Only three on the steps –Mountain bikers fight to stay five on the podium
In mountain biking, five athletes rose on the world Cup podium. There are only three this season, when they do not campaign.
Posted today at 9:05 am
Jolanda Neff is among the signatories of the letter addressed to the UCI and Warner Bros.
AFP
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- The regulations no longer provide five athletes on the podium, but only three in several disciplines of the mountain bike.
- Athletes lose significant financial advantages with this new rule.
- More than one hundred athletes have signed a letter of protest against this change.
- Nino Schurter and Lars Forster braved the ban and received a fine.
Three steps, but five athletes go up there. In cross-country as in descent, specialists have been used to this vision of a well-stocked podium for decades. A beautiful tradition based on a specific observation: the need to appear in disciplines with relatively confidential global circuits.
This sweet tradition ended in the fall, when Warner Brothers Discovery, which holds the diffusion rights of these circuits, decided to remove two people from these glorious marches. The UCI validated The new rule, which has been applied since this season. Athletes have everything to lose. In terms of motivation first. “My first podium was a fifth place. It had motivated me enormously, and I was among the three best at the next weekend, ”recalls Camille Balanche.
There is also the financial aspect. “The brands have changed the contracts, and certain prize money they assured at the top 5 are now only guaranteed at the Top 3,” added the Neuchâtel world champion in descent in 2020 and vice-champion in 2023.
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Logic. Sponsors adapt to a new paradigm. After all, the riders who finish in the fourth or in fifth place do not enjoy the same visibility as before.
The winner of a World Cup race wins 3,750 euros. 2100 euros are guaranteed in the second, while the third ensures 1250 euros. A delay of a tenth can re -turn anyone in fourth row, where there are no more “only” 800 euros at stake. And therefore, where there are only these supplements that the brands guaranteed at the top 5.
Athletes discontent
Unsurprisingly, the World Cup riders did not welcome the novelty with open arms. The two representatives of the athletes who were in the commission having validated the controversial podium, fought in vain to keep the podium as it was. Without success. The mountain bikers then wrote a protest press release.
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“Warner Brothers Discovery has only one reason to reduce the podium to three riders, compliance. Comply with the standard, other sports. A decision that has been made despite great opposition from athletes who are at the heart of this sport. We were ignored and left speechless in front of the changes in the future of our sport, ”we read a letter signed by more than a hundred athletes, including Tom Pidcock, Alessandra Keller, Nino Schurter Or Camille Balanche.
The latter does not claim that change is revolutionizing the face of its discipline. Above all, she sees the maneuver of Warner Bros and the UCI as a hard message to swallow. The mountain bikers may claim something, their opinion is completely ignored. “You can’t let everything go,” she says. There, this is something that may not be so serious, but it goes much further. ”
Schurter and Forster, on the podium despite the ban
Others hold this speech. Including Nino Schurter and Lars Forster. The two Swiss have exceeded the new rules to get on the podium of a stage of the Worlds Series in Brazil. Both received a fine of 800 francs. “It’s our podium, it’s our decision,” said Ticino on Instagram.
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Questioned by the Pinkbike specialized mediahe specifies that the action was welcome for the athletes, but not for the beneficiaries. “I can live with the fine. Because it is a manifestation that has generated a lot of attention. Such a fine will not prevent us from fighting for our interests. ”
These isolated gestures do not prevent the good holding of the tests. The UCI and Warner Bros have argued that this podium protocol update was part of a long -term strategy for sport. Obviously, their vision is opposed to that of athletes. Which do not exclude more drastic measures to share their dissatisfaction.
For example through a boycott of races? “It is complicated to unite everyone, especially since it is our profession and there are teams behind us,” recognizes Camille Balanche. No miracle solution is looming on the horizon for these athletes forced to play the balancingists. Both in the race and when champagne blows.
Rebecca Garcia is a journalist at the Tamedia sports section. Holder of a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Neuchâtel, she is particularly interested in alpine skiing, trail running and the sports economy.More info
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