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Enlarge textIt's easy to get angry when an Australian cyclist who has done so much
to promote himself and his sport, is shown the door just before the
Tour de France gets underway.
Quickstep's Allan Davis winning the Tour Down Under (Getty)
- 20 Comments | Join the discussion
It's easy to get angry when an Australian cyclist who has done so much
to promote himself and his sport, is shown the door just before the
Tour de France gets underway.
I deeply feel for Alan Davis at this time, as do all Australian cycling supporters I'm sure.
Here's a man who leaves Monaco with distinction.
He's taken the blow of omission like a true champion but understandably was devastated when we spoke with him in his hotel room minutes after the announcement that Tom Boonen was cleared to ride the Tour.
So why wasn't "Alby" included, given his pedigree and strong results this year?
Few will say it publicly, but I feel politics has played a big role in his being sent home.
Had Davis been born a Belgian national he would have been the first rider picked for the Belgian-registered Quickstep team.
The fact of the matter is he's a proud Australian lost in a strong Belgian-bred environment.
Alby's non-appearance comes in the wake of Simon Gerrans surprising non-selection from the Cervelo roster last week.
The omission has re-ignited calls of an Australian team appearing on the roads of Europe and the Tour de France.
Will it ever happen? I'd sincerely like to think so.
The
formation of an Aussie squad has been talked about for almost a decade,
and I'm starting to think it may take a little longer still.
The
current economic downturn doesn't help matters, and until the Euro
cycling television scene extends to more than just a few races on
Australian television, I feel an Aussie backer may baulk at the idea
for several years to come, at least.
Alby will live to fight another day, I'm sure as he now has ambitions to silence his critics at the Vuelta and World Championships in September.
But this is another arrow in the heart of a rider who is well-liked and more importantly well-respected by his peers.
Chin up Alby, you'll bounce back and remember the Aussie cycling community is right behind you all the way.
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Comments (20)
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06 Jul 2009 15:09 AEST
From: Melbourne
--
Gee, I didn't mean to put my point on seven occasions, although, if a sponsor sees it, maybe the replication has worked
06 Jul 2009 15:01 AEST
From: melbourne
--
yes, sell the F1 to chicago and put the savings into an aussie team TEAM TAB and leave poirot to promote the belgiums... you can bet on that and have your bike too, when GMH and FORD implode, we'll all be on two wheels , a nation in lycra ... CADEL of THE OVERFLOW leads a new generation of snowy RIVER RIDERS. viva o'grady et al !!!
06 Jul 2009 10:35 AEST
From: Melbourne
--
Well do alby and simon reside in europe ? sometimes it's about whether a rider is prepared to relocate to europe. If an aussie team were to form, there is no bet that they would all be aussies, just as the European riders are a mixed bunch. There would need to be a very high profile sponsor for starters. Like who would put up millions of bucks for a team to train 12 months of the year ? I guess I could name a few sponsors, but are they interested in bikes ? It's mainly about football in aussie land, unfortunately. But hey, visy would be generous, if someone is watching and prepared to approach them.
06 Jul 2009 10:33 AEST
From: Melbourne
--
Well do alby and simon reside in europe ? sometimes it's about whether a rider is prepared to relocate to europe. If an aussie team were to form, there is no bet that they would all be aussies, just as the European riders are a mixed bunch. There would need to be a very high profile sponsor for starters. Like who would put up millions of bucks for a team to train 12 months of the year ? I guess I could name a few sponsors, but are they interested in bikes ? It's mainly about football in aussie land, unfortunately. But hey, visy would be generous, if someone is watching and prepared to approach them.
06 Jul 2009 10:32 AEST
From: Melbourne
--
Well do alby and simon reside in europe ? sometimes it's about whether a rider is prepared to relocate to europe. If an aussie team were to form, there is no bet that they would all be aussies, just as the European riders are a mixed bunch. There would need to be a very high profile sponsor for starters. Like who would put up millions of bucks for a team to train 12 months of the year ? I guess I could name a few sponsors, but are they interested in bikes ? It's mainly about football in aussie land, unfortunately. But hey, visy would be generous, if someone is watching and prepared to approach them.
06 Jul 2009 10:32 AEST
From: Melbourne
--
Well do alby and simon reside in europe ? sometimes it's about whether a rider is prepared to relocate to europe. If an aussie team were to form, there is no bet that they would all be aussies, just as the European riders are a mixed bunch. There would need to be a very high profile sponsor for starters. Like who would put up millions of bucks for a team to train 12 months of the year ? I guess I could name a few sponsors, but are they interested in bikes ? It's mainly about football in aussie land, unfortunately. But hey, visy would be generous, if someone is watching and prepared to approach them.
06 Jul 2009 10:31 AEST
From: Melbourne
--
Well do alby and simon reside in europe ? sometimes it's about whether a rider is prepared to relocate to europe. If an aussie team were to form, there is no bet that they would all be aussies, just as the European riders are a mixed bunch. There would need to be a very high profile sponsor for starters. Like who would put up millions of bucks for a team to train 12 months of the year ? I guess I could name a few sponsors, but are they interested in bikes ? It's mainly about football in aussie land, unfortunately. But hey, visy would be generous, if someone is watching and prepared to approach them.
06 Jul 2009 10:31 AEST
From: Melbourne
--
Well do alby and simon reside in europe ? sometimes it's about whether a rider is prepared to relocate to europe. If an aussie team were to form, there is no bet that they would all be aussies, just as the European riders are a mixed bunch. There would need to be a very high profile sponsor for starters. Like who would put up millions of bucks for a team to train 12 months of the year ? I guess I could name a few sponsors, but are they interested in bikes ? It's mainly about football in aussie land, unfortunately. But hey, visy would be generous, if someone is watching and prepared to approach them.
06 Jul 2009 10:31 AEST
From: Melbourne
--
Well do alby and simon reside in europe ? sometimes it's about whether a rider is prepared to relocate to europe. If an aussie team were to form, there is no bet that they would all be aussies, just as the European riders are a mixed bunch. There would need to be a very high profile sponsor for starters. Like who would put up millions of bucks for a team to train 12 months of the year ? I guess I could name a few sponsors, but are they interested in bikes ? It's mainly about football in aussie land, unfortunately. But hey, visy would be generous, if someone is watching and prepared to approach them.
06 Jul 2009 8:11 AEST
From: randwick
--
jeeez Tomo-laris- or should i say 'mr parochial'. what a sensationalist tabloid beatup... Australia only has 20 million people- a national team at this point in history is not quite realistic. Rabobank manage it but here in OZ cycling is a minority sport...our talent pool is not nearly big enough from which to select a cohesive unit. We would need 4 times as many pro's to begin such a project- just being 'aussie' won't help riders meld into a team
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