I_an Throw_er

@GoldBianchiman @noeleaton awaiting some back surgery, then let me find my legs again, and we should definitely do that!!!

Sunday morning fun around the Isle, mostly mocking @ithrow1 as he’s moving to an uncivilised place…..

@Roadman_Podcast Ultimately its down to the UCI to get involved and work on a sustainable strategy with the ASO and the other key stakeholders, the UCI are doing some fantastic work in the background with worldwide cycling, but they really need to sit everybody down and discuss...

The Tour de France makes €100M+ annually. The riders get €2.3M total. And that's just the beginning of cycling's broken power structure. Here's how cycling accidentally created a feudal system: ASO (the race organizer) sits at the top of the food chain. If ASO excludes your team from the Tour de France, your sponsorship deals are worthless. The UCI is supposed to be the governing body. But they're actually below the race organizers in power. ASO literally pulled the Tour de France out of the UCI WorldTour system in 2017 when the UCI tried to assert authority. The message was clear: "We run this sport, not you." Compare this to football: FIFA controls the sport, not individual tournament organizers Teams qualify for the World Cup based on sporting merit Tournament organizers can't just exclude teams they don't like Revenue sharing is structured and transparent In cycling, it's the opposite: Race organizers control everything. ASO can exclude any team for "customs fraud or indecent appearance" (actual rule). No collective bargaining for riders. Teams beg for wildcard invitations. The power structure literally goes: Race Organizers (ASO, RCS Sport) UCI (supposed "governing body") Teams/Riders (completely dependent) National Federations (almost powerless) This creates the strangest business dynamic: The people who create the content (riders) have zero negotiating power. The people who organize the platform (ASO) capture 98% of the value. That's pro cycling! The numbers are shocking: Tour de France revenue: €100M+ Total prize money: €2.3M That's a 40:1 ratio in favor of organizers. Compare to football's World Cup: FIFA revenue (2019-2022): $7.6B Prize money: $440M That's a 17:1 ratio - still heavily favoring organizers, but far more balanced. The result? Cycling teams operate at a loss. 99% of pro cycling teams lose money annually. Riders have no job security. Sponsors get inconsistent ROI because teams can be randomly excluded. Meanwhile, ASO just announced record revenues of €550M. We do see this inequality in other areas and it always leads to conflict: App stores vs. developers (30% platform fee) Spotify vs. musicians (tiny royalty rates) Amazon vs. sellers (increasing fees, arbitrary rule changes) In cycling, riders are starting to realize: You can't negotiate individually with a monopoly. The UCI is captured by the organizers. The only path forward is collective action. Every industry with powerful platforms faces this same dynamic. The question is: Will content creators organize before platform owners capture all the value? In cycling, that organizing is about 20 years overdue.

Controversial opinion perhaps, but... is professional cycling starting to stink again???... #discuss #cycling #professionalcycling

@noeleaton Oh I know... already making sure the 'rents have @eurosport

@ithrow1 🫣

@noeleaton How rude... I take it you won't be visiting then?

Not impressed they ditnt catch @noeleaton in the Sea...

@Onderwagon You're not helping much my mate lol

I can do most repairs changes on my bike confidently and competently, so explain why changing bar tape makes me anxious, and one of the jobs I put off #answersonapostcard

@philrush74 Oh c'mon cupcake person up

Are we banned from saying 'toughen up buttercup'. 🤔

@CB_cycles Ah well be safe tonight then lol...

@ithrow1 It's tonight, I was in bed last night 🛌💤

I've got lights, battery packs and garmin on charge this evening. Which can only mean one thing..... 🌜🚴‍♂️👀 #nightride #ukcyclechat #cycling #exmouthexodus2024

24 years ago, at a Techno Parade in the year 2000, the legendary Techno Viking took to the streets of Berlin

@noeleaton Hold my beer... lol

Just when I thought things could be any more ridiculous.

Friday morning sausage roll shopping. Cycling and coffee with @ithrow1 at Hut 55

@paulbennett76 @Onderwagon @CycleNott No problem... happy to help, especially as it no longer travels to the South East

@Onderwagon @CycleNott @ithrow1 Excellent,thanks very much mate.

So 'that' has finished, but it's ok, Tour de France Femmes starts today, and La Vuelta starts in 5 days... that's me sorted...

@noeleaton Even better when you didn't pay ☺️

Sunday breakfast stop 🤩