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Letters to Cyclingnews - May 23, 2008
Here's your chance to get more involved with Cyclingnews. Comments and criticism on current stories, races, coverage and anything cycling related are welcomed, even pictures if you wish. Letters should be brief (less than 300 words), with the sender clearly identified. They may be edited for space and clarity; please stick to one topic per letter. We will normally include your name and place of residence, but not your email address unless you specify in the message.
Please email your correspondence to letters@cyclingnews.com.
Road rage incident
How much will it take?
Paralysed cyclist, Fausto Exparza
David Millar
Basso gets a contract
Weight work
CAS and Petacchi
Shortest TdF
Petacchi & Piepoli
Road rage incident
I grew up in Sydney, lived 16 years in Melbourne, and then moved to Lyon, France at the beginning of this year. The change of culture has been amazing: in Australia I have dodged beer bottles and been hit with eggs thrown from cars, I've been forced on to the gravel shoulder by trucks and I've experienced the 'brake-check' in traffic. Fortunately I'm sufficiently slow that I was able to avoid a collision. Commuting meant being regularly harassed, squeezed and threatened.
In the hills around Lyon, I'm typically treated with respect and courtesy by drivers. Friends tell me that motorcyclists benefit in the same way (and in neither case are the two wheeled fraternity more law-abiding here than in Australia). Even in the city, with its heavy traffic, progress is much calmer. Cycle lanes actually continue across intersections, rather than being placed where they are convenient (and hence, typically useless).
I suspect the sad truth is that Australian society is polarized between the few who actively participate in sport and the great majority who simply watch it on TV. Those who've never used anything but a car for transport seem simply incapable of seeing the roads as available to anyone else... with the occasional idiot being just the extreme of the general pattern.
Graham Byrnes
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Road rage incident #2
Having visited Western Canada and North-West USA August last year on a cycling tour covering 15 days and over 1000km, it was with interest I read your letter.
I live in Perth, Western Australia and had not cycled outside of Australia before. I assumed that Australia has its share of road nuts and anti-cyclist drivers like anywhere else, and it was a revelation to me to see the level of general courtesy and consideration given to riders whilst on tour, and especially in Canada. No horn honking, no swearing, no pressing cyclists into the curb or other threatening behaviour - it was a real (but pleasant) shock! Testament to the appalling attitude of a sizeable proportion of the car driving population in Perth (and apparently throughout Australia). It really bought home the sheer aggressiveness and intolerance of car drivers here.
Funnily enough (or not), the day after I returned from my tour of Canada and the States, in which I had not been subject to one harsh incident, a ride on the roads in Perth on a Sunday afternoon led to me being screamed at by a driver!
I too was equally perturbed by Anne Morphett, the media officer of the NRMA, and resolved to write to her expressing my dissatisfaction with her comments - until it dawned on me that, as the public face of a motoring advocacy group, she was simply spouting the line that typified many car driver's beliefs: that it's their road and no-one else's. This is the ingrained prejudice we as cyclists face...
Leonard Hannaby
Perth, Western Australia
Thursday, May 15 2008
Road rage incident #3
While I in no way condone the actions of this stupid and dangerous driver, it is also important to realize that we cyclists should ride safely and responsibly. If we do so, then we are less likely to incite anger in other road users.
A classic example is our frequent failure to obey road laws. Large groups of riders, in this case 50 or so cyclists, present a long and cumbersome obstacle for traffic, particularly as cyclists are often travelling more slowly than the surrounding traffic.
Cyclists should ride in groups of a maximum of 10-12 riders to allow cars to pass easily and safely. This is a basic rule of our local club. Again, this driver's actions are inexcusable, but this incident of road rage may not have happened if this group split up into smaller groups to allow better integration with the surrounding traffic or alternatively had safety vehicles at the front and end of the group.
Julius Liptak
Ottawa, Canada
Thursday, May 15, 2008
How much will it take?
I noticed all the Sydney road rage letters were from Americans and Canadians; cheers for the thoughts guys.
Having moved from Wales (best place in the world to ride except for the weather), to live in Oz 4 yrs ago, I can confirm the attitude toward cyclists here is shameful.
Having ridden in; Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Cairns to date, it appears many drivers are of the same attitude; Cyclist should not be on the road. Buzzing you, cutting you off, slamming on brakes after passing you, pulling out in front of you when you have right of way, hurling verbal abuse and projectiles, threatening assault, and in fact striking you with their vehicles are all regular occurrences.
No amount of responsible riding; wearing bright clothing, full HID lighting and reflective clothing at night seem to make a difference. The culprits aren't limited to one group either, men and women, young and old, tradies, truck drivers, taxi drivers, bus drivers are all there along with the young set.
In addition the police respond in dismissive manner, belittling you or failing to follow up after an incident report is made.
It's laughable to hear the much flaunted phrase "giving people a fair go", and yet the ignorant element of road users failing to do exactly that. It is the most "un-Australian" element here.
For anyone planning to visit and ride in OZ, please do, this country is awesome and the people are the best (when not behind the wheel), but please consider the other road users as a very real hazard, and do not assume the same level of skill as European drivers for example.
For the rest of us over here, the report in Sydney was sadly no more a surprise than the fact the press even bothered to cover it.
Mark Harrison
Gold Coast, Australia
Monday, May 19, 2008
Paralysed cyclist, Fausto Exparza
I wanted to write you to express my dismay at the really weak coverage cycling media has given to the crash on the last stage of the Tour of the Gila, which left Mexican Champion Fausto Esparza paralysed in hospital in El Paso Texas. This is one of the most horrendous injuries that have occurred in cycling this year and it seems as though it is being swept under the rug because there is no interest in an injured Mexican rider.
Had this been the US, Belgian, French, or Aussie Champion it would have been leading news, trumpeted all over the internet, yet I have to search to find any mention of it at all. Fausto has lost his ability to make a living, has a family and 3 children to support, and I had hoped to see the cycling community rally to his aid. Instead it seems the media treats this story as though it didn't even happen. Kudo's to Toyota-United who have donated to Fausto's help and to cyclingnews photographer Mitch Clinton who donated all his profits from race photos to this cause. I had hoped to see an outpouring of support from the cycling community and media; instead all I hear is deafening silence. Please do more to bring this story to the attention of the cycling community, this brother of ours has suffered an incident which every rider risks daily and deserves and needs the help and support of us all. Please, please, please, don't let this story die.
Donations can be sent To:
Wells Fargo Bank
1201 N. Pope St.
Silver City, NM88061
Attn: Fausto Esparza Donation Fund
Steve Farris
Silver City, NM
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
(Ed note: A follow up story was run in our May
22 edition of news.)
David Millar
Totally agree. The first thing I thought of was karma. I love to see really grateful cyclists like the young Mark Cavendish win stages. He seemed genuinely delighted and grateful to be there. On the other hand Millar seems like a spoiled brat throwing his toys out of the pram. Whenever I see or read an interview of his he comes across as being arrogant and cocky. He's got nothing to be arrogant about. He's only famous because he's one of the best British riders. In reality though, I think that he is very average.
Emmet Ryan
Thursday, May 15, 2008
David Millar #2
Although I appreciate Ian Watts' opinion concerning David Millar, I have to say that I support Millar all the way. The fact is that there have been plenty of great riders who felt they had to dope just to be competitive in a peloton more doped than straight.
Let's start from scratch and consider everyone a saint until proven a sinner from this point on.
Tom Kunich
San Leandro, CA
Thursday, May 15, 2008
David Millar #3
Ian Watts said, on 8th May:
"I absolutely agree David Millar is a disgrace to the sport, the fact he is allowed to wear the British national champion's jerseys for both road and time trials really sticks in my throat. The guy puts himself on a pedestal making out he is some goody two shoes reformed druggie and thinks it's acceptable. Worst still English speaking magazine hold the bloke up as some kind of doping 'guru' and allow him endless pages of preaching. Well let's remind everybody... A leopard never changes the colour of its spots!!"
Millar never failed a test. Yet when interviewed by police, came clean and admitted his guilt. He "did his time" in the form of a two year ban. He did not spend the time finding ghost writers to pen 'I'm innocent' books for him; he did not manipulate his family and friends into starting a fruitless 'David is innocent' internet campaign; he did not come up with a '101 ways the test is wrong' document - he put his hands up and said 'yes, I doped'. He then went about rebuilding his career, and today, when journalists approach him, (not the other way round) he'll talk openly of the mistakes he made.
So, go ahead, condemn the guy for being honest.
Neil Hassan,
Glasgow, UK.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Basso gets a contract
Really? A leopard never changes the colour of its spots? I think throwing clichés and old "wisdoms" like that around is just a little too easy.
Have you ever made a mistake Ian? I guess not. If you don't like Millar, that's fine, but what you are saying is akin to an accusation that what happened in the past is continuing. Give the man a chance to right his wrongs. As far as I see it, he is making a reasonable effort to do just that.
Andrew Kelly
Uri, Switzerland
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Basso gets a contract #2
Sorry mate I think you are completely wrong, where are the skeletons in your cupboard? We all have them.
In life we have a thing called justice, Millar served his time he's back doing what he does, he's put his money where his mouth is with Slipstream and does his "soapbox" where ever people listen. You are aware of this, if you don't like what he has to say don't buy the magazines.
Whatever sport you are in if you break the rules of that sport you are punished within the rules. Millar broke the rules, he was punished he's back in the peloton, get over it. There is no lifetime ban!!
Cycling has had its head in the sand for years and until the UCI get's a grip then it will stay that way.
Donald Young
Aberdeen, Scotland
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Basso gets a contract #3
In the non-athletic world of drugs, recovering and want to-be recovering drug addicts respond the best to talking with recovered addicts, because those who have successfully rehabilitated themselves know firsthand the challenges of getting off dope. They become role models.
The same thing can happen with performance-enhancing drugs. Why banish someone for life if they admit their mistakes and offer themselves up as part of the solution. Get over the bitterness, Ian. Millar was a cheat and a liar and a doper. But he didn't attempt to avoid the consequences of being caught. He confessed and paid the price; now he's clean and he's a poster boy for clean racing. What's the problem? More power to him.
Basso on the other hand has never really owned up to his sins. I don't know what to think about him; I hoped he would confess or just quietly go away. No such luck.
Jeff Dwyer
Victoria, BC Canada
Friday, May 16, 2008
Weight work
Bryan Kiriby - Nice one, very old school I like it. But where do you put 36kg, can't be in the back pocket. That's like riding up with 6 extra bikes. Six bikes that I cant afford.
Alex Liauw
New Territories, Hong Kong
Friday, May 16, 2008
Weight work #3
Hi, I Love your story. I remember back in the early 80's seeing some of the pro riders that I used to admire training with back packs on their backs full of heavy stuff and also going up hills with delivery style bicycles with the metal basket in the front and everything that weighted about 35 to 40 pounds or more. So I believe you and maybe I will try it too.
M Gonzalez
Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Friday, May 16 2008
CAS and Petacchi
Well his team just sacked him, for what? For taking a medicine that if you in fact DO have Asthma allows you to breath like everyone else, not better than everyone else. And if you don't have asthma it does nothing for you. It is a short acting bronchodilator for acute asthma attacks. It relaxes smooth muscle in the airways that become inflamed during an attack. No attack, no inflammation of the smooth muscle. Yeah, yeah there are those that say it can be used as a fat burner but you would have to take much more than what he used. What a shame.
Dave
Colorado
Friday, May 16, 2008
Shortest TdF
I like Les Woodland retro articles. Speaking of the shortest Tour de France participations. Fred Moncassin, while riding for Novel at the time If I remember correctly - year I don't know - signed on for the first stage but broke his ankle coming down the stairs of the sign in podium. I think that would qualify for a even shorter TdF than Boardman. How unfortunately can one be?
Erik Rynberg
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Petacchi & Piepoli
Petacchi is suspended, race results cancelled, out of a job, yet Piepoli who was tested with even more Salbutamol than his unfortunate compatriot - continues to romp up the Giro climbs. Why? Because his license is from Monaco, not from Italy. It's this lack of cohesion that's making a mockery of cycling.
Liz Cochrane
Malaga, Spain
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Recent letters pages
Letters 2008
- May 23: Road rage incident, How much will it take?, Paralysed cyclist, Fausto Exparza, David Millar, Basso gets a contract, Weight work, CAS and Petacchi, Shortest TdF, Petacchi & Piepoli
- May 15: Sydney road rage incident, Steegmans lashes out at UCI, Steve Hogg's article, World Cup #3 XC, Where is Chris Horner, Slipstream, Astana and Le Tour, Giro stage 5!, US time trial Champion?, Basso gets a contract, Race radios, CAS ruling on Petacchi, Hamilton's integrity? Dude!, Weight work
- May 8: Race radio?, Ridiculous ruling, What a farce!, CAS ruling on Petacchi, Basso gets a contract, Hamilton's integrity? Dude!, French riders had to give up their jerseys?,
- May 1: Race radio?, Basso gets a contract, Advise needed for Alpe D'Huez, LeMond vs. Armstrong, Bottles, Scars of war, ProTour in Russia! China? Ahem... America?, LeMond's 1989 TdF, Mayo?, Stuart O'Grady Team CSC Cervélo R3 Paris, Have any French riders had to give up their jerseys?
- April 25: Just shut up and ride, ProTour in Russia! China? Ahem...America?, Bottles, LeMond's 1989 TdF, New format for the Vuelta? , Scars of war, LeMond v. Armstrong, No tour for Astana #1, Rock Racing rip off #1, Advise needed for Alpe D'Huez, Stuart O'Grady Team CSC Cervélo R3 Paris
- April 18: Just shut up and ride, USA Track Cycling, Paris-Roubaix, Little Indy 500 - Women's Race Article, Stuart O'Grady Team CSC Cervélo R3 Paris-Roubaix, What's happening to road tubeless?, Thanks Cyclingnews, Bottles, Just think?, Tour of Georgia - Lame, Colavita, No tour for Astana, Clever tactics by McQuaid expose ASO, Suggestions for the little bullies, Rock Racing rip off, LeMond Vs. Trek
- April 10: Suggestions for the little bullies, Pat McQuaid, Clever tactics by McQuaid expose ASO, Just think, Trek vs. LeMond, Rock Racing rip off, Homepage overhaul, Some praise, USA track cycling, Team car order just the first gamble, Come on Greg & Lance, LeMond vs. Armstrong
- April 3: Pat McQuaid, April fools, Carbon Wrap-It System, Sylvain Chavanel, Astana vs. Rabobank vs. Slipstream Chipotle, Cadel Evans, Clever tactics by McQuaid expose ASO, Colavita, Let VDB ride?, Race radios, Rock Racing rip off
- March 27: Riccardo's manner of professionalism, Rock Racing rip off, Chavanel's Paris - Nice shoes, Cadel Evans, Cadel Evans at Paris - Nice, Let VDB ride?, ASO vs. Astana, ASO vs. UCI help me with my memory, Astana vs. Rabobank vs. Slipstream Chipotle, Police kill cyclists,"PRO"cycling teams
- March 20:"Pro"Cycling Teams, AIGCP does have a choice, ASO vs UCI help me with my memory, ASO vs. Astana, Chavanel's Paris - Nice shoes, Kevin van Impe's doping control, Cadel Evans at Paris - Nice, Hamilton, Operacion Puerto, and the ToCA, Paris - Nice: What it could have been, Police kill cyclists, The Astana affair, UCI hypocrisy
- March 13:"Pro"Cycling Teams, ASO vs. Astana, ASO vs. UCI, ASOh well, UCI'll see you later, Cycling fans must let their voices be heard, Denounce ASO's actions for what they are, Hamilton, Operacion Puerto, and the ToCA, Knife between the ribs?, Paris Nice, Police kill cyclists, British track sprinters' helmets?, Rock Racing and Michael Ball, The Astana affair, The real ASO problem, Tour and ASO, UCI - very bad poker players, UCI hypocrisy.
- March 6: Zirbel and the"ride of his life", British track sprinters' helmets, Hamilton, Operacion Puerto and the ToCA, Three grand tours or five monuments?, Rock Racing and Michael Ball, Pro cycling is dead, Paris - Nice, Knife between the ribs?, Doping and the Tour, Astana, the ASO and the UCI, ASO vs. Astana, The Astana affair, ASO vs. UCI vs. AIGCP vs. the non existent riders, The real ASO problem, Denounce ASO's actions for what they are, Sponsorship code of ethics, Where are the other ProTour teams?, ProTour vs. ASO
- February 28: ASO vs. Astana, Passion and sponsorship, Crash or crash through, Pro cycling is dead, Why we must have the ProTour, Rock Racing and Michael Ball, ToC and Rock, The hidden message behind banning Astana, ASO is killing cycling, ASO could be right, The real ASO problem, UCI - draw a line in the sand, ASO has lost the plot, The Astana affair, Astana and ASO/RCS, the Astana decision, Operacion Puerto, Old rider classification
- February 15: Doping controls, Tour of California moving up!, Why I love the Tour of California, Operation Puerto, Astana rejected by ASO, Boycott ASO, ASO - stop the madness, Tour de France, ASO is wrong to exclude Astana, Astana, ASO, and the NFL, Tour de Farce, The hidden message behind banning Astana, Astana exclusion, ASO is killing cycling, Astana out of Tour, ASO has lost the plot
- February 8: Lampre doping controls, Grand Tour Monopoly?, Giro selections, Slipstream Qatar, Allan Davis, Sheldon Brown, Dick Pound to head CAS?, Find out who's leaking lab results, Rock racing
- February 1: UCI vs. Grand Tour war, Best wishes to Anna, The incident, Rock racing & Starbucks, Rock racing Rocks, Rock racing, Landis in NUE, Lance is the best of all time, Sinkewitz logic, Astana for 08 Tour?
- January 25: Rock racing, Time to draw a line in the sand, ASO vs. UCI ProTour, UCI vs. Grand Tour war spills over to European federations, Readers' poll stage races 2007, Cyclist of the year, Team High Road's black kit, Lance is the best of all time, Landis in NUE, Toyota-United abusing USAC team rules?
- January 18: Cadel Evans - returns to training, Cyclist of the Year, DOPING - time to draw a line in the sand, Hincapie in T-Mobile kit, Lance is the best of all time, Readers poll: best stage races 2007, Rock racing, Speaking about Lance, Toyota-United abusing USAC team rules?
- January 11: Armstrong on Landis, Cadel Evans - returns to training, Hincapie in T-Mobile kit, Ivan Basso - why no tough questions?, Reader Poll, Rock & burn racing, Speaking about Lance, Sydor's consistency, The 'Bruyneel philosophy', Toyota-United abusing USAC team rules?
- January 5: Great day for cycling, Sydor's consistency, Hincapie in T-Mobile kit, CA awards misses national series, Thank you, Ivan Basso - why no tough questions?, Cadel Evans - returns to training, Helmets belong on heads, Armstrong on Landis, Will there be a Tour of Missouri?, Roberto Heras, Speaking about Lance, Mayo's B Sample
Letters 2007
- December 27: CA awards misses national series, Armstrong on Landis, Vinokourov's sentence, Vinokourov, Cadel Evans - returns to training, Mayo's B sample to get B test
- December 14: Sydor's consistency, George Hincapie, Helmet straps must be cinched a bit too tight, Will there soon be a sample"C"test?, ProTour, Vino's joke of a suspension, Mafioso McQuaid, Obee and Health Net, Mayo's B sample to get B test, Campagnolo offers its own 'red' shifter, T-Mobile's withdrawal a blow to Jaksche
- December 6: Tschüss T-Mobile, Anquetil, Mayo's B sample to get B test, T-Mobile drop out, Obee and Health Net, Stefano Zanini
- November 30: Anquetil,Mayo's B sample to get B test, Stefano Zanini, Rider's passport, Betting, Jonathan Page, Wake up!!, T-Mobile drop out, Bike design originality
- November 23: Remembering Jacques Anquetil, Done looking back, Mayo's B sample to get B test, Cross crank, Rider's passport, Blood passports and humanity, Fothen's comments on Bettini, Nathan O'Neill , Sinkewitz, Rasmussen blood values, Sponsorship strangeness, Dick Pound better understood, Bike design originality,
- November 16: Nathan O'Neill, Rasmussen blood values, The Crocodile Trophy, Sinkewitz, Drug testing procedures, Rider's passport, The drug issue, Bike design originality , Sponsorship strangeness, Selfishness will ruin cycling
- November 9: The Crocodile Trophy, A little bit of bias here?, Rider's passport, Kasheckin, Positive tests, Drug testing procedures, Marco Pinotti: Engineering a new path, Bike design originality
- November 2: What does this mean?, Le Tour 08, Mayo's B sample, Bike design originality, Trimble, UCI says Mayo case not closed, Drug testing procedures ... and false positives, Kashechkin: controls violate human rights, Drug testing procedures, Mayo, UCI, Kashechkin, et al... Great, now it's coming from both ends, Positive tests, Why even bother with B samples then?, Mayo's positive EPO test, Falling barriers
- October 26: Rider passports & Cadel Evans, Drug testing procedures ... and false positives, Iban Mayo's false positive, Iban Mayo and Landis, Armstrong on Landis, Mayo's B sample, UCI turns Mayo's case into a debaucle, Great...now they hand pick the results, No justice for Mayo, UCI says Mayo case not closed, Bike design originality, 2006 Tour de France, A bad week for cycling, A fitting end to the season
- October 19: 2006 Grand Tour trifecta!, 2006 Tour de France, A fitting end to the season, Armstrong on Landis, Bike design originality, doping in cycling, Doping numbers, Paris-Tours testing mishap, UCI and the lack of testing!, Vino's other Tour stage win, The absolute best?
- October 12: Armstrong on Landis, Bike design originality, Cycling drama, Doping is unfair; but so is discrimination, It’s not doping that's..., Landis case - everyone's a loser, Length and cost of the Landis case, R & R, The Landis decision, Tour of America
- October 5: Cycle drama, It's not doping that's"killing"the sport, Why is VAM a benchmark, Tour of America, The Landis decision, DYNEPO, Worlds, Rock & Republic's CEO Michael Ball, Please explain, Giuseppe Guerini, FICP
- September 28: Tour of America, World champion zany-ness, The Landis decision, ASO v UCI, McQuaid vs ASO vs the riders, Please explain, Why is VAM a benchmark, Giuseppe Guerini, Menchov felt betrayed by Rasmussen, ProTour and Le Tour, Where is the due process
- September 21: Astana's future and Bruyneel, Bruyneel's afterlife, Floyd Landis decision, Why is VAM a benchmark, Lifetime bans, Menchov felt betrayed by Rasmussen, Ungrateful Levi, Spanish cycling, Where is the due process
- September 14: Astana & Bruyneel, Cycling vs. soccer, Cycling will survive, Floyd Landis decision, LeMond's comments, Menchov felt betrayed by Rasmussen, Ungrateful Levi, Why is VAM a benchmark?
- September 7: Cycling vs. soccer, Floyd Landis decision, UCI, ASO, LeMond, et al who cares? Riders, Lawyers in the Landis case, LeMond's comments, Riders taking the fall?, US Postal/Discovery R.I.P.
