Podium boys and equal prize money for women’s race at Tour de France finale in Paris

Dunno if this is going to work but here goes: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s480x480/561459_5...

Linked to from second article here: http://www.competitivecyclist.com/learn/euro-county-lovers-lane

Although it is a difficult one, it is all about the ceremony, every time you remove something from the podium presentation, the less it feels like an occasion.
I know we're all more interested in watching the race, but to step onto the top of a podium with all the pomp and ceremony should be a pretty special experience, worthy of the effort you've put in, both on the day and in the years of hard work and sacrifice. Most Pro's don't see that top step very often. The podium girls are an integral part of this ceremony, along with the flowers, trophies etc.
If you take too much away, it'll end up like a circuit race at Castle Combe, where everyone just goes home afterwards and waits for the results to pop up on BC.

They don't have podium girls in the Oxford Cambridge boat race - I hear it's so they don't have to kiss the Cox of the winning team.

Where do I apply to be a podium boy? What a great job having to kiss lizzie armitsted:-)

....and Vos can pinch some male booty!

Perhaps the podium boys will provide a fresh perspective on how bizarre and unnecessary the concept of 'getting pretty people to kiss you for being good at sport' is.

I'm not too sad that the podium boys are going to some ceremonies in; no more sad than when I see the podium girls at every bloody men's ceremony ever, but I'd quite like to see the whole thing retired reasonably soon.

There just seems such an uncomfortable contrast between the people who are on the podium for great sporting achievements and effort, and those who are there simply because they were simply deemed 'pretty enough'.

But of the options between 'providing podium boys for the Women's finish', 'not providing anyone for the Women's finish', 'providing podium girls for the Women's finish', and 'suddenly scrapping all podium girls from all future Men's races... for the Women's finish', I think the first option is the most balanced and achievable. It's not a huge issue, but as I've said, I think it's quite unnecessary and odd, so I'd like to see the whole thing phased out fairly soon.

In short; I don't really support the idea of 'podium people', but I think it'd be a bit imbalanced to suddenly get into a frenzy about it, just as soon males started getting drawn into it. Two wrongs don't make a right, but the biggest wring would be to promote that 'objectification if fine with one sex but not with the other'. Ideally it'd be phased out of both, but I think that'd take a while and happen on a race by race basis, so this feels like the fairest 'place-holder'. It's a bit of a tricky position to argue, but I feel that condoning 'podium people' with only one of the sexes would be the biggest wrong of all.

EDIT: Okay, that wasn't short. I just feel slightly anxious about voicing such a seemingly contradictory opinion. So I've over-explained... I hope it makes some sense!

I'd love to be a podium boy, it's probably my best chance of getting my hands on a Credit Lyonnais lion.

I've always wanted one of those.

A swimsuit-clad lovely (or 'hunk') could wander around holding a 'Stage 2' board above her (/his) head, before the riders start slamming each other to the ground whilst the crowd chant 'Easy! Easy!'. Maybe breaking balsawood chairs over each others' heads too. They've already got the costumes sorted.

I think podium boys will either result in equal totty, or people will say "er, ok maybe it's ridiculous, just stop already, both sexes"

Slightly off-topic, but I have been offered the job, handsome chap that I am! I shall attend in just a pair of speedos!

To be honest, he doesn't even need to be getting a bunch of flowers...

'In all seriousness, what makes pro cycling podiums less appropriate then any other sporting or indeed commercial setting for podium girls to exist? '

Nothing. Inappropriate in all such settings. Many sports have already abandoned this...why does cycling insist on continuing?

Podium boys is a brilliant idea.

What women's cycling needs is attention and in big numbers and this is a big helper.

"We're having a race for females"

Ok, cool.

"We're having a race for females, on the Champs Elysees, on the final day of the men's race"

Right then, that's got the interest sparked in people moderately in to cycling or just casual observers of the Tour.

"We're having a race for females, on the Champs Elysees, on the final day of the men's race and instead of podium females we are having podium boys"

Wow, that's unusual right? Non-cycling fans suddenly get drawn in, first timers might tune in to watch because they're aware of it being something different and hopefully it will "stick" for many and they become fans.

Are podium boys the future of female cycling? No.

Is anyone suggesting that podium boys are the future of cycling? Absolutely not.

Are they providing another talking point and generating column inches for this race? Absofuckinglutely. A brilliant extra tool to entice people in.

Sod that we want podium boys!

Girls who do podiums enjoy what they do, if they want to do that as a job I see no harm. It's like being anti-porn, if porn stars want to do what they do then fine, a job shouldn't be made taboo because of what it is - it's poor attitudes towards it that are the problem (i.e. where Sagan felt it necessary to pinch the girls bum.....funny but not cool, she's just doing her job). For the most part people see podium girls for what they are, they help out and they enjoy what they do, and people like them being there - no harm done until someone acts like a goon.

Likewise if there's lads wanting to do the same for a ladies podium then why not? It's a bit of fun and it's a nice touch that we're getting some equal totty!

On a separate note... I'm going to start moaning about lack of money in men's professional cycling... clearly it works.

Jesus... what is so wrong with a bit of objectification in the right setting?

Pretty girls are... pretty. Who doesn't like looking at pretty girls? Its certainly better than a random old crusty man giving away flowers and stuff.

Why does it all have to be so bloody PC all the time. I say good on the TDF for getting podium boys in.

Podium buys are pretty, who doesn't like looking at pretty podium boys?

Oh and its great about the money too, but more important is the international promotion of women's cycle racing. Good times for the ladies... I'd love to get the chance to race down that avenue with those crowds.

I don't feel that the length of the stage is an issue. The important thing here is that women's cycling is getting exposure and this is a vital first step. It's short and measured because then the casual viewer or spectator is likely to take notice and gradually get used to the notion of women's cycling.

The podium boys thing is obviously a riposte to the complaints received about the podium girls and simply says 'Why not?'.

I don't think podium girls should be done away with -look at the Amstel Gold girls with their beer mat dresses which proves it can be done tastefully and with a bit of fun and local heritage thrown in.

Hmmm, so yesterdays Romandie result and last years Milan San Remo should be derided too, yes? I don't think that anybody thinks that this IS a TdF for women, just a small step, but an important one. Check out the coverage of Fleche Wallone on Monday afternoon (BBC Red Button). The racing is equally as good as the mens. The ladies require more recognition. Have a read of a few Rouleur back issues too, they have had interviews with Lizzie Armitstead & Helen Wyman in the last few months. They paint a sorry picture for Pro Womens Cycling, but are fighting for equality and fair recognition. Next weeks Womens Tour if Britain (www.womenstour.co.uk) should be celebrated as it isn't being ridden 'on the back of' a mens race, but is a stand alone event. I hope that the public come out & show their support in the same way as they would if Wiggins or Cavendish were racing.

Equal money is right, but what I meant is, how can you compare a one day 90km race to a a 138km race which comes one the back of 3,518km's that the men have already covered.

The reason that prize money for the stages of the TdF is high, is because the race is one of the toughest in Pro cycling.

But it will get the best racers from the best teams attending, so I guess it is all good

Prize money. About bloody time, it is the 21st century.

So very, very wrong. Podium boys aren't the answer - getting rid of podium girls is. No place for it. It's not boxing c. 1982 you know.

They better be fully dressed and not some half naked body builder crap.

I am all for equal prize money...BUT, how can 90 km racing be compared with the last stage of a 3 week race.....