Thursday, June 7, 2007

Ultimo chilometro...

Cycling has changed since I began riding back in 1983. I look back on those days with the fondness that usually accompanies memories of first loves, magic moments and rites of passage. Now, there is a certain amount of disappointment that I feel when I think of the sport. The achievements of todays' champions are soiled by the doubt of doping. Did they? Were they clean? The questions can travel all the way back... cheating and competition go all the way back. There has always been someone who has wanted to take a short cut to success. The difference between champions and near champions is only a fraction of a percent. At the top, they are all great. But there is only one winner.

All that has happened to ruin the image of cycling isn't just the result of this generation of cyclist. It's the years of secrets and lies finally coming back to bite the sport in the ass. I hope that things change enough and that the damage can be repaired. Cycling is in it's ultimo chilometro...it's final kilometer before it loses its fans, it's essense and it's magic.