I Disagree...

How Lance Armstrong's decision to race the Gila unintentionally hurt Team BMC.

I'm starting to sound like the biggest Lance apologist on the planet but really it's not that way. I just simply don't agree with a lot of the stuff that seems to be floating through the tiny little world of domestic professional cycling.

In the above article the guy presents his theory that by the Astana boys racing at Gila they are hurting domestic cycling, specifically team BMC, rather than helping. BMC is an odd case because they fall under the category of "Pro Continental" which isn't the same as Astana who are "Pro Tour," but really the important part is essentially the "Pro." Unfortunately in professional cycling there are lots of ways to be a pro, and just as many weird quarky qualifications that go along with them. For example, I have some buddies who are professional cyclists. However, they have never applied for their "pro" licenses because as American bike racers if they stay as category 1 racers they can race in smaller, regional or local races with smaller fields and a better chance at earning prize money. On the same note they can race in the tour of the Gila if they wanted because the field is Pro/1/2. Confusing? Yeah, I know.

The problem with the professional classification of "Tour" over "Continental" is a bit larger and different than being a pro or a 1. As a continental team BMC is at the upper crust of US cycling and it allows them to gain wild card entrance into races in Europe that aren't really options for other domestic teams like a Kelly Benefits. But, because of their status, this rule that was enforced because of the even higher profile riders of Astana essentially effects BMC for the rest of the year. Is it unfortunate that five BMC riders got sent home because of this rule? Yeah, for sure. Is it Astana's and more specifically Lance's fault? Not even close!

First, I should point out, this rule is stupid! If you read the article above the guy does a good job of trying to point out what the rule is intended to do, in Europe. Unfortunately, it's a one size fits all that reaches across the pond to America, where it doesn't really fit. However, whether the rule is stupid or not, it's there and until they change it, a team in the position of BMC should be aware that this could happen and weigh the benefits of racing Paris-Roubaix and being a non factor versus having a legitimate shot at winning races domestically like the Tour of Utah, which they did last year, but might not be able to enter with a full squad now. Just because the rule was never enforced before now doesn't make it a responsible decision for team management to ignore in hopes of having their cake and eating it too.

That article wags it's finger at Lance for pushing some domestic guys out of the Gila because he wanted to come train/race. What it should have done was point the finger at both BMC team management for trying to sneak under the radar as well as the magic person with a pen who makes these rules and demand there be exceptions based on various countries where races are being held.

The part about the rule that doesn't make any sense to me is why through the enforcement the rest of the BMC guys actually went home? I'm sure there are plenty of bike shops around the country that would have gladly express mailed 3 team kits to these guys so they could race and their shop could get some face time. And, BMC has the budget to front the entrance fee, and in reality it's not like anybody is suddenly confused and forgets that Scott Nydam doesn't actually ride for "Gila Hike and Bike" but for BMC. Those guys could have raced as individuals just like the three from Astana and BMC are currently doing. Maybe they would have ended up working together, but different teams help each other out all the time. B Sample Racing would have certainly kicked in some free kits, had we known they needed them, or actually had free kits to send. They're more than welcome to wear mine, I wash them regularly enough!