by -Adam- » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:15 am
All arguments excepted, here's a question:
Why are there so many people in cycling determined to dig around for this dirt when other sports live in peace. When realistically they are blatently 'on it' too. I am personally convinced top level football is run on drugs but there is too much money involved to dirty the water.
Im not saying its a bad thing, I want just as much as the next person to be able to believe in the pro's. However I do still have a begrudging respect for them, especially having ridden with a handful of them. They are obviously super talented regardless of the drugs and the difference in ability astounded me to be honest. However, it is obviously not right. I do believe it's getting better, I met a guy in March who rode in France professionally for 6 years in the late 90's and he told me stories that to be honest, i didn't want to hear. But thats the brutal truth of it. He did seem confident that the present situation is a lot better also. But there is still a long way to go, patience is the key.
I think it is also important to not completely tarnish every name from cycling history. Those that have tested positive should bite the bullet and reveal all, about how the did it and probably got away with it for a while too. Like Millar, Basso etc...
I think that it is the culture that must change too.
This is happening now. Slipstream for example are setting up more of a family than a team. They are to live by each other in Girona next year and therefore become so inter twined that if one were to disappear to Madrid say for a weekend, it shouldn't go un-noticed. Obviously this is not a flawless ideal but its a start. Its like, forgive me, safe sex adverts. Making it a taboo not to use a condom etc, it works. Maybe not 100%, but it helps. (at least in my circles anyway)
In the war of the worlds thread somebody stated 'its really not that important to me'. I agree, but i do care, because ultimately its our sport and all of us, in a way, look bad everytime there is a scandal. Its all our responsibilities as cyclists to defend what should be held up as the greatest sport on the planet. It is.