We've welcomed in the New Year and said goodbye to the old and for many cycling fans it is a huge relief to say goodbye to 2012.
Unfortunately for cycling, 2012, despite a great year of racing, will go down as a very dark year indeed. Of course I speak of the demise of the once great Lance Armstrong.
I'm still deeply affected by the events that unfolded last year. Torn between feelings of despair and disbelief, shame and humiliation. I'm sitting on the fence witnessing a once hero hunted, victimised and torn to shreds, and on the other hand feelings of justification weigh on the other end of the see-saw in my mind. There is no room for drugs in sport, that I am certain of. But I am also certain that there are heroes and great human beings who with or without artificial assistance will always be out of their competitors leagues. As I said, torn.
No doubt the fall out from the Lance Armstrong saga will continue to develop and unfold during 2013, but ultimately I am looking forward, which is something all cycling fans should do.
The summer of cycling and start to the 2013 cycling calendar has begun here in Australia with already the Bay Crits having taken place, the Jayco Herald Sun Tour currently underway and the National Road Championships next on the agenda. And then the big one - the Tour Down Under.
My first taste to savour will be when we travel to Buninyong for the National Road Race which is going to be a very exciting event indeed. Then we head to maginicient Adelaide and surrounds for our 9th consecutive trip to the Tour Down Under. I am hopeful that the mood at both will be as exciting as ever, and going by crowd numbers during stifling heat at the Sun Tour it should be.
So here's to 2013, may it hold more ups than downs and begin a momentum of pedals turning in unison for the future of cycling.
Are you heading out to any of the summer cycling in coming weeks?
Hey
ReplyDeleteSo pleased to see your blog again.. Was worried you had pifffffed it. It has been a bad bad year with the USADA finding etc. Like you many years ago Lance had me fooled.
It could easily be he believed he was using EPO etc to maintain his health and keep him where he should be rather than to actually cheat. At least that is what I choose to believe. Not many if any cyclists could have won a long stage race in the EPO era without cheating. I just think their decision to remove him as winner rather than to asterisk his wins and not except any "records" etc. from his performances an over-reaction (though understandable) and absolutely over the top.
He cannot win (neither can any other "hero") - admit to doping and lose your life - not admit to doping and seem unrepentant.
I am all for drawing a line in the sand and say from here on no doping will be tolerated.
F*&^k knows who would have won those 7 Yellows if Lance didn't and you can be sure of only one thing - who-ever won woulda been doping too.
All the best for 2013 and hope to hear more from you over the year. Thanks again for your insights I always enjoy reading them and can relate to quite a lot of what you have to say.
Cheers
Hi Carrie, thanks for your kind words. Just had a mini break as too much going on, moving house, birthdays, moving business, Christmas! But definitley am back!
ReplyDeleteI do agree that if Lance hadn't won whoever would have in that dark era would have been doping. It's a sad fact and the way it has been handled is sad for everyone and cycling.
Let's hope for brighter news this year and some great racing!