Criticism on the Internet sells well, especially so vulnerable to PZKOL. So we went with the mission to see the Polish Cross-Country Cycling Championships to Koziegłów. The goal was simple: an entry about what is wrong, because the Internet has been setting us up for a month more or less. Today, the day after the visit to Częstochowa, I am not sure what to say - feelings are mixed as rarely. On the one hand, I can post a picture of dozens of fans on Facebook, set on the most interesting parts of the route and most importantly - cheering and enthusiastic. I can then add that it was great, the population was good, everything was great and you can regret it. On the other hand, I can also put a photo of an empty route and describe it as: PZKOL, as usual, gave the body and cycling interested in nobody. Both photos would surely spread well on the internet. You would probably believe in both, because as usual, you were not there. Paradoxically, both photos would also be true. On the route of fans who came only to cheer, there were very few.
So where is the crowd from?
There were 200 players, trainers, people from equipment, sometimes a friend or family member, judges, organizers, security people, dignitaries. The plunger appeared by force. The people standing by the route were not the supporters who came to look at the competition. They were people, closer or more connected with these professions.
So let's think about it, this time it's creative, without the form of biting and setting on the pillory, why it is. I do not know about professional cycling, let alone organization, so it's easy for me to point out mistakes. However, I am writing a text from the perspective of a person who is interested in this sport, and despite the mess that has been around for some time, I care about him. Here are 10 problems that are worth taking a while:
1. Location 1/10
I know that Kozieglowy is the mecca of Polish cross-country cycling. Similarly with the rest like Strzelce Krajeńskie, in which the championships will be held next year. Legend, tradition, cradle - he called as he called. Poland is a beautiful country, even in the winter there are places where it is nice. Probably now you are waiting for the moment when I will write that Koziegłowy is not like that. Well: I do not know. From yesterday, Koziegłowy will be associated only with the fast road and smog flying from the surrounding chimneys.
How can you choose a route that is 10 meters from one of the busiest streets in the country? How can you place the whole competition in a place where there is nothing? Is it difficult to find an interesting park in the city center, set up tents somewhere next to the market or any civilization in which a frozen fan can drink warm tea and eat cake during the 6-hour freezing? That cheaper, will you say? We're talking about a town that has less than 2,500 inhabitants! That Sunday and everything will be closed? If the owner of a café in such a town is warned that he will have 500 frozen people at the door on Sunday, he will probably open it.
After all, such competitions are an ideal way to promote a city or even a region. Pictures, relations, television, stories - the name of the village will scroll through the media hundreds of times.
I'm not talking about looking for a place where anything is interesting. Something about what we could say: good, if we want to see the race there on Sunday, let's go on a Saturday and see what is in the area. Hotels will be happy, also tourist attractions. PROMOTION.
I see here the argument: but great - competition on the road, center of Poland, excellent access. Well, maybe you would be right, but only for players who come with team buses and cars. We thought that we would make an extreme trip and we would come by PKP and PKS connection. Panda has already bought eggs and ingredients for chops to the train, I started searching for connections from the capital. Google Maps did not find anything. There were only some private, local carriers left - if we're late for one of the very rare connections, we'll freeze at the stop to death.
Is it really hard to find a place where someone can reach with communication? In my opinion, with all respect for Koziegłów, the location is terrible - both in terms of the route and the whole event.
2. Promotion 1/10
I know that the Polish Cycling Association now has more serious expenses, but a little promotion would come in handy. For what? For decency, the promotion will not attract anyone anyway.
Yes, now is the moment of indignation. Ask yourself and your friends now one very important question: Did you know about the party? and If you knew, would you come to her? I will tell you an uncertainty: no. Once I believed in the fans, I stopped when I decided to organize a trip to (apparently) one of the best cross-country events in the country - to Katowice. I took an obscenely cheap bus and a full organization. The trip came in addition to friends, with whom I came up with this idea, several people. Because it's Sunday, because you have to get up early because I have things to do, because something.
Here it would be the same - I do not believe in random fans, and most of them get advertisements. Lokalsi they knew about the party anyway.
I know that a few thousand, despite millions of debts, probably a serious expense, but it falls out, just for decency. Mainly to close all criticism, directed at the greatest weakness. One or two ads somewhere in a bicycle magazine, two on cycling internet portals, a well-done event on the Internet - really, little is needed. The basis is a poster from which all Poland will not laugh (or at least one without mistakes in style 13th of January).
3. Route 7/10
A friend once organized a cross-country race on the plot (here is our movie from this event). Of course, it was not a route that would get any approvals, but it clearly shows that it takes little. Exactly it's shovels, a few boards, many meters of tape and hands willing to work. I am a typical, malicious fan - I say it loud. My idea of the route is certainly different from how you would like to see it and what the referees would allow.
I, in turn, have accusations to the route - there was not one epic moment. The one from which the contestants would like to take sand with their blood to jars as a souvenir. Such that I would come and say: but how are they going to enter?
We all know that the harder you are, the better you look. I do not wish any harm to anyone, but dump trucks and unhappiness are good. I like when there is a hill under which it is hard to run, a section of sand that the headwaters will fly by, and those in the back will fight for life, etc. In Koziegłowy the route was good - both for me and the players. Points from which you can see large parts of the route, famous streamers, well-marked passage, some hops, some light uphill, stairs and stuff. I have nothing to complain about here, it was easy to transport between the most important places.
3. Facilities 7/10
Despite the hopeless location, the logistics facilities were ok. It is winter, it must be cold in the winter. We stood in the cold for 6 hours. Despite magical clothes from the 21st century, it is still not enough layers for man from the city. Feet and hands thawed, at work no one wants to sit next to me, because they say that he is pulling cold. I have the impression that I am pregnant with the White Wanderers from Game of Thrones. Here is a huge plus for the organizers that both the start and the decoration took place next to the open school in which the heaters operate. When the crisis comes, you can hide in it.
In addition, tents with hot drinks, hamburgers and hot dogs straight from the station - nothing more is needed. Of course, it would be nice to see some tents of bicycle companies here (there were two with tacks, there are always suples, everywhere), some exhibitions and stuff, but I understand. It is winter, sellers will freeze and sell, and so there is no one. There will be people, there will be vendors - it probably works this way.
4. Decoration: 8/10 for the organizer, 2/10 for the participants
The decoration of the players is always the awkward moment in which each of the important people at the party has to go out to the center, smile, thank and hand the box with the bonbonnier. There is nothing wrong with this, each of the organizers and sponsors of this unpopular event should be a moment. Particularly, to secure the route, the police, firemen and all sorts of order services, we must admit thunderous applause. In the afternoon, it was cruelly cold, but everything went exceptionally well.
Embarrassing is the fact that the Polish Championships for Junior are not classified. I do not know who is responsible for it: PZKOL, UCI, organizer or someone else - I'm not interested in it. It's not allowed.
Even more embarrassing is the fact that there is always a fraction of people waiting for decorations, which are taking part in the event. I wrote about it by the way championships on the track in Pruszków. Why do you demand that people come to look at you in the cold, if you do not want to cheer on competition? I know that fatigue, cold and it is exposure to a potential disease, but really - SO SHOULD. The situation in which the Polish Champion of the Elite category becomes quite nice and receives the shirt from the hands of the President of the Polish Cycling Association by a handful of people is unpleasant. Especially if you remember how many of these people were an hour earlier. Dear players, you behave the same way as the fans who sit at home on the couch and are indignant that no one comes to cheer.
I think that the Polish Champion's t-shirt should be a passer-by like the crown of Miss Poloni - it should be given by the outgoing champion
A large estimate for fireworks and confetti after the elite decoration. A bit poor, but they are still fireworks and a teddy bear for our time. It's nothing, it's nice. Probably, you will not know about them, because hardly anyone has seen them. This is a step in the right direction. I have always envied the Americans for their night cycling criteria, during which they fire with fireworks.
Despite very unfavorable conditions, applause should be considered decorations (and I remind you that during too).
5. Atmosphere 7/10
Let's be honest, everything is void if it adds atmosphere and humor. It's not bad - fans for such a short route is enough. Everyone knows everyone, and if not, everyone knows someone who knows that someone. The craze is made of boards crumbling in pans, a hammer into a pot, and making machines trrrrrrr, trumpets, overtired throats, which will not work on Monday and a general, pleasant atmosphere. I think that if there were still dozens of people who would come only for the purpose of cheering - one could say that it is great.
The fact that the majority of supporters are somehow related to the starters, adds some verve and at times is actually loud.
Do you know why Zuzia did not get a new pimple? Because he did not find a place for himself. Similarly with outfits and sponsors
I do not want to offend anyone, but the best climate for me are club cars, which are the best years have passed, coaches, which sometimes could be divided in half, colorful sports tracksuits and lightly backed clothes, where the sponsors take 90% of the space. And it's not those sponsors who have the largest production lines in the country, but rather those who kill chickens, produce gutters, etc. It reminds all these stories of 6-hour high-speed training with continuous method, for the trainer in the pouring Polonez, according to the maxim that weakness must take place, and the strong must survive. Maxim, who has already killed many young talents.
And reactions at the finish line. I grant the award for the best emotions of the year in Elite women. Tears, hugs, congratulations, disbelief, shock - reactions that you want to see at the finish line. Reactions that are not present in Elite men, when Marek Konwa wins for the sixth time in a row. It's something that looks great, and it would sell well in movies. Exactly…
6. Media coverage 2/10
The relationship is a delicate topic. It is difficult to implement and it is not clear who would watch it. Apparently there are voices of indignation on the Internet that it is not there, but it's hard to say whether or not more than a dozen of the same people repeat them over and over again. A good relationship is difficult to do. The effects do not bring immediately. You would need some decent relationship in a row to let people see that it might be worth seeing. This year, it was probably only the phone slots on the PZKOL website during the starts and decorations - well, better than nothing. In my opinion, it is better not to do anything better than to make senseless. At this point I would like to recall the famous report from the MP road race in Sobótka, during which most of the time we watched the church tower and the final straight from the bird's eye view (or rather from the perspective of the lighthouse). Poor relationships do not make sense, and I suspect that there is no budget for good.
It's not a live report. Here the costs would not be great, and the effect could bring much more benefits. Such a 2-5 minute clip, made with a pump. Not exactly a relationship with what works, and more like that harbinger. A bit of shot at the fight, a bit of suffering, fireworks, drone, preparation, something about the area. I am a huge opponent of doing things for free, but I think there are a lot of people who would willingly take it cheaply, as part of their passions or as part of their school credit. I believe that a short and dynamic clip could encourage someone to come ... I'm not talking about going 400km, to see it, but to jump from the neighborhood. Sam on youtube I often look for such clips.
7. Relation on the spot 7/10
The situation with the relationship on the spot was completely different. The announcer deserves a big applause, which despite the fact that he did not have a full view of what is happening on the route, he gave advice and showed great emotions - this is important. There is nothing worse than a bored life announcer. Not only that, it was heard in most places along the route. For this big screen in the straight line, which showed a preview of the cameras (y) on the route. For a long time I could not believe it was live. With two cameras more to show a bit more route and enough.
The season is ending,
there is no hope that the next thing will change (...)
The year is over and listen to the word
To start all over again
Watch it yourself, answer for yourself
Answer to yourself…
We can write and discuss every moment about the lack of fans and organization in cycling competitions. But let us ask a question: what would have to happen so that I (in the sense of YOU, the reader) would go on cheering in the cold. Maybe this will clarify the situation a bit, because at the moment I do not see the solution to the problem. It is as if the fans in the Netherlands were wondering what would happen to ski jumping, became popular with them. Would it make any sense to think like that?
Because excuse me, but they are not an interesting sport. This means to us, the riders, in our closed bubble created by social media, in which we follow friends who share our passion, it may seem so. Objectively looking, but it is not. There is a mass of other equally spectacular sports that are also not popular. Me in Koziegłowy liked it, but I'm strange.
When I look at Panda, who after 5 hours of standing in the cold only to watch the ruffled players in a lajk rides in a circle, beats applauded in front of the stage and then I read the online indignation, which still does not suit them - I think that something here is not halo.
Big applause for this lady.
Big round of applause for Bartek Mikler (here is his relation to the story), which somewhat cooled the hegemony of Marek Konwa, making the struggle for victory in the elite a bit boring. And from Panda for the best style.
Big applause for all the young, for starting and doing such unpopular sport.
Big applause for ladies from Elite, who bravely fought to the end and prepared an absolute surprise at the finish line.
Big round of applause for the Juniors, who came to the finish line literally with the rest of their strength, then they fell on the asphalt.
Big round of applause for supporters who came equipped with equipment that made serious noise.
And finally, big applause for the organizers (local) for making this event.
And see you soon!
The next part of cross-country entries in just 3 weeks - from the World Championships in Valkenburg!
Maciek, oh, that's probably not it. And is ski jumping an interesting sport? We've learned to appreciate it. If someone missed Małysz, there are some, they still wonder: what's the big deal? There's as much fun in that as in the hammer throw... Oops! But I'm not judging, I think, for example, that running is a great spectacle. I prefer 800 and 1500, because in the longer ones the emotions can kill. But I graduated from the Bronek Malinowski School, so that was drummed into me from a young age. I don't think anyone has the budget to move cycling (road, track, cyclocross, mountain) higher in the hierarchy. All that's left is to be happy with what we have, because in the end you clapped for a long time at the end.
By the way, I haven't read it yet, but I think it might be about this in parts: "Sport Does Not Exist. Games in the Society of the Spectacle" Jan Sowa, Krzysztof Wolański.
I have been reading your blog for a long time and I cannot help but wonder how competitors taking part in various cycling events are treated. I do not want to refer to the situation from the perspective of a fan (because the above entry mostly refers to this topic) but I would like to focus on the perspective of a competitor. The image of a grey-brown reality has struck me once again. Your blog entries about the poor organization of competitions, poor routes, lack of refreshment points, long queues for start numbers, lack of hot water for washing after the competition and other shortcomings are too long to mention. I do not mean that such events lack "luxury" but lack basic things. I will be brief. I have been competing in triathlon competitions for many years and in most cases the organization of such events is at a very high level (equally or even better than foreign competitions). Locations, surroundings, routes, nutrition points, facilities for competitors, meeting with pros, briefings, securing routes, fans not only from outside but also from the locals, whole towns live for the event, accommodation bases booked out a few months before the competition, atmosphere. etc., etc. I recommend changing the discipline and judging by your watch purchases and training you are probably getting ready, admit it :)? Best regards
The organization of competitions is very different - there are also very good events. One thing is for sure: everything is much cheaper than TRI ;)
I don't answer this question :>
Sry, with such a nickname you have -25 in the strength of argumentation on topics containing economic aspects. ;)
Unfortunately, nickname is nickname and life is life…
Great post. I am particularly bothered by this location from the point of view of a fan without a car. If the competition took place near any larger city, there would be a much greater chance of more fans showing up. As for the participants/spectators of the decorations, 100% is right. While I am not surprised by something like this at a local MTB competition (although it shouldn't look like this either), at the Polish championships it would be really appropriate to dedicate those few minutes to the winners. Besides, the idea of a walk-through jersey is interesting - it's worth repeating, maybe it will reach someone higher up :)
exactly. I am a resident of Częstochowa and getting to this place is really bad, especially on the weekend. None of my mobile friends expressed a desire to participate in this event at such low temperatures and in a place where their children would simply be bored. For a moment I thought about going there by two-wheeler, but it is still 30 km one way on local roads, so there is a big chance of sweating your back, after which it is not difficult to get sick.
The advantage of the location is that I was driving past in my Gierówka, so I saw it, so I was almost there.