Le Tour Irrésistible
After hearing the news about yet another elite Tour de France competitor testing positive for doping, I had decided I was giving up on the event. I was tired of (1) stupid riders doing stupid things, or (2) a stupid system shafting innocent athletes, or (3) both. Regardless, the end result was an event that had lost its luster.
So I went for a ride this morning and enjoyed the uncharacteristically cool weather, and thought about many things other than the TDF. When I returned, I switched on the TV, not to Versus but to CNN Headline News, as I went through my stretching. Then, I decided to peek in on the race coverage, not out of any real interest, mind you; just to see if anyone was talking about the latest scandal.
And there I was, hooked once again, watching Michael Rasmussen win the stage and the overall race, in a fashion that was reminiscent of the dominance of none other than Lance Armstrong. Sure, there are several days of racing left, but I stand by my prediction: Rasmussen will wear yellow in Paris at the end of the day on Sunday. This probably won't translate well in the circles of international cycling, but that Dane is a hoss!
The last five kilometers were a thing to behold, as Rasmussen's top challengers - Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer, both of the Discovery Channel Team - attacked on the steep mountain climb to the finish, time after time. Rasmussen answered each attack (all the while angrily shooing away photographers whom he apparently thought were violating his personal space). Not only did he not crack under those attacks, but at the end, he launched his own attack which neither rider could defend against, and he won the stage easily. He now leads Contador by more than three minutes, and the only drama left is whether Leipheimer can overtake Aussie Cadel Evans for third place (Contador is a lock for second, assuming he doesn't blow up in the upcoming time trial).
But, I warn you, if any of those riders test positive, then it's all over. No, really. I mean it.
Probably.
I vote for 3) both.
I've been paying only marginal attention - caught the latest scandal today and wondered if you'd pipe in.
Can you explain the "protest"? Cause I read about it, but didn't quite get it.
Posted by: beth at July 25, 2007 03:03 PMI've decided that as long as I don't attach any *value* to the riders -- meaning, if I don't consider them heroic in any sense of the word, the spectacle of the race is worthy of attention. I forget who said it and which starlet they were targeting, but even though I know it's fake, I can applaud the effort.
Posted by: Bret at July 25, 2007 03:30 PMSherry, thanks! Or...I'm insulted. Or...I'll run it by the focus group and let you know. ;-)
Beth, I missed the reference to a protest. Are you referring to the follow-up test of the "Sample B" that's used to confirm the first test? Otherwise, I'm not sure.
Bret, the problem is that there surely are some heroic riders and efforts, and it's a shame not to be able to identify them. Even Rasmussen is now under scrutiny after today's performance, and the rumor is that his team is pulling him from the race. I think it's going to take a total meltdown of professional cycling and a "start from scratch" approach to try to regain credibility...and I have no idea how you accomplish that. If T-Mobile withdraws its $18 million sponsorship, that will be a big start.
Posted by: Eric at July 25, 2007 04:48 PMOK, I now know which protest Beth was referring to above. A number of riders refused to start today's stage in protest over the doping allegations and findings, claiming that the guilty parties are ruining professional cycling.
Which they are. But, as with all such symbolic protests, the show accomplished nothing.
Posted by: Eric at July 25, 2007 04:54 PMOk, I wasn't sure if they were protesting the dopers or the witch-hunt like atmosphere that the people who test were creating. Thus the confusion. Well, for me at least.
Posted by: beth at July 25, 2007 05:01 PMBeth, I think that a "witch hunt" protest would have made more sense, as that's directed at race officials who would be adversely impacted by riders refusing to ride. As it stands, protesting other riders resulted only in those other riders gaining a lead over the protesters, which seems hardly likely to keep the former up at night, worrying.
That's not to imply that the protesters actually targeted specific riders who weren't protesting. (But, actually, that makes the protest even stranger and less effective.)
You know, cycling is a weird sport. In many ways.
Posted by: Eric at July 25, 2007 05:21 PMAbout the publisher
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Posted by: sherry at July 25, 2007 02:56 PM