Thomas Gerlach wrote:
monty wrote:
That was just the nature of the course, look at all the mens and womens splits on very low wattage. You have all the cars on one side going by moving all the air your direction, and then if you are in a top position, you have unmarshalled video crews just trying to get as close up a shot as possible.
The athletes are not to blame here, what would you have them do???
This situation can be improved by:
1) mandating that lead vehicles stay at least 400 meters up the road.
2) making media motos always shoot from behind the rider And yes Steven, I have a still shot from a previous race there where the lead car or a lead car is taking a picture of the lead rider with what appears to be a cell phone. If you are going to take a picture with a cell phone you can imagine how close they have to be to the rider. Of course to add insult to injury that lead car is a lambo or something similar.
To me this is where I think as a sport the "leaders" just get an unfair advantage and we as a sport have to accept it. Because if you want true "fairness" by what your suggesting, then the quality of the broadcasts will go WAY down. So what does that do to sponsors, what does that do to pro bonuses?
So I think we have to have a discussion on all things considering when you start talking about media only from the rear of riders or X distance in front of them.
I'll say that for ITU as well. I think at some point if we want a strong polished broadcasting product you have to "bend" on some things that you may not really want to, but you do for the "betterment" of everyone *overall*.
ETA: So if it means the camera guys are that close or no broadcast, count me in as allowing the camera guys to ride as they do. Do I think they have to ride *that* close, no, and I think they could move up more. But if your suggesting completely revamping the way they broadcast races, just be ready for the other side- no broadcasts at all if the production people said no dice to your suggestions. So as I said, I think sometimes we have to "accept" some things for the betterment of other things.
Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II