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Fingers crossed for the Tour de France
by Johnny Summerton | July 4, 2008 at 01:35 am | 431 views | 11 comments
Saturday marks the start of one of this country's biggest sporting events - the Tour de France.
Sure, cycling has been hit by one doping scandal after another in recent years - and the Tour de France in particular.
But here's hoping this year's event lives up to its sporting promise - as outlined in this report from the IHT.
Cycling fans will undoubtedly throng the sides of the route as the riders make their way criss-crossing the country over the next three weeks and armchair viewers will be glued to the small screen.
When 180 riders from 20 teams line up for the start of the 95th Tour de France in this coastal city in Brittany on Saturday, they will embark on a 2,212-mile journey of uncertainty: for themselves as riders, for the Tour as an event and for cycling as a sport.
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July 4, 2008 at 01:35 am by Johnny Summerton, 431 views, 11 comments
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Comments (11)
at 04:47 on July 4th, 2008
We are going to have a nice battle between :
Valverde, Evans, and Ricco.
That the best wins.
at 04:52 on July 4th, 2008
Just one winner as far as I'm concerned....cycling
at 05:18 on July 4th, 2008
Johnny Summerton, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 05:58 on July 4th, 2008
Johnny Summerton, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 06:06 on July 4th, 2008
Johnny Summerton, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 06:22 on July 4th, 2008
Johnny Summerton, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 06:42 on July 4th, 2008
I'm more than a bit tired that cycling is singled out as being the only sport with doping. Nothing could be further from the truth. If there are positive doping tests it's because cycling is actually doing something to clean up the sport -- more than any other sport. You don't see that in the NFL or MLB where doping is rampant. If they did effective dope testing in the NFL there probably wouldn't be a franchise that could field a team. And since this has influences hundreds of thousands of young athletes in the high school and university systems to dope (25,000 in California alone in a recent survey) it really shows how morally bankrupt American professional sports. If there were any justice every story on football or baseball would start with a reference to how many players dope and how the league is failing to protect the players and their fans.
The ASO is very serious about stopping doping however. That's why the didn't invite Astana and why there's a 100,000 Euro fine against any team that has a rider who tests positive.
As far as stars, the drama of the race will make new stars. Aside from Evans and Valverde, there's the Schleck brothers and my favourite Damiano Cunego who is going to be riding with an "I'm Doping Free" tattoo.
at 06:50 on July 4th, 2008
Kferaday. I agree with you. I think you've made the point well and on several occasions. I highlighted this piece because I think it gives a broad introduction and perspective to this year's race and the hopes that lie behind the organisers' and the sport's efforts.
at 08:01 on July 4th, 2008
I suppose, but this is the second Tour story (in the past two days) on this site that has focused on the doping rather than the race.
at 08:41 on July 4th, 2008
I take your point. But given the recent history of the event it's hardly surprising that much of the focus will be on what happens around the Tour. It was and remains news particularly here in France (in spite of the headlines being dominated by another story at the moment) - as unpalatable as that might be to fans of the sport (and I am one).
And as I said, I believe this to be a well-rounded piece that yes, mentions the steps that have been taken by the organisers to stop any likelihood of doping being the main talking point over the next three weeks, while also taking a look at some of the likely contenders for the overall title.
It's a news piece highlighted from a newspaper, not an in depth feature that would appear in a more specialist forum.
For my part, I promise not to highlight any more doping stories on cycling unless they happen. But you can bet your bottom Euro that should there be one tiny case the media in general will be all over it like a nasty rash. That's also - like it or not - the nature of news.
at 08:32 on July 4th, 2008
Johnny Summerton, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I would love to see that start of the race one year - I think it would just be so exciting.
I think no sporting event these days escapes from drug use and controversy surrounding that, but I also hope that this year is all about the sporting aspect of the event and the determination it takes for someone to win the title, and not about drugs.
But that remains to be seen I suppose.