Why doesn't the Post cover cycling sports

So asks Bruce Wright:

It is unfortunate that The Post provided no coverage to the Tour de Georgia, one of the biggest bicycle races in the United States. Some of the best cyclists in the world competed, among them George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, Chris Horner and David Zabriskie.

These are exceptional athletes, and their efforts are celebrated around the world but ignored here.

Meantime, The Post also overlooked the Spring Classic bicycle races in Europe.

I have pointed out the lack of racing coverage to you numerous times and am disappointed and frustrated to see no improvement.

I suspect cycling doesn't pay the bills the way other sports do.

Comments

[Arlen]

Cycling would be a more interesting sport if there was a little offense; give each cyclist a long, pointy stick and I guarantee ratings would be through the roof.

[Jack]

Imagine how little coverage the Post would give if Americans DIDN'T dominate the sport!

[Tom]

Get in line behind soccer.

[Jack]

And who is this Stanley Cup person?

[Chris]

The thing is, if it's not the NFL team which is located in the Washington area, the Post will not give it much coverage. You'd never know from the Post that the Washington area is one of the most competitive regions in the country when it comes to amateur cycling.

Maybe it's because I come from a place where the hometown paper has really great sports coverage, but I think the Post is lousy all around on this topic.

Hockey has already been alluded to here - though it got slightly better for the Post during that absolutely spectacular playoff run. Still, even there, the Caps' run to the playoffs would have gotten day-after-day of banner coverage in many other papers.

Another example is high school sports - piss-poor coverage.

So, hey, at least cycling's not alone.

[jeff]

...and soccer needs to get in line behind NASCAR.

The Washington Times has infinitely better sports coverage, though I can't say I've ever seen cycling mentioned on their pages either.

[m.o.w.]

Americans like sports with high scoring, which is why most popular professional sports in the states have made adjustments to ensure ample points are accumulated. Outfield walls have been moved in, seconds have been knocked off the shot clock, and ice hockey goalies now wear smaller pads. Should biking have to compromise its integrity for the American public?

[washcycle]

It's a vicious cycle.

Americans don't watch much cycling, so the media doesn't cover it, so Americans don't watch, etc...

I also think there is a symbiotic relationship between local sports teams and the media. One gets access (and free tickets and such) and the other gets on the cover of the Post every week.
Richard Layman is always saying the paper is part of the growth machine. They're also part of the sports machine.

[MB]

You know how pathetic the Washington Post's cycling coverage is? The Washington *Times* beats it (at least the Times sponsors local races). While nobody (in the local media) was paying attention, the Clarendon Cup has grown into the CSC Invitational, one of the hottest races on the domestic racing scene. Not a single word about it in the Post last year. This year also saw the first UCI road race in DC since the Tour DuPont came through town in the 90s. Coverage? Nada. I threw up a last minute post about the US Air Force Cycling Classic (the UCI race) on my own site, and was immediately the third result in Google (and remained on the first page as of this post). WTF?