Comments about Cycling | Steve Tilford

I saw an article over at Velonews that says that the organization of a Gran Fondo, the Quebrantahuesos, called the police when an ex-doper was racing their event. The police came and eventually stopped the rider, Ángel Vázquez, and took him to jail. I guess Ángel got a little feisty with the police and they must not like that anymore over there than they do here. Plus, he was probably all jacked up for the race, so wasn’t in the right state of mind to just ride off the course when asked.

Anyway, I have to applaud the organizers for their actions. It is the biggest Gran Fondo in Spain, and they didn’t want a rider that had been found positive for doping to win their event.

That is completely the opposite mindset that we have here in the United States for our ex-doping riders. They put on their own Gran Fondos, that thousands pay to ride, that dozens of American Bicycle Corporations flock to sponsor. If you have time and want to read a good rant on this, click here to read Crankpunks post on Levis Gran Fondo.

Not only that, there are other Gran Fondos that go out of their way and pay ex-doping riders to participate. That is exactly what The First Gran Fondo in Paradise is doing this year. So, if you have nothing to do in October, you can pay $100, or whatever, to clip in and ride with Lance’s number #1 rival, Jan Ullrich.

So, obviously, we, as American participants of cycling, seem to imply, by voting with our feet, we don’t give a shit about doping in the sport. We enter the events these ex-doping riders promote and our promoters pay ex-doping riders to participate. Pretty different from what happened in Spain last week.

I wrote a post late last year – It Pays to Cheat. It pretty much addresses this same subject. Why do we go to these camps and pay these guys that doped, money, just to ride with them? It seems to me that this condones the original actions, doping in the sport. ‘Cause, let me tell you, without doping in cycling, you wouldn’t even know the names of Levi Leipheimer, George Hincapie, or Lance Armstrong, for that matter.

That gives me a great idea. Lance should do his own Gran Fondo. It would be sort of a resurrection of the Ride for the Roses. But, he could do it in Aspen Colorado now, since he hangs there some. Then Andrew Talansky could have a 2nd stop on his Gran Fondo tour, after going to Levis. How many of you would pay $100 to ride Lance’s Gran Fondo?

Guys, let me tell you, there are thousands of events held throughout the country that have nothing to do with doping. Exactly the opposite. These events are put on by true cycling supporters that have an honest passion for our sport. When we support events that publicize the riders that have cheated their way to the top, then we’re just adding to the problem. We’re saying that it’s okay to cheat in sport, because when you get caught, after you’ve won all your races, made all your money and lived other athlete’s life experiences, we still support you and will still keep you on your embezzled pedestals. Pretty great message, huh?

Andrew and Levi hangin’ before the start of Levi’s Gran Fondo last year.

Man, this hanging out thing is getting old. It has sort of been a roller coaster ride for the last month. Right now, I think I’m in a big dip of the cycle. It is not like I am in huge pain or am in a really bad situation, it is just that being sedentary isn’t much in my personality. I’m not moving as well as I was last week, so I’m trying to stay off my feet, which is pretty easy just sitting at a hotel, in air conditioning, in a King bed, with World Cup soccer as entertainment. But, I’d rather be doing just able anything outside instead.

We’re up in Madison Wisconsin, for the US Elite National Championships. Trudi is working the race for the BMC Development Team. There are 4 Americans on the team, doing the races. They are riding the time trial and road race.

I went to dinner with the BMC guys last night. They are all super nice and fun. They all have a pretty complicated schedule, being on a development team that is based in Europe. A couple of the riders are doing Bend after this and two others are flying to Italy to do a stage race there.

Changing the subject, I saw an article that said that Adam Hansen, Lotto, is riding his 9th straight Grand Tour. So, that is the Giro, Tour, and Spain for 3 years straight. That is some crazy schedule. And it isn’t like he is just finishing the races. He’s doing a ton of work, plus winning stages every once in a while. Shit, touch guy. He also makes cycling shoes. Light ones. They cost 2000 euros or something stupid like that, but they weigh less than 100 grams. Don’t worry, you don’t have to stress about getting them because it looks like they are sold out this year.

And, since we’re on the 9 subject, how about Sven Tuft, Orica/Greenedge, winning his 9th National TT Championship last weekend? That is a lot. Plus he won the road race too. I remember the first time he came onto my radar screen. It was Redland’s Classic, maybe early 2000’s. He started behind me in the prologue time trial. It was a 5 km hillclimb, 30 seconds intervals. I was maybe 2 km up the climb, thinking I was going good, when he comes blowing by me on a time trial bike, in time trial position. I was stunned. I didn’t know the guy and he seemed too big to be going that fast uphill. I picked up my pace and went by him the last 500 meters, but he still throttled me pretty good, by close to 30 seconds. He was in the top ten, maybe top 5. After that, I realized that he was the real deal, which he is.

Okay, US vs. Belgium this afternoon. I’m making a few phone calls, but nothing much else on the agenda for the day. Sometimes, I would kill for a relaxing day like this, but right now, I’m pretty much hating it.