Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
AFTER the massive publicity received by professional cycling in recent weeks, and the nature of the problems they have experienced, it is a little surprising to see the mascot to be used by the organisers of the 2013 Road World Championship.
As cycling battles to repair its image, the UCI has chosen an unlikely image – the greatest liar of them all ... Pinocchio!
This is not a tongue-in-cheek attempt at self-deprecation, rather a ‘nod and a wink’ to the venue of this event, Tuscany. The creator of this famous childhood character, Carlo Collodi, as with Pinocchio himself, lived in a small Italian village.
The race website states: "Our Pinocchio is proud that his land, Tuscany, has been chosen as the venue for hosting the World Championships."
It is intriguing that the UCI has decided that this is clearly the way to test professional cyclists, rather than adopting a ‘truth and reconciliation’ commission. Let’s see how big Pinocchio’s nose has grown by the end of the Championship!
