Author: dots and spaces

Is this the future for the Tour? Maybe. Slipstream is a team based in Boulder, Colorado which is financed by a software company and run by ex-pro Jonathan Vaughters. The team is built along ethical guidelines, produces test data on all their cyclists which is available to the public. "Do not Dope" is part of the mission statement says Vaughters and explains that their team will be subject to more than a thousand tests during any one season. This week Slipstream signed some big names, including David Zabriskie, Christian Vandervelde and Brit David Millar. Millar who was banned for two years for using EPO has become an ambassador for the anti-doping movement. He feels that the pressure to dope surrounds the sport, urging team managers to help change the mentality within the peloton.

There are a number of articles talking about the current state of cycling, including this one at slate (thanks to Amanda) and these at The Guardian. As always, tdfblog has more news about the race fallout and the various end of season team manoeuvrings.

Personally, I think there is a generation gap between the old members of the peloton who see doping as a legitimate risk, like driving home after a pint too many; and a new younger group of riders who want to race clean, compete on a level playing field and run on bread and water. I hear that Vaughters and Millar visited the organisers of the tour, who were very supportive of the work at Slipstream and who are absolute in their resolve to beat doping in cycling. As a fan, I no longer want to see those huge, legendary escapes, those incredible solo attacks, those massive time trial victories, because I can no longer believe them. This year, the tour was won by the tightest of margins. This is the way it should be, and hopefully the way it will be, because whilst there will always be some amazingly talented individuals, the riders will have to fight harder, go slower, be more tactical – and this will be a clean peloton.

The second rest day is up us and looking back its been an interesting tour. I think we’re all still getting use to how the tour unfolds post Armstrong. He was so dominant, bullying the peloton, deciding who could attack and who his boys should reel in. Its great now to see a few new names come to the fore. Whilst Rasmussen has been impressive, Contador marks the new generation now that LA has retired. I’m disappointed to hear the Chicken implicated in doping (now sure about that one) but he seems to have missed tests. Testing is such a part of the athletes life now, like training, competition, news and media – it seems inconceivable that testing wouldn’t be treated with the same attention to detail. Testing is like insurance, you make sure you’ve attended before you take on the biggest race of your life. Amazing…

Anyway, I’ve loved Vino’s attacks – I know he’s sunk, but he’s a proud athlete and he’s out to show the world that he’s the strongest overall. I’m sure he’ll feature in tomorrows stage…maybe dropping off the end again.

Also enjoyed the crowd shots – naked runners, blokes dressed as chickens, whole groups of orange clad Euskatel supporters, great stuff.

So, looks like Rasmussen will bag yellow all the way to Paris, with Contador second and probably Evans or Kloeden third. Sit tight, still some fun to be had.

We’re almost ready for the main event and with a prologue start in London, it’ll be the first time I’ve seen the Tour in England. I’m heading up there on Saturday for a wander around the race village, and hopefully cheer Bradley Wiggins to a triumphant prologue win (actually, my tip is Cancellara – but it would be un-patriotic not to back a Brit). With the field once again made up all of the survivors from the Puerto Affair, its a pretty open race. However, there’s Vinokourov – strong in the Dauphine and with a good team behind him – this could be his year.

Usual links at www.letour.fr and www.tdfblog.com – also, check out the London "Grand Depart" site.

Almost all of the bicycles sold in the UK are manufactured abroad and are subject to a 14% import duty, which is in stark contrast to the majority of electronics goods shipped in. So, is the government saying it would like more couch potatoes than active cyclists? – If you agree that this is a bit bonkers go the the No.10 website and ask Gordon to kick off his new job with a positive move to scrap this duty. There is a petition here at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/No-Bicycle-Duty/ – honestly, it took me less than 37 seconds to add my name and send back the confirmation email. Do it and tell everyone else to do this too.

What a fun little video, made by London Transport – it really does the business. I think London might actually be starting to be a little bit more bike friendly. After July 7th bombings the number of bicycles in London ballooned, my friend Andy said that there were a couple of days when some bike shops were short on stock.

Perhaps this is the opportunity to talk about Matt Seaton who writes a column in the guardian and who wrote one of the finest books about cycling I’ve ever read, called The Escape Artist, a superb book, an autobiography of a cyclist. Its a moving book, dealing in parts with the death of his partner, the writer Ruth Picardie. a recommended read.