Le Tour

Before this year's Tour de France gets too far away in the rear view mirror, here are some observations.

First, my credentials. I have been an avid bicyclist for over 20 years and hold amateur racing licenses in the U.S. and Italy where I have competed in too many races to count. (BTW, for those unfamiliar with the sport, the stupidest question you can ask your cycling friend is, "Are you going to be in the Tour de France/Giro d'Italia/etc.?" Trust me, if they were good enough to be in those events, they wouldn't have time to be standing around talking to you!)

Regarding this year's Tour, I, like Charles Johnson, found that "my enjoyment of this event was seriously damaged this year" by the ongoing doping scandals. Nevertheless, I can't get over the incredible athleticism of the riders. So, if they're such great athletes, why the doping and what can be done about it?

"Why" is easy. In this year's TdF, the difference between the overall time of the winner and that of the very last finisher was a mere 4 percent. The difference between the winner, Alberto Contador, and third place, Contador's teamate Levi Leipheimer, was only 31 seconds (or .009 percent of the 91 hours the riders spent in the saddle)! Granted, winning requires more than just being 4 percent faster than the competition - tactics are vital too - but this small difference between the best and the rest gives an idea of just how closely the riders are matched. Highly competitive personalities such as professional athletes will naturally seek every advantage, from diet to training techniques to equipment to, for some, drugs. It's sad, but not surprising.

What constitutes "doping" is itself not as clear cut as it might appear. For example, taking a drug like salbutamol would seem like an obvious case of doping...unless, like Italian sprinter Alessandro Pettachi, it has been prescribed by a doctor to treat allergies. Injecting oneself with chemicals would also seem to be a clear-cut violation, but what about injecting vitamins, or an IV to replace fluids after a 6 hour race in 100F temperatures? Likewise, though sleeping in an oxygen tent to speed recovery after a grueling race might seem innocuous, akin to training at high altitude to boost red blood volume, it violates the Italian anti-doping rules (though not the UCI's). Go figure. This in no way excuses any rider's deliberate attempt to improve results by visiting the pharmacist, but it is not unknown for riders to inadvertently run afoul of the rules.

So, what can be done to fix the problem? One thing is for sure: if professional cycling doesn't get its arms around the issue, it will correct itself as sponsors flee the negative exposure and fans get so disgusted they stop watching. Eventually, without sponsors or fans, the monetary incentive associated with winning will evaporate, as will the motivations to win through cheating. Based on the crowds watching this year's TdF though - less than in years past, but still substantial - this dark scenario is still a ways off.

At least four major changes are needed for cycling to beat the doping rap:

• The drug testing process must be unimpeachable. There are too many problems with how samples are handled, like backup "B" samples that can't confirm initial positive results because they were frozen, and appearances of impropriety by lab officials, such as releasing riders' names to the press before sample results are proven. With a valid, unimpeachable testing process riders could have confidence that they would be treated fairly. Without it, there will always be doubts that the other guy is doping.
  
• Teams need to be proactive in firing riders who use drugs. Much progress has already been made in this area. Witness the differences between the teams' reactions to the 1998 Festina incident, and Rabobank's prompt reaction to this year's allegations against the yellow-jersey-wearing Rasmussen.
• Testing needs to be frequent and independent. Former Discovery rider Jonathan Vaughter's Slipstream team may be blazing new trails in this effort.
• Finally, riders themselves must establish an ethical code that rejects drugs, and ostracize those who fail to live up to this standard.

All that being said, bicycle racing remains one of the greatest sports for both participants and fans. This year's Tour was an exciting one despite the doping. Contador was a worthy champion, and it was great to see Discovery picking up where Lance Armstrong left off - on the winner's podium, wearing yellow.

(Photo: Lance Armstrong rides to victory in the 2002 TdF prologue time trial in Luxembourg. Photo by Gee, all rights reserved.)

- Gee

Where Do They Get Their Money?

A recent post on Wizbang discussed some activists from New Jersey who, while plying their trade in Vermont, were encouraged by the local constabulary to modify their actions through the use of a taser. Not knowing all the facts, I will refrain from commenting on the appropriateness of law enforcement's practices. Instead, the event raises another question about which I have long wondered: Where do these professional s*** disturbers get their funding?

According to the Boston Globe, the two 32-year-old protesters were unemployed. Yet somehow they managed to travel from their homes in New Jersey to the far reaches of New Hampshire, (presumably eating along the way), obtain flowers and herbs, chains, locks, cement, and a barrel. Granted, it probably didn't cost much, but it wasn't free either - a couple hundred bucks maybe? At least one of the protesters has made a career of this kind of thing. Where do they live between gigs? Probably the answer for some is "their parent's basement," but what about the others?

The same question applies to the "spontaneous" protests at the G8, WTO, Republican Convention, or just about anyplace else where responsible adults gather. I've visited some of these places. Just getting a cup of coffee costs $2 (or more). That has to be a challenge for some of the bums in the crowd (though they appear to economize on bath soap).

Who is funding these people and for what purpose? They can't all be living off of trust funds. The MSM is strangely uncurious. Sounds like a job for the blogosphere.

-Gee

Beach Time in La Maddalena

The beaches of the La Maddalena Archipelago are among the most beautiful in the world. They are so nice that even the wildlife likes to take a dip now and then. Check out this crazy cinghiale (a wild boar) strolling among the luxury yachts at the island of Caprera. A "capitalist pig" perhaps?
- Gee