I'm going to put on my marketing hat:
As a marketing executive I want to segment the market. You represent a very small, highly involved user group. I find that you have a well developed opinion that would be difficult to change. You expect my product to deliver results. This is great for Trek and Shimano but the real money comes from USPS/Disco, Nike and Oakley.
Disco, Nike, Oakley, Bissil executives have the big money. They want to make impressions on a much larger market segment. Let's call this segment "the I own a bike and ride it 10 times a year". This I own a bike group is big and only knows about the TDF. So if you are an American cycling team and want to attract the big money sponsors you need to win the TDF. If you can win the TDF you won't get the media coverage and you won't get the sponsor dollars.
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As a marketing executive I want to segment the market. You represent a very small, highly involved user group. I find that you have a well developed opinion that would be difficult to change. You expect my product to deliver results. This is great for Trek and Shimano but the real money comes from USPS/Disco, Nike and Oakley.
Disco, Nike, Oakley, Bissil executives have the big money. They want to make impressions on a much larger market segment. Let's call this segment "the I own a bike and ride it 10 times a year". This I own a bike group is big and only knows about the TDF. So if you are an American cycling team and want to attract the big money sponsors you need to win the TDF. If you can win the TDF you won't get the media coverage and you won't get the sponsor dollars.
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