Newsgroup: it.sport.ciclismo
Titolo: Nicole Cooke 5° al BBC Sports Personality

Ma quello che fa discutere è lo scandaloso trattamento che ha ricevuto 
durante la trasmissione che andava ad eleggere i migliori sportivi 
britannici del 2006.
Nessun video, nessuna discussione relativa alle sue imprese...solo una 
stupida intervista in cui le chiedono se cade spesso da bici? Ma è 
idiota l'intervistatore? Che cacchio di domanda fa alla numero uno al 
mondo, ad un'atleta che ha portato la Gran Britannia ai vertici mondiali 
del ciclismo? Questo è rispetto?
Giustamente sono giunti numerosissimi messaggi di protesta alla 
redazione della BBC...
Ovunque si discute di questo gravissimo episodio nei confronti di Super 
Nicole. Il popolo è con lei :-) Vai Nicki!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sporteditors/2006/12/the_morning_after_the_night_be_1.html
http://www.veloriders.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=47815&start=0
Ecco alcuni commenti...
Nicole Cooke - a Welsh woman who rides 400 miles a week through rain, 
heat, wind, in constant danger of crashes, sacrifices a social life, has 
a strict diet, rests when she's not training or racing, or travelling to 
an event. One of Britain's champions - in every sense of the word, and a 
woman that should be held up as an example to children (girls 
especially) of determination and courage. Gets 30secs with a patronising 
and clearly unresearched Adrian Chiles, with not even the courtesy of an 
invitation to the stage ?
Care to expand on the treatment given to certain nominees over others. 
The biggest highlights of this, nicole cooke (if i was her i wouldn't 
attend the show again) being interviewed in her seat. Worse still being 
asked about FALLING OFF, great way to highlight her acheivements, the 
best female cyclist in the world, do u fall off a lot?
I thought the BBC were less than even handed in how they treated the 
nominees, in particular the almost complete ignoring of Phil Taylor and 
Nicole Cooke. In particular the interview with Nicole Cooke was an 
embarrassment that showed a complete lack of respect for the 
determination and ability of a world champion in what is a major 
international sport. Why didn't Cooke or Taylor get a glossy resume of 
their achievements like the others?
Roger, I just wanted to add my voice to the complaints about Adrian 
Chiles's interview with Nicole Cooke. This is a woman who won cycling's 
toughest race this year and has become world number one, a feat never 
achieved before by a British sportswoman. I think she should have won 
the overall award, but leaving that issue aside, what on earth was 
Adrian thinking with his astonishingly patronising interview? It was 
demeaning to cycling, which, whether you enjoy it or not, is clearly one 
of the world's most physically demanding sports. And the whole have you 
got scabby legs thing was just good old fashioned sexism. Would he have 
asked Lance Armstrong whether he falls off a lot?
What a very slanted "Sports Personality of the Year" that was!
Zara Phillips - had a long film clip dedicated to her in prime voting 
time + an interview + extensive trails on BBC in the days before - even 
on the news!!
In contrast Nicole Cooke had no film clip - only a patronizing interview 
late in the show. Even worse no one actually said what her achievements 
were this year. Perhaps this was because that would have taken so much 
longer than Zara Phillips acievements! For the BBCs information - medals 
in the Commenwealth Games and the World Road Race Championships, winner 
of the womans Tour de France and winner of the cyclist World Cup. Just 
ask Hugh Porter for the others.
Instead of asking her about her grazed knees why couldn't the 
interviewer have asked her about her stirring victory up Mount Ventoux - 
a mountain which has so much meaning to British sport since Tommy 
Simpsons tragedy there.
The BBC owes Nicole Cooke a full and public apology for the shameful way 
she was treated on the programme. May I remind the sports editors that 
cycling is currently one of our most successful sports on the 
international stage and should be treated as such. Some of the so-called 
"major" sports would be overjoyed to have a fraction of cycling's 
success. Instead, we get lack-lustre and very sub-standard performances 
lauded as being the best. Farcical!
What really is your problem with cycling? Could it be that the BBC 
remembers the Tom Simpson story from the 60's and is determined to 
ensure that it never happens to them again?
If I was Nicole Cooke I would'nt dream of setting foot in the place 
again. What a charade; it's a disgrace that such a distinguished 
sportswoman was treated so shoddilly. Do you fall off? ha ha ha. No 
proper mention of her wins this year, no video, farcical interview. A 
token effort and an utter, utter shambles.
etc...
-- 
http://modesta.biciticino.ch
Il sito dedicato alla giovane ciclista lituana Modesta Vzesniauskaite

 achieved before by a British sportswoman.
It's quite questionable if Grande Boucle is the world's hardest race, of
course they must be speaking of Grande Boucle, but the idiot speaking here
doesn't realize the tour has been shortened to 6 stages from 18 from the
pass, doesn't contain anywhere near as many hard mountain stages as in the
past, and he also probably I am sure, fails to realize that Nicole didn't
race against one single well known top pro ranked rider in the tour this
year, nevermind Joanne or Liz, have to check to see if Doppman was there but
I am talking the likes of Brandli and crew, but back to my point, the Grande
Boucle can hardly be said to be much harder then the Tour De Toona or the
Gila for that matter, so he should get his facts straight before doing
tabloid stuff like this, it's more hyperbull then fact.
B-

 It's quite questionable ...
Gee, how could you manage not to mention Faby even once, while talking
about Le Tour?
Did I miss something, perhaps?
Sergio
Pisa

 wrote in message
news:1166127037....@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
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I should of said, Faby and crew, but Luperini was racing in the Giro during
the Grande Boucle. I can't hardly imagine that she would leave her beloved
Giro to go race in Europe. That would be sacralidge.
Any sightings of Faby?
B-

 Any sightings of Faby?
Not of late
Sergio
Pisa

 Nicole. Il popolo è con lei :-) Vai Nicki!!!
The problem also is that Nicole is not a sexy rider like Modesta. If Modesta
was riding and winning as much as Cooke these last few years, Modesta star
power would be the equal of which we have never encountered, someone like
the status of a pop Icon, or rock superstar. Leontien was incredibly sexy,
being offered 100,000 dollars to be exposed in Penthouse magazine, and she
didn't do it after a lot of complaining by her father, but Leontien
introduced lipstick and fingernail polish into the peleton, and was not only
a sex idol, but a class rider the likes never seen with more gold medals
then any cyclist every in history at the Olympic games in Australia. Back
home in Holland, fans flocked to Leontien when she got off the airplane
after breaking the world record in Mexico City, mass hysteria at the airport
on her return, and Leontion status in Holland is like that of a rock
superstar or certainly one of the greatest sports idols ever in history for
the Dutch. For crying out loud, they even erected a statue in her hometown
while she is yet still alive. Leontien played her cards well, and is of date
the richest and most successful female cyclist of all times in the terms of
how she converted her market value, her cycling success, into dollars or
Euros. Her manager husband was brillant at not only getting her into form to
win, but marketing her good looks as well with more modeling contracts then
you can possibly imagine.
I am afraid poor Nicole is at a loss in this respect, and while she is
successful in her cycling career, its not enough to become a superstar in
the eyes of the public like Leontien was, or anything even remotely close I
am afraid, but her palmares rest on their own merits, no one can take that
away. However, if she really wants to get people looking, she needs to win
both the worlds and the Olympic games. :-)
B-

"GoneBeforeMyTime" <Fa...@EuroForums.com> wrote in message
news:1_CdnfszhZ84ThzY...@sti.net...
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You should know that today, Cooke gets by far more press then any rider
probably in the whole history of the sport, outside of Leontien in Holland.
If you seach the BBC, you will see at least 40 articles on Cooke since 2004.
That's an incredible amount of attention, so I don't know what all the fuss
is about? How much more press do you want? I doubt that Luperini got that
much press during the grandest years ever of both the Giro De Feminin and
the Grande Boucle, 95, 96, 97, 98.
B-

 past...
Oh yeah, and what about all the other great achievements. Why do you 
only see negative things about Nicole?
Should I say again that Nicole is world number one (and this alone means 
a lot), she won (dominated) the World Cup. She is the best all-round out 
there, being able to win one day races (like the classics...Fléche 
Wallone...), TT (this year she won the Magali Pache TT, one of the most 
important TT of the season), stage races (Grande Boucle AND 
Thüringen-Rundfahrt, one of the most demanding and important race of the 
year...she didn't simply win this race, she literally dominated it 
winning 4 stages (including an other TT)...and here most of the best 
riders were present...so don't even try telling us that it wasn't an 
important and difficult race).
She rode an incredible race at Commonwealth Games, being able to win the 
bronze medal all alone against 6 Aussies, 6 Canadians, 6 Kiwis, 
etc...one of the best race in her life.
She was able to win the bronze medal in Salzburg, again all alone 
against the world.
Well, everyone should agree that she had an incredible, wonderful, 
fantabulous season.
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 fantabulous season.
Let be it.
Amen.
Sergio
Pisa

 then any cyclist every in history at the Olympic games in Australia. 
I just don't see all of these "problems". Why do you have to compare her 
with other riders? Nicole is Nicole, a supernatural rider gifted with an 
incredible physical and mental strength. A girl who really has a great 
passion for cycling...can't you see that bright light in her eyes? It's 
always a great pleasure seeing her racing and also watching her before 
and after a race...enjoying the atmosphere that surrounds a cycling event.
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 fantabulous season.
My Goodness, you are taking this much too seriously.
She had a great season, everyone could agree she did, but that doesn't mean
they automatically love her here,  they don't, or much less want to talk
about her here, as this is not the British forum, but an Italian one. I
haven't even posted anywhere near the amount about Luperini as you have
about Cooke, and even the Italians can only stand so much news about
Luperini too I am sure, but so far they have been quite tolerant with my
posts about the little Pantaniana. :-)
Chill,
It's only cycling entertainment, but I admit, at times I have been like a
prankster at Halloween, but I suppose I was just trying to curve your
obession with Cooke in this forum. But could you even for one minute imagine
what would happen if I came into this forum and started saying bad things
about Luperini? You have made Cooke a target by others in the past, so all I
do is try to throttle back all of these Cooke rants by being objective and
playing Devil's abvocate at times, but I have never been vile or vulgar
about dear Nicole :-)
Chill, and have a nice day! :-))
B-

 and after a race...enjoying the atmosphere that surrounds a cycling event.
I can't argue with her success, but it's worth mentioning that half of
Leontien tremendous success and market value came from bringing glamour into
women's cycling, and her modeling contracts, and numerous other adventures
help greatly to bring women's cycling into the limelight. The comparisions
are important, as much as comparing the success of Super Mario and how he
exploited the limelight to be internationally famous. Cooke has been very
successful in cycling and she seems to at times to have a nice smile and
pleasant demeanor, but I am simply mentioning that being naturally gifted
with good looks and star power doesn't just happen automatically because
some one is winning everything in sight, as we know in Armstrong's case, but
that riders like Modesta who have almost no career wins to speak of, have
made up tremendous ground in the eyes of the public just by sheer good looks
alone, and it's just my point that when those two elements combined come
together then you get something of incredibly extraordinary star power that
sweeps the whole world, in all the papers and magazines the world over, and
Leontien did that. Cooke I am afraid will have to settle for her race wins
alone, and her smile, because she seems to be more the Tomboy manly type.
Just yesterday I must of saw over a hundred photos of Nicole trapseing
through BBC articles, and while she is not ugly, she is not the glamourous
sexy model type either, and that's all the point I am making. IF SHE WAS,
THEN MORE THEN LIKELY, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT EVERYONE IN THIS GROUP WOULD SIT
UP AND TAKE NOTICE, but it won't happen just because she is number one on
paper and you post here constantly about Cooke.
But if she is happy with her success, then that is all that matters, and for
the rest of us, we can engage in critcal debate if we so choose, it is after
all a place to talk about all things related to cycling, but should be
nationally (specific) to this national forum if you wake up and see the same
name plastered on the group every morning! :-)
As for Luperini, I don't wish she was glamorous at all. She is who she is,
bless her heart! She is modest, and while I do wish she was paid as much or
more then Leontien for all her tremendous exploits, that's the way the
cycling world is, and obviously she hasn't done it for fame or money. I
compare Luperini to Sea Biscuit where she rode her heart out for five years,
and burning the candle at both ends wouldn't even be adequate words to
express the incredible feats she has accomplished in just five special years
in the mid 90's. And while, she hasn't earned anywhere near what she
deserves, and isn't a glamourous model, she will be remembered as the
greatest climber that even lived, and that's worth more then all the money
and fame in the world.
B-
ps-Since Cooke has moved near you, I expect the obsession will continue, but
not to worry, my rebuffs are mild, nothing compared to American forums, but
I usually skip most of the Cooke posts. I don't really have much to say
about Cooke, because you already do a good job of that. I can't imagine if
we both plastered this group with Cooke posts, I think we would really be in
trouble then, but my interests are usually the Little Pantaniana! :-)

 only see negative things about Nicole?
But really to sum up, if Cooke does break ground as an international
superstar, she might have to do it with her sheer domination of the sport.
She won't do it with her looks, and so far, not that she hasn't suffered
some hardships, but there hasn't been any special circumstances, trials or
tribulations of her career that has really won over the hearts and minds of
the fans worldwide, only that everyone knows she is winning. Maybe the
Worlds or Olympics might do the trick, I don't know, but if the past is any
indication, she hasn't fascinated the fans of world yet on a grand scale. I
just know from all the stories and cyclists I have researched, the most
fascinating and compelling life story I have come across is that of Andrea
Ratkovic, a much lesser known rider, and her story is one, which if she was
well known in the cycling world like Cooke, surely this is the kind of rider
that the public would have fallen in love with in the past. She is what real
heroes are made of, and while Luperini is of course is my favorite of all
times, Ratkovic's story is one worth telling, it was an incredible journey,
the two weeks I spent with her. :-)
B-

 Why do you also see negative things about Luperini?
I don't remember having said bad things about Fabiana...perhaps, I could 
only say bad things about doped riders...not about riders I don't like.
I simply don't know many things about her and I simply prefer other 
riders...but I respect what you say about her.
What has Nicole to do with Italy?
Well, she likes Italy, Italian Pizza, Italian ice cream :-)
She speaks Italian very well, she rode for an Italian team and now she 
lives in the Italian area of Switzerland...10 km from Italy.
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