The gateway drug to cycling

My dream was to ride Le Tour, but when it became clear that my lungs and legs were not up to the job, I consoled myself with the opportunity to cover two editions of the race for Pezcyclingnews. I had the (some would say) privilege of being close enough to be spattered by Floyd Landis’ sweat as he crossed the line a broken man, following his implosion on Stage 16. I managed to snap a photo, just a face and arm poking into the shot, as he rolled past me and into the arms of his soigneur.

My father - a newcomer to the sport - suggested that Floyd should just attack the next day, to recover his lost time. I scoffed and explained how feats like that were impossible in ‘modern cycling’. On the road to Morzine Floyd made a fool of me, dominating the stage and re-entering the race for the yellow jersey. It’s a great memory, providing I choose to ignore the unpleasant sub-text of the story.

I love the Giro, the Vuelta provides late season fireworks, but nothing can beat the the grandiosity, the drama, the three weeks of gladiatorial battles that make up the Tour de France. Channel 4 coverage of Tour was my gateway drug to cycling. I still get excited when I hear the classic theme tune. Thanks to the internet, you can still enjoy it. Thanks to hindsight, we can now appreciate the fact that, when this clip was filmed, the first face you see probably had blood thick enough to plaster a wall.



The uncertainty of the Tour de France is captivating, when experience lulls the viewer into a false sense of security, unexpected performances can be breathtaking. However, I’m beginning to get a tired of wondering whether the winner of the race will eventually be stripped of his title. Some may say that, should Contador start the race, this year’s edition of the Tour may be run under a cloud of suspicion. I’m not sure. We can’t insulate ourselves from all disappointment, just as we can never mitigate against all risk. I suggest, let’s not let fear of being let down hinder our enjoyment of the event. Come July, I’ll take my chances and allow myself to be captivated again.