan from Moree will showdown at London.
The flop of the track team at the olympics was there was only one scheduled training camp for the Olympic track endurance squad before Beijing. That and half of the pursuit team are more concerned with getting a contract next year than riding is a rumour that will not go away as well.
B.McGee off contract
G.Brown off contract
B.Lancaster off contract
All these guys failed to fire and were not good enough so you be the judge.
Food on the table or the chance for an Olympic silver medal.(no one was beating GB)
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Fergie
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 7:20pm Post subject: |
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The Brits know the gravy train will end after London. Simon Jones said the money was there to take the Brits off contract for longer leading into Beijing.
They took Nicole Cooke off her Pro team and set up a British team so she could follow a programme solely focused on winning Gold.
Being focused on other things backs up what I said about a lack of leadership from the riders.
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istepinyards
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 7:40pm Post subject: |
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| Fergie wrote: | The Brits know the gravy train will end after London. Simon Jones said the money was there to take the Brits off contract for longer leading into Beijing.
They took Nicole Cooke off her Pro team and set up a British team so she could follow a programme solely focused on winning Gold.
Being focused on other things backs up what I said about a lack of leadership from the riders. |
The leadership should not come from the senior riders Fergie.
If I was in those athletes possitions I would opt to secure contracts for further years employment rather than short term glory.
Every TP team out there were riding for silver before they even arrived.
Same goes for the IP. Wiggans was never losing from the time he entered the veledrome.
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musket
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Joined: Sep 28, 2002
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 7:48pm Post subject: |
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Leadership comes from the PROGRAMME. Everytime. If you have riders who are able to play a part in the programme by leading, then they're an asset, but leadership has to come from the programme first.
Brits have boardman et al. AIS has lost many leaders, and is in the process of losing more - which possibly further undermined their leadership pre/ during games.
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Fergie
Wrecked
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Posts: 4,911
Location: Taking up a lot of the cycle lane on a street near you!
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 7:49pm Post subject: |
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Leadership in the UK team came from Hoy and Wiggins.
Sure Roulston would have provided a valuable leader role for the NZ team.
Hopefully they will turn their short term glory into long term financial opportunities. If Nick Willis believes his Bronze medal will mean he doesn't have to work till he is 40 then with sound management I am sure Roulston and Wiggins and other Beijing medalists will profit from their efforts.
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Joel
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 7:54pm Post subject: |
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bit different with willis, he is based in the states. and track & field event.. which tends be more marketable.. IMHO
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musket
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| Posted: Sun 7th Sep 7:56pm Post subject: |
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Hoy has been trained to lead by the Programme - and facilitated to do so, by the programme. Wiggins in a similar capacity. Very much lower order leadership - through athletic ability and experience.
The programme needs to lead, and in so doing turn those riders within the programme in to winners. Some of them may even turn in to on track leaders. But still, it comes back to the programme.
The very fact that Roly was able to function and play a role in leading the team speaks volumes about the leadership in the programme - he doesn't have a reputation for that prior to Beijing.
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