Podium Girls – do they still have a place at races – what do you think ?

Harmless tradition performing a valuable role ?

Vile patronising sexist anachronism ?

Read this first:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/100-tours-100-tales/2015/jun/16/cycling-needs-to-lose-its-podium-girls

Couldn’t care less if boy or girl. Person in the middle is the important one.

I don’t see the need for them. I am not offended by them, I just think they are pointless. I know what women look like, I don’t need reminding thanks!

Couldn’t care less if boy or girl. Person in the middle is the important one.

Dirty.

bearnecessities – Member
Couldn’t care less if boy or girl. Person in the middle is the important one.
Dirty.

😆

People with well defined physiques in tight fitting clothing have absolutely no place in cycling

Formula 1 and Moto GP brolly dolly girls? do they still exist?

Difficult to argue I’m favour of them in the 21st century really. Its all a bit …

MrP plus one. Not bothered, but can see the anachronism

not read the article (yet) but they are very difficult to justify. I would rather see their place taken with young kids from within the sport, a bit like mascots at football matches. That would be so inspiring for kids to share the podium with their heros.

They do still exist to some extent in F1 (parading in front of the cars on the grid IIRC) but they’re not bikini or similar clad any more though still IIRC fairly tight clothing. The trend is more towards air hostess type outfits on the podiums though.

With regards to the guardian article, no they don’t have a place. Podium hosts/hostesses who actually have a function is fine (assuming dressed to reflect that job) but for me it’s clearly a sexist thing having barely dressed women there who serve no other purpose than to attract male attention.

organisers and sponsors will pay pretty girls to wear, or stand in front of logos because photogs will take pictures of them because mags and papers and websites will buy them because people will look at them.

Possibly/probably but that doesn’t make it right.

And TBH to do it at a women’s race just seems totally counter productive in the sense that it’s so visually jarring aside from any other issues.

Bikini clad girls, no!
Kissing of the hero winner, no!
But attractive people are always going to be used to sell product, no harm in that.

Video gaming went through this discussion a few years back regarding “booth babes” at conferences/EXPO’s etc.

The verdict is no: we’re a bit over this as an industry, but they certainly are great at striking up conversation with nerds.

Never watched a race long enough to see a podium on telly/net, as soon as the winners over the finish line i switch off, so never noticed them.

The thing I thought quite amusing and out-of-place was the shimano girls in bikinis holding umbrellas over athletes to mark the launch of XTR Di2 at whatever UCI world cup race it was.

Just read the article and seen the pic that Marijn posted.

Weird and creepy! Edit: and “tawdry”

Last 2 paras sum it nicely, as they should.

I would rather see their place taken with young kids from within the sport, a bit like mascots at football matches.

this^^^^ , much better idea

podium girls are a bit of a sad legacy of the 70s imho, even shallower than xfactor etc

im sure clarkson/borris/farage will get all PC gone mad about it in a minute tho*

* if a belgian womens cycling race were to actually register on the radar of their target auddience

While we are getting rid of podium girls can we also get rid of self promoting mayors, councillors etc who also seem to find their way into presentations?

can we also get rid of self promoting mayors, councillors etc

Probably not as, in many cases, thee are the people that have made it possible for the race to take place in that town.

The thing I noticed immediately about the pic Marijn tweeted is the old fully clothed baldy fat bloke ! Makes it even worse…although at least he wasn’t wearing a plastic mac.

Sometimes I see road cycling stuff like this and wonder whether I’ve stumbled back in time.

Don’t need the podium girls just like F1 doesn’t need grid girls.

I think in general is fairly tasteful – I can’t see anything objectionable about the podium girls on the TdF or Vuelta for example.

F1 has toned it down, but MotoGP still verges on the pornographic.

Weeeeellllll, I’m kinda happy with it TBH.

Whilst I see it as soooo 1980’s I do kinda like it. I do, or rather would, prefer some kids on the Podium as suggested since Cycling has a mass fanbase it would be nice for them to be represented.

Whats’ Cookson have to say on it ? Or is he still reeling from Portes’ “fair sportsmanship fail” 🙄

Sometimes I see road cycling stuff like this and wonder whether I’ve stumbled back in time.

The thing I thought quite amusing and out-of-place was the shimano girls in bikinis holding umbrellas over athletes to mark the launch of XTR Di2 at whatever UCI world cup race it was.

It is a bit of an embarrassment to sport. Especially when I think about how I’d explain it all to my daughter when she’s old enough. Do wish they’d do away with it. If they need someone in that role then local school kids would be much better bet.

MotoGP is still pretty shocking, though at least the podium ladies don’t have to do a staged kiss of the winner for the photographers. Fair play to the likes of Dani Pedrosa though for having one of his mechanics hold the brolly instead of some scantily clad lady.

if the fans are getting half naked birds for free i bet there wont be many blokes complaining tbh. i know i wouldnt. i understand if the ladies arent well chuffed at there presentation but shit happens.

if the fans are getting half naked birds for free i bet there wont be many blokes complaining tbh. i know i wouldnt. i understand if the ladies arent well chuffed at there presentation but shit happens.

Hello 1980’s man.

arent well chuffed at there presentation but shit happens

their, not there. If you are going to be a dinosaur, at least be a grammatically correct one.

Personally it’s a bit embarrassing but then again I’m not likely to be up there.

if your going to be a **** at least , oh sorry you are doing it right lol. who gives a shite how its spelt, same as if birds in small knickers are on show.

It’s bad enough (as in tedious, pointless & old-fashioned) having female ‘eye candy’ on the men’s podium, but to have bikini clad women on the women’s podium is taking the piss!

Distinct lack of them at Lee Quarry on Sunday, bit too cold for them in Lancashire.

I think for a women’s race its inappropriate and may be a touch insensitive. Now if it was tanned hunks, clad in skimpy Speedos, flexing their muscles. That may be worth watching.

this would be odd, wouldn’t it 😀

carefull tracey youll be branded 1980s woman lol.

to have bikini clad women on the women’s podium is taking the piss!

They’re not on the podium 😉

It really is a bizarre sight.

Round card girls in boxing is also pretty weird for these times, but hey, what job would these semi-attractive women do otherwise??

but hey, what job would these semi-attractive women do otherwise??

Reckon you should tweet that pic to @festinagirl (author of the guardian piece) 🙂

Ah just seen that photo, that is shockingly embarrasing. Very sad indeed.

It seems like a fairly embarrasing anachronism to continue with this kind of thing, male or female. It’s certainly time for male riders to speak out on the issue though…