Porn and podium hostesses - former yellow jersey reveals Tour de France survival strategy

Any society that ignores the talents, abilities, intellect and contribution of its female population is losing out on about half its potential.

But then, except that society in general seems to overvalue such things, I have no real problem with either males or females making a living from their looks. I am conflicted.

I'm a far better looking chick than a bloke, cracking pins!

As a male, can I get a job as a podium girl?

No. That's sexist.

Is a job that exists based on the premise of attributes sexist or demeaning? Well again as a numbers geek I am unlikely to become World's strongest man or advertise underwear, and I'm not sure on Sagan's ability to analyse and segment a customer database to maximise return on advertising revenue.

Larry, if you think women are under-represented in terms of 'power' jobs, consider the head of the Country, defence, the police et al. You can argue they're under-represented in terms of banking, insurance etc. but maybe that's more a reflection of an out of date industry.

You also skip the point that many women actually aspire to be the very thing you dislike, look at the likes of 'Love Island' and 'Big Brother' for the amount of women that only exist to promote themselves and in doing so completely degrade themselves. Do you suggest I as an older male am sexist for allowing this to happen, have any interest in whether they have their eyebrows shaped? Nope but they're part of a multi-million pound industry selling their image to other women. I think it's all a nonesense but if I were to try and stop it, would that not actually make me sexist?

Well, literally laughed out loud at #3 rh column!

Sexism can be so subtle. You ask a married man if he does any housework and he'll invariably reply that he "helps" the wife with the washing/cleaning/cooking/whatever. Saying that is sexist.

Is calling a female who works in marketing/promotions a "podium girl" just because she dresses smartly and presents marketing paraphernalia degrading? After all, she sees it as a respectable marketing job whilst it would appear a number of males see it as phwoooaarrrrh, soft porn. The  disturbing issue is with the male observer in this case. Of course, the company appointing the presenters is being sexist by not also offering the roles to males.

Sexism swings both ways.

How about we put it another way:

Are you on Susanna's or Piers' side....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVExq6zHOXA&feature=share

Well there is porn everywhere nowadays. And yes podium girls is essentially mild porn. They know it and admittedly or not we enjoy it. I (or one of the 90% who may watch such a ceremony as a man instead of a woman) prefer to see a beautiful girl rather than a totally unknown local official. It is just out instict and I am sure women would prefer to have their equivalent, whatever may it be.
But as natural it may be to enjoy porn disguised in any possible form, it is equally important to take it out of our lives. Why? It ruins pretty much everything as we seek to find girls that we are being advertised we may find, and in response girls tend to giving excess attention to their appearance neglecting other important aspects such as time, money, work and even spouses that supposedly they are trying to impress.
So please reduce the porn in our lives, including podiums of all sports. All sports, all countries.

Dear lord.. it's like anti-PC top trumps brigade. Difficult to pick a winner on this occasion. 

​"I don't have a problem with x" ≠ ​x is not a problem

Espcailly where X neagativly impacts on a fairly large part of the population.

Bear in mind there's a different attitude to porn and sex in the Netherlands and Belgium (dutch speaking Belgium anyway). (Not taking away from the sexism of podium girls).

I was watching some 40 year old footage of the TdF and the presentations were done by the French equivalent of the lady mayoress of the finish town.

When did podium girls replace local dignitaries?

Dear lord... its the PC top trumps brigade. Difficult to pick a winner on this occasion. 

Personally speaking I see no real point in having podium girls - although my missus does think it funny when they tower over the climbers - however, I equally have no real problem with it at all. I do not see a woman performing a PR based role as particularly degrading to women, or compromising the work for equality.

Actually, I do see the point in having podium people. There are things that need to be done on stage, so there needs to be someone on there to give out teddies, fit jersies etc. There is a job that needs to be done.

Does it need to be a woman? Not at all. Does that person need to be pretty? Probably... certainly needs to be publicly presentable. The one thing women can bring to the table in these circumstances is a bigger canvas upon which to paint. How stupid would a podium boy look in a red and white spotty suit? 

At least the podium girls are generally dressed with reasonable class... its not the boob tubes and belt skirts that you see in motor racing. 

I think this is appalling, and firmly believe that woman should be treated at all times as if they are equal...

They aren’t podium 'girls'.

They are women.

I hope by the time my daughters (4 months, 3) are at an age where they could be 'podium women' we'll all regard this sort of tosh like we do the 'popular racism' of the 1970s.

The fact there is a 'waiting list' to be 'picked' says more about the value society places on women – especially young women - than those in the queue.

It's totally pathetic and demeaning for all involved.

I believe there was an article in the Guardian about the podium girls after one grand tour where they were asked about the sexist etc etc. There appears to be a long waiting list to be picked and most of them see it as a stepping stone to other more lucrative contracts.
So whether people see it as archaic or sexist it actually means a lot to the girls who take part

The occasional "podium girl" outrage really gets me. It's considered sexist to ogle them, think about them sexually or - in Peter Sagan's case - pinch them on the bum. That's missing the point. The point is, why the heck do we have them in this day and age? It's sexist to have them there in the first place. If its anachronistic to objectify them, let's not forget it's anachronistic to have them there.

I'm an ugly old male cycling fan from Australia, but I'd happily go over there and hand the guys their flowers and lion. For the love of the sport. Whoever perpeptuates the idea that only someone female and attractive can hand a lycra-clad dude a lion and a bunch of flowers is the dinosaur here, not Jans Bakelants.

If we live in a world where it's inapporriate to objectify them, then we live in a world where it's inappropriate to have them full stop.

Empty your sack every morning - marginal gains.