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Monday, July 9, 2012

The Greatest Sport

I'm sure plenty of you have a favorite professional sport to follow and cycling may not rank up high on that list.  In the States, American football is king.  I don't particularly get why, but that's cool.  I respect that.  However, I posit that professional cycling is in fact the most beautiful and enjoyable sport out there to be a fan of.  I know that's a big statement to make, but using the Tour de France alone I have some strong evidence.

1).  It takes place in the grandest stadiums in existence.

The awe inducing switch backs of Alpe d'Huez.
http://www.hotel-panoramique.com
Sure, the Bird's Nest in Beijing is one cool piece of architecture.  But, can it really compete with the natural vistas of France that grace your TV screen during the month of July?  And, that's just the Tour de France.  There's also Italy, Spain, California, to name a few more "stadiums."  And those are just the "big ones."  You also have the other stage races around Europe and the Classics.  I mean, really, you couldn't ask for a better backdrop.

What we were forced to look at on Sunday during our spectating of Stage 7.
Not only are these "stadiums" freaking gorgeous, they're huge!  France is about the size of Texas.  This year's Tour course is 3,497 kilometers, that's almost 2,173 miles!  Let's put that into perspective, shall we?  That is about the distance from Manhattan to Yellowstone National Park.  That is a bit of a drive, 36 hours if you never stopped to get gas, food, or sleep.  Now imagine trying to cover that distance on your bicycle as fast and as hard as you can with some really big mountains along the way- e for 20 days.    

That brings me to my next point.

2).  It has some of the toughest athletes in the world.

No, they don't weigh between 250-300lbs like the average American football player.  But, as we know being big doesn't mean someone is tough.  These guys range around 150lbs and average below 6 feet tall.  They don't cover themselves in 10-20lbs of padding either.  

No, these guys wear only helmets, really light helmets.  There are no elbow, knee, or shoulder pads.  Their clothing is a joke when it comes to protection.  When they do crash they hit the pavement so hard and fast, it basically burns off.  If it does that to the lycra, just imagine the state of their skin.

Mark Cavendish after his brutal crash in the 2012 Giro.  Notice the man is back on
his bicycle.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk
Now, do they roll around dramatically on the pavement every time they fall off and go boom?  No, unless there is a serious injury (like broken bone serious) these guys get right back on their bikes and keep pedaling.  They'll pedal as long as it's physically possible.  If they do sustain an injury that keeps them from getting back on, it's for things like broken legs and clavicles.  Many people would probably end their season if they broke a bone.  Not these guys.  They get back too it as soon as they can.  Fabian Cancellera broke his clavicle on April 1 of this year and was back to racing on June 10.  He started training, of course, much sooner than that.

Take a look at strong man Jens Voigt's top tube graphic here.  Those are some impressive statistics!  Need one more example of how tough these cyclists are?  I give you Andre Greipel.  "The Gorilla" won Stages 4 and 5 with two incredibly strong sprints.  He hoped to make it an even three on stage 6.  But, early on he was involved in a crash that injured his wrist and dislocated his shoulder.  He popped his shoulder back in and kept going.  Then, he was in a second crash with 50km to go.  He got back on  and kept going again.  He told his DS that he wasn't going to try for the final sprint; he didn't have the strength.  Not, "I'm going to get off my bike and abandon", which, you know, would be my line after colliding with a bunch guys and their not so soft bicycles, having a screwed up wrist, and popping my shoulder back into its socket.  OK, obviously I wouldn't be riding in a race anyway, but whatever.  His DS told him to try anyway.  Instead of saying, "Dude, I can barely hold the handlebars let alone push my speed up to 45mph. Forget it.", he went for it.  He placed second.

Ok, enough about the crashing.  Let's look at what it's like to ride a stage without falling off.  The average length of this year's stages (not including the time trials) is 199.74km or 124.1mi.  One hundred twenty four miles.  A day.  For 17 days.  They will ride that 124mi at an average speed of 25mph.  They will climb mountains (where other people ski), tackling terrain that looks like this:

http://www.letour.fr
Then, they go down those mountains, reaching speeds of around 60mph on tires roughly the same width as the space between the top of your thumb and its knuckle.

In addition to that, they have three individual time trials in which they will do their best to ride at about 35mph.  They only get two rest days for this year's Tour de France.

I did mention that they do this crazy stuff for 20 days, right?  The rest of us regular people make a big deal if we ride 100 miles at 15mph in a day.  We call those "Centuries."  We buy stickers and t-shirts lauding our completion of a Century.  Most of us can't imagine sustaining such speeds for 5 hours straight, let alone for 20 days! 


Keep in mind that the Tour de France isn't the only Tour the riders will do in a year. They put themselves through arguably the toughest competition in existence and then they go through a similar experience in Italy and Spain.  In the Spring, they're go lickety-split over cratered roads in downpours and dust storms.  When they're not racing, they're training 2 to 6 hours a day.  The do this every year, not every two year, or every four, but every single year.  If they have a good year, they're lauded by the public and press.  If they're having a bad year, they're subjected to the incessant jeers of couch critics and commentators.  If you think that doesn't matter, think again.  How would you feel if you were about to ride 124 miles in 5 hours and everyone on Twitter last night called you a whiny sissy?  Due to all the doping scandals over the years, you could even be harassed for a good performance.


There is a reason why these guys are professionals.  Only a professional would be willing to go through this crap for relatively low pay compared to the professional athletes in other sports out there.  Don't even get me started on how tough the ladies in this sport are.

We are lucky we get to watch them on the side of the road or on our TVs.  Speaking of watching...

3).  Cycling spectators have the most fun.

Ok, ok.  I know it is hard to get coverage of anything besides the Tour de France on live TV in the States.  It is a challenge to be a cycling fan in a country of non-cycling fans.  But, if you happen to watch a race, most specifically the Tour de France in person you'll have more fun than you ever had tailgating.  Why?  Four things: the other fans, the caravan, the actual race, and the course itself.  I don't even need to mention that you will be going to France, right?

The fans are awesome.  They will load up the camper and claim their spot on the side of the road the night before.  They will pull out flags and signs.  They'll paint messages in the street.  They will bring TVs and radios.  They will lay out a massive spread of food and full sized tables and chairs.  They will dress in costume.  They will sing at the top of their lungs.  They will dance.  They will laugh.  They will pass out wine to their neighbors, even if they're Australians.  They will scream their heart out for their favorite even if he is at the back of the pack with no chance of placing anywhere in the top twenty.  They love this race, and you can't help but love it right along with them.

This jolly fellow had his spot claimed when we arrived at Col de Gross Pierre at 6am. 

Belgian fans declaring their support for their National Champ.




You have to get to the prime locations really early so you will be spending at least 8 hours with these folks.  Trust me, you don't get bored people watching.  And when the cyclists themselves are due at any moment, there's nothing more exciting than waiting with baited breath along with the crowd.



When it's time for the caravan to roll through, things get even more entertaining.  The caravan is just plain ludicrous.  There's no parade quite like the one that heads the Tour de France.  The best cars are the ones that toss the favors to the crowd.  It doesn't matter that most of what they throw is junk, you still get a thrill when something lands your way- be it hat, gummy snack, or key chain.  The colors and the excitement of this bizarre show may confuse at first, but before you know it you'll be clapping along with the crowd.






Selection of things we ended up with from the caravan.

What is more entertaining, the cars, the fans, or the people working the pre-race show?

When it is time for the peloton itself to come through, that's when the excitement reaches its peak.  Even if they're going uphill, they are still going fast and the whole spectacle is over in a matter of seconds.  But, if you're a fan of pro cycling being right there within touching distance (DON"T TOUCH THEM, FOR PETE'S SAKE!!!!) as they are in the heat of the competition is an experience you're not likely to forget.  You're right there standing on the side of the road on which they ride, no tickets necessary.  You hear them breathing, you feel the wind as they pass.  You can see the joy or the pain on their faces.   It doesn't matter if you like the guys or not, this is powerful stuff.  And, you're in the midst.  You can shout  "Keep going, Tyler!  You can do this!  Keep going!" and know that they hear you.  For some reason as they ride by, so far behind the pack they're with the cars, you think maybe that encouragement helps.  There's a chance that it does.  Who knows.  He got on his bike again the next day.  You are a part of a competition and a national event that has been happening since 1903, and that's something pretty remarkable.  You never know, if you're lucky you can bring home a treasured souvenir tossed, unwanted, from the hands of a national hero.  




There are few sports that allow you to be in the action, in the course itself.  Being in the course all day is half the fun, even if you were totally alone and the caravan was nothing more than a couple cars filled with scowling old men.  I mentioned already that the stadium in which this sport is played is the most beautiful in the world.  But, if you're a spectator you get to hang out in that stadium all day.  If you plan it right, you can drive and park right along the course, pull out your lawn chairs and picnic basket and have a grand old time.  In what other sport can you watch a race, right on the course, with your feet up, a glass of wine in hand, some Brie and croissants for snacking, with your dog sitting alongside- in France?  I'm still blown away to have been given the opportunity.

Snacks for sale.

Our picnic

Living in the lap of luxury, in my chair.  Stinker.
The fact that you can be right there to watch it and feel it, brings me to my last point.

4).  It inspires.


Yes, so are all the other sports.  But, pretty much everyone has ridden or continues to ride a bicycle on occasion.  Most of us have one in the garage.  It is a very popular activity.  No matter your height, weight, sex, or age you can ride a bicycle.   That doesn't really apply to Football, Basketball, or Baseball.  It would take me a whole lot of practice and frustration to master hitting a baseball with anything akin to accuracy.  There is no way I would even consider taking up tackling.  But, I can go downstairs right now and ride out the door on my bike.  Sure, most of us can't ride like the pros do, but nothing can stop us from trying (even on our cruisers) after a morning of enjoying the Tour on TV.   Pro cycling, and especially the Tour de France, brings an otherwise normal activity to the spotlight and makes it something incredible.  It can make people pull that old bike out of the garage and go for a ride.  They may discover that it is as fun as they remember.  They'll get some exercise along the way.  That's never a bad thing.


When you stand on the side of the road and see these guys power past you with all that intensity, it's nothing less than extraordinary.  When you see them succeed at their goals against all the odds, to the immense joy of those around them, you get inspired.  You can't help it.  It's inevitable.  When you're inspired there's no telling what will happen.  Look out.  You may achieve a goal.


Thibault Pinot, the youngest rider in the 2012 Tour and native of France, wins Stage 8 to the elation of his DS Marc Madiot, who hasn't had a team stage win since 2008.
So there you have it.  It has the greatest stadiums, it has the toughest athletes, the spectators have the most fun, and it inspires.  Cycling is the greatest sport to be a fan of.  Argue with me if you want, but be honest.  


Can anything else compete with wine and brie on a mountain side in France?


*For more pictures of Saturday's climb of Col de Grosse Pierre (Stage 7), check out my Flickr stream.

2 comments:

  1. What a wonderful post! You really captured all that I love about the Tour and more. I have posted a link to this blog entry on Facebook, Twitter, and Team Estrogen forums as I think it deserves to be read and shared widely. Good job, and thank you!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for reading, your kind words, and for re-sharing!

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