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The new 800 lbs gorilla?
Last Post 12/14/2015 09:26 AM by Cosmic Kid. 9 Replies.
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Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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12/09/2015 06:34 PM
so Wanda Sports (a newly created group) bought WOrld Triathlon Corporation, owners of Ironman, earlier this year.

They have now set their sights on buying RCS (Giro) and ASO (le Tour and Vuelta).

Talk about a monopoly in the world of endurance sports. The guy behind Wanda Sports is reportedly the richest man in China, worth $31B. That is a lot of disposable income!

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/12/news/chinas-wang-jianlin-poised-to-become-cyclings-richest-man_390690
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
longslowdistance

Posts:2886

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12/09/2015 06:46 PM
Money talks. More races coming to China soon. Gasp, cough in the air pollution.
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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12/09/2015 08:06 PM
We'll see.

BTW - Cookson's legacy is pretty much doomed. With ASO as road block modernization of World Tour is back at square 1.
ChinookPass

Posts:809

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12/10/2015 12:51 PM
Well when you say his legacy is doomed, it might be doomed in terms of growing the sport and making lots of money for the oligarchs and euro beauraucrats who want to profit from the sport.

His other task when he took over from McQuaid was to boost the image of cycling in terms of doping. I can't tell that he's really done much here. Doping cases that take forever to resolve and where there is no clear process for dealing with them is not progress.

The fact that a chinese gazillionaire can buy his way in and use the sport as his personal toy only underscores the true status of the sport.

The biggest and most immediate challenge for the folks in charge of cycling is to somehow execute this year's tour (and perhaps other major races as well) without any ISIS-inspired incidents.
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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12/10/2015 02:26 PM
I don't think it says much about the status of cycling insomuch as it says something about the status of the world.

There are dozens of big soccer clubs in Europe with huge budgets relatively to cycling that have effectively become some Russian, Chinese or Saudi billionaires play-toy. And none of that is about making money. These clubs barely break even. What it affords them is being able to attract and pay the big stars.

Cycling, even if it managed to grow is not about to turn anyone a profit. And that's what confounds me; with owning a big soccer club like Chelsea its all about prestige. But how does cycling or tri for that matter fit in that picture? Scrawny boy Froome hardly is an image seller like Ronaldo.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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12/10/2015 10:46 PM
There is a middle class in China that is growing exponentially (oh, irony.....such a cruel mistress. A communist nation has a growing middle class and the US he a shrinking one). The appeal of owning things like Ironman and a grand tour is massive...vacations, aspiration, prestige, etc. these are very viable commodities in China.

There is also a burgeoning endurance sports community. The idea that a fellow countryman now owns these events will given them heightened visibility is the largest population in the world.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Gonzo Cyclist

Posts:568

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12/11/2015 01:12 PM
really crazy eh? This guy will basically own cycling racing all together

Heard he will be using these races to promote his interests
ChinookPass

Posts:809

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12/11/2015 02:53 PM
Hmm, may see Red Corner instead of Dutch Corner on AdH...
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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12/11/2015 03:44 PM
Good points CK - I guess the ploy is to use prestige to sell overpriced Tri and GF events to Chinese masses who now have disposable income.

In context of soccer its about being world cup competitive. We give you money to run your club; you give us soccer expertise to run academies in China.

But RCS said they have no intent to sell; and I don't see ASO go there.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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12/14/2015 09:26 AM
RCS may not have a choice....theya re in bad shape, financially.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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