From our tarmac brethren at Road.cc
Veteran cycling commentator Phil Liggett has risked the wrath of BMX and mountain biking fans by suggesting that those events should not be at the Olympics.
Speaking to the Australian newspaper the Herald Sun, Liggett criticised changes to the track programme introduced by the IOC and UCI that result in five events in the Velodrome for both men and women, with the individual pursuit one of those to be ditched: “It is absolutely disgraceful what they have done,” he said. “They have devastated the track with the new events and taking out the iconic events of the Olympics,” Liggett said.
“They have taken out the exciting and interesting events – the individual pursuit, the 1km time trial and the women’s 500m time trial, and put in an omnium that no one will ever understand. There is only one rider from each country in the omnium and they are a jack of all trades and master of none.”
“Nations and riders complained, but the UCI wanted equality. They got that but they also took out women’s events. They introduced BMX. Great, but I am sure [Olympics founder] Pierre de Coubertin would have laughed his head off if he found out it was an Olympic discipline.
“It might be exciting but we are talking the Olympic Games. We have never had a good mountain biking event. Thousands will watch them but they are not Olympic gold medal events.
“They weren’t meant to be in the Olympic Games.”
Singletrack Says..
Regardless of opinion on how watchable XC mountain bike racing is, that’s still a bit of a silly way to express frustration at the removal of some of the most exciting track events from the Olympics (see Phil, we actually agree with you on this). The decision to drop some track events was taken jointly by the IOC and UCI. Turning inwards and annoying thousands of mountain bikers and BMXers by suggesting their inclusion in the Olympics is a joke is about the worst way of tackling a problem brought on by poor choices made by the IOC and UCI and does nothing for general uplift in interest in cycling in the UK that we are experiencing right now. It’s also extremely insulting to the riders and coaches who have worked so hard to be at these games from both disciplines. And as for the ‘They weren’t meant to be in the Olympic Games.’ it’s barely worth the time to point out how daft that statement really is.
We understand the sentiment Phil, but you’ve expressed it very badly.
What do you guys think?
The issue with MTB and BMX is that if they are trying to attract a younger audience, the wrong events are included. For BMX it should be a judged event and for MTB D/H.
The biggest disgrace about the reduction of track events is that the host city is still required to build an expensive velodrome which, unless it is a country with a track tradition such as Aus or UK will be redundant post games (e.g. Athens).
Well said STW.
Ill considered comments borne out of frustration clearly, very disappointing he made them. He seems to have forgotten Shanaze Reade competes at the highest level in BMX AND Track cycling disciplines, as have others, which makes his comments seem even more silly.
+1 for more cycling in general, would love to see Olympic DH racing. DH skiing has been in for decades, surely MTB DH is a matter of time.
d45yth, you said:
“Sports that require the competitor to use minimal equipment, which doesn’t have any kind of advantage over what other competitors are using. That way you’re seeing the true skill/fitness of those at the top of their game.”
BMX and track bikes are really as simple as bikes get??
Perhaps we should drop the whole thing and spend this money we did not have on several hospitals that won’t be owned by some greedy corrupt private companies who will bleed the country even drier than it already is.
THIS BEING AN AGE OF AUSTERITY AND ALL!
No track events were dropped in 1996 when MTB was introduced. Faster, stronger, higher is the Olympic motto. Sounds like BMX fits the bill rather well compared to some of the other cycling disciplines.
Disappointing Philip! – reasonably sure Chris Hoy…sorry…Sir Chris Hoy would not agree re: BMX.
Boarder and Snow Cross have shown us the way at the winter games. Side by side BMX is the way to go, just build bigger courses with bigger spectator stands, you’ll sell a lot of tickets.
Cutting track cycling was daft for sure but don’t try and hurt other sections of the sport.
Yep, agreed.
I’d also like to recommend we never hear Hugh Porter commentating again! Chris Boardman managed to talk about cycling without numerous pointless cliches.