Sunday’s mail bag: Unhappy about Guido; Thanks for Vaughters

VeloNews.com welcomes your letters. If you run across something in the pagesof VeloNews magazine or see something on VeloNews.com that causes you towant to write us, drop us a line.Please include your full name and home town. By submitting mail to this address, you are consenting to the publication of your letter.

1)USA Cycling receives support (and funding) from the entire base of American racing. For some time now there has been a shift of emphasis from regional to international racing, and from regional to national centralization of control, causing some regional racing organizations to move (in anger) toward greater independence from USA Cycling and USCF. The decision (there is no objective system in place to determine who deserves to be on the team, road points, etc.) To put an Italian on the team that is supported by the grassroots of American racing undermines the continuity of the system and alienates the racing public of America.

The American system is producing fine racers and could definitely field acompetitive team. It disgraces our racing organization to go to another country for a “sprinter” to do the job. And if the sellecting coaches thinkhe will abandon a lifetime of loyalty to Italy if the race evolves into thatchoice, they are kidding themselves.

2) This ploy of taking a citizenship in a country that is weaker than your native country in a certain sport in order to be on a team is common in the Olympics: skiing, bobsledding, luge, and other sports. An Austrian races luge for Brazil or skis for Luzemborg. It is an obvious deceit. It is a joke and a mockery of the nationalistic nature of the competition, which is the emphasis of the competition in the Worlds. The selection committees should not go along with the deceit, it undermines the trust of our entire racing system in America.

David Lurie
Castro Valley, Ca

What was unclear?
Editor:
I suffered no confusion, nor did anyone else I know who read the originalstory about the “insurance muddle” (see “Friday’s letters: Clarifying McKay insurance question“). It was clear to me that the problem was with Harbour, not McKay.

Further, I do not think it is awkward to offset a phrase within a sentenceby use of dashes.

I would like to thank VeloNews for its clear, concise, and timelycoverage of this matter.

Charles Howe
Olmsted Falls, OH

Gonna miss Kevin
Sad to see Kevin Livingston retire but it was great to see the “Spirit” thathe rode with. Well done. We will miss you.

Billy Dean
Spirits of St. Louis (retired)

Thanks for JV
VeloNews;
See if you can keep this guy, Jonathan Vaughters, as a regular commentator(see “LaVuelta: Live updates from Stage 15“). He clearly knows hisstuff, and, more important, has the gift of words to be able to share it.

Thank you for your coverage all year long. Also for providing the Forum”Tech Talk”, where this rider who hasn’t raced for decades and rides primarily alone, usually commuting and often at night, a place where he can share with newer riders and learn from other experienced riders that he doesn’tmeet in everyday life.

Ben Jeffries

Ditto
Adding Vaughters’ comments to the online updates was terrific! I hope you continue with this format for the rest of the Vuelta and futureevents.
Thanks,
Dan

Collusion among Italian teams??!?!?!?
Editor;
Italian collusion in the Vuelta?? (see “La Vuelta: Collusion or miscalculation?“)

C’mon the Cutter kid figured it out in high school when the Cinzano teamtook him down.

Keep up the great mag! Lot better than reading month old Euro mags like whenwe were riding  in the five cog friction era.

Buckley
Toronto, CanadaThere’s one in every crowd
Editor;
I think one of the options for your recent pollshould be: “Only when riding my bike.”

I find it hard to believe more than 1500 people are “never without” theirhelmets. Doesn’t it get in the way while washing their hair or talking onthe phone?

Thanks,

Pat Malach
Hillsboro, OR