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Tour excitement?

by Gerard Vroomen

June 29, 2011 - Filed under: Company

Comments (4)

Is it just me, or is it difficult to get excited about this year’s Tour? I am not totally sure why I feel that way, but maybe it’s just tough to mentally commit to a race for three weeks and possibly not know in the end who has won. I had a similar feeling at the Giro, and although some stages were definitely spectacular and I enjoyed watching them, the fight for pink was just a non-event for me. Partially that may have been caused by Contador’s dominance, but mostly it’s the uncertainty over what decision the CAS will take in the end.

In fact, a half-doping case like we have now in cycling may be much more damaging than a full-blown case. At least when a rider is awaiting a first decision or serving his sentence, he is out of the spotlight. Even if he gets some attention, the sport can point at him and say “look, he cheated, we caught him, have dealt with him and we’re serious about it”. It’s a chance to highlight the fight against doping. In the current case, the embarrassment is multiplied and the response has to be very meek, all about respecting the process and nothing about anti-doping measures. They can’t even say the “process is working”.

Maybe once the race gets underway, I’ll get sucked in anyway. Are you excited about this Tour? Let me know on twitter @gerardvroomen

4 responses for this Entry

Jack Mott says:

June 30, 2011

I suppose it is a little bit interesting to see if the gynecologist of the Schlecks or the tainted meat of Contador ends up stronger at the tour.

Tom Woelk says:

June 30, 2011

Rightly or wrongly Nibali was my hero at the Giro. I no longer believe in any rider who does not have bad days or show weakness at times. We all know that just because a rider has not tested positive it does not mean he is clean and that is too bad. It is also too bad that doping is a more serious offense in cycling than in most other sports. Many other sports are just as bad or worse than cycling and yet they do not receive the public's scorn like we do, at least in North America. I believe we have to do better for the athletes that want to and are competing clean. We as an audience need to redefine who are heroes are. Winning should not be the gold standard because right now that standard is tainted.

I will watch and love every minute of the Tour but I think the appeal will be limited to those who race and those who ride and love the sport. We will never attract a broader audience or inspire the general public until we either stop looking for cheaters and create mega champions that are bigger than life or we act swiftly and decisively to remove cheaters from the sport without the drama and inconsistencies that occur regularly now. Our champions would be men and women who fight the odds and suffer to win. I hope the sport strives for the latter but I fear that the former makes more money.

Fortunately I don't need the Tour or any of that to enjoy my riding. All I need are my friends and my R3 to feel the joy of cycling and the truth be know I don't need the R3. It just makes riding better! If I win the lottery I will sub a 5 for the 3 and I will still love riding and riding my Cervelo.

sausskross says:

June 30, 2011

Ohhps, Carlos Sastre moved to a team not invited this year.

sausskross says:

June 30, 2011

There will be a winner for every stage and the GC but thera are much more things to watch during the race. For example, Carlos Sastre is not in the shape of a favorit but still an interesting an efficient rider. In addition racing the TdF is not only a claimed winner against the rest but individuells forming a team and testing their tactics. Good luck for the roasters on Cervelos.