So, is Rugby a skill

This is very typical of avid Cyclists/Cycling fans. Throwing a strop when their beloved hobby is questioned as a real sport.

You simply cannot compare riding a bike to very technical sports such previously mentioned, learning to ride a bike is very simple, adhering to, understand and implementing tactics as well as making good judgement calls are all attributes associated with Cycling, but you have to admit that lack of skill and technique required to be an elite Cyclist undermines it's position as a sport.

You can lose you temper, I'm used to that with nutjob Cycling fanatics with blinkered vision, but it doesn't change the fact that anyone could be a a Froome or Contador if they put the hard work in becausethe foundation to their success is based on brute hard work, physical hard work, in other words larry, they have very limited natural talent.

You could not however say the same thing about Tennis for example, you could be the fittest man on the planet using the training methods tailored to that of a Pro in this sport, but you would never get a flurry of Federer's of Nadal coming through, they have God given talent, Cyclists are ten a penny.

By all means enjoy your activity, but don't call it a sport.

well, you can call it what you want really, it's a matter of opinion.

there are a group of pursuits where success is largely about pacing yourself and planning when to expend a finite amount of effort. this is a mental skill in its own right. granted, these pursuits often have some element of repetitive technique required to be as efficient as possible.

and it takes time and effort and training to become elite. and those people who love the sport understand these variables and it gives an appreciation of their sport the casual observer probably doesn't have.

but truth be told, these events are pretty limited and that's the problem.

there's no scope imagination, for risk and flair, a staggering low limit of what can be achieved and turned around, no violent swings in momentum or pressure: no hat-trick in cricket or 30 off the final over to win, no 99 champions league final, no bartoli beating henin in a wimbledon semi final, no eagle on the 18th with an outrageous chip or a ridiculous recovery shot when all seems hopeless.

just a little bit more stamina than the rest and using it better.

i do think there's a kneejerk reaction from people who play and like extremely physically demanding pursuits to not want to see their status downgraded or denigrated, but the truth is that it's not a critical part of a sport. but honestly, you shouldn't have to defend what you like and enjoy to anyone. it's not important or relevant.

snooker is a sport, and so is darts. and so is golf which is probably about as physically demanding as snooker. and cricket is just as much of a sport when michael holding was bowling in his prime to when eddie hemmings or peter such were bowling. you don't need to bust a gut for something to be a sport.

imo, it's far more about being able to do something physical when you need to and complex and precise execution are, again imo, far harder to summon under pressure and adversity than finding just a bit more effort.

and it makes for much better drama.

Yes I will concede that Dictionaries and people both differ on the concise description or definition of what a sport is, an official body may make their view legal, or official, but it doesn't make their word gospel as what makes a sport a sport is still subjective, however, the definition I used was based on my own view which is based on Common Sense. Even if I thought that Cycling was a sport, it would very low down on the talent spectrum as for me talent is what makes a sport, without talent in sport, what you are looking at is purely just a physical and/or mental contest, which is precisely what Cycling is, a test of physical endurance and mental fortitude, it's no more a 'sport' than bodybuilding competitions.

All of the qualities ascribed to Cyclist points towards that of an athlete, competitiveness, aggression, high tolerance of pain, emotionally mature etc, give the best athlete in the world a racquet and with sufficient training he would struggle to eve play Tennis at county level, give a Tennis player a bike and he could become a very successful Cyclist with the correct training / team / science behind him, and drugs.

Talented sportspeople have a technical aptitude that separates them from endurance athletes, executing physical actions and making constant split second decisions with it makes them different from bike riders.   


There is no such thing as a talented Cyclist.

Mesmerised.
You would have more credibilty if you preceeded some of your more extreme views with the words "in my opinion".