We reflect on another year of cycling; who has been naughty and who has been nice. The rusty chain award used to go to the biggest tool of the year but that has been folded into the Anti-V award. In years past the rusty chain award usually went to the present day dopers. Multi-year winners like Danilo “triple threat” Di Luca would now be eligible for the Anti-V award. To finally earn a lifetime suspension which should have been issued after his last infraction, that is something. To bring down a whole team because of his cretino behavior, that’s impressive. How many riders, coaches and support staff on Vini-Fantini Selle Italia lose a living because of his bad brain? But really, enough of him and his 2013 doping colleagues, let us leave them behind.
For those who did not read the Freddy Maertens recent interview, please do so before 2013 expires. It’s important to be reminded how tough he and his competitors were. They were racing more and being paid much much less. We have to admire how much Rule #5 was fueled on passion alone. This brings us to another personality in the running this year, Abandy Schleck.
We cannot criticize an injured rider. One can only compete at the professional level with mind and body working in harmony. Abandy seems to be suffering on both sides of the equation. We can criticize him for his lack of professionalism before he was injured. If you are a terrible time trialist and you want to win a stage race that might include time trials, you really should be working at that, even if it slows your awesome climbing talent. Contador was an impressive stage racer when he beat Cancellara in a TdF TT. Ha! When Freddy says today’s pros are paid too much and are too soft, he was winking at the interviewer and using international sign language to spell out “Abandy”.
Specialized threw itself in the running with it’s abysmal treatment of Dan Richter and Café Roubaix Bicycle Studio. CEO Mike Sinyard pulled Specialized out of the top spot for the Anti-V award with a personal apology to Dan and a promise to do business differently in the future. We take people at their word, let’s move on.
What really made us crazy was the notion that corporations have some legal rights to stop anyone to using the word Roubaix. Roubaix is a town in which the world’s most awesome velodrome decides the world’s most awesome bike race. Trek has a trademark on Alpe d’Huez and Specialized (and Fuji) have one for Roubaix? How clever of you. Well, keep it to yourself, leave the cycling community out of it. Cyclists made these places iconic, not lawyers so if want to have a slap fight over trademarks, do it in the privacy of your law offices. If you would like to do this in public, please make your argument in a bar in Northern France, in early April. You are not welcome to ride the secteurs of Roubaix on two wheels. Piss off. And yes, trademark lawyers, We are looking at you, you have earned both our incredulity and the 2013 Anti-V award.
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@ChrisO LeDuc didn't just compete in a national championship, he is a world masters champ as well as multiple time national champ. He's been decimating SE masters races for decades and everyone here saw that coming. His titles should all be stripped. Good riddance.
@stickyjumper
Ah didn't know that, so it's a little more understandable but no more excusable. Glad they caught him then.
It's an interesting point about stripping titles - I was thinking about that as I read the USADA release.
Maybe anyone found guilty should be stripped of results for a set period prior to the actual positive test on the reasonable assumption that they didn't just take it up that week. It might make people think twice about starting in the first place if they also stood to lose some clean results.
brilliant work, I absolutely agree, and love the sentiment
Now, to be fair, there may be some descent patent attorney out there, its just I don't know of any personally. IMHO, the corporate suit and ties can kiss my dogs dirty ass, suck my hairy balls and wear this dedicated award for perpetuity with pride. They truly deserve this, however, if they think for a second I buy in that they have a trademark on 'roubaix' or 'alp d'huez', they are delusional. I wouldn't have budged on this either, and am glad DanR stood firm, albeit I could only imagine how hard that would be to do in reality.
Bully lawyers in this really are something, but who cares. Bully your whatever around, I care not. Accusations are meaningless, unless people allow it traction. Ethereal arguements in a court of law, with judges who sincerely have no clue as to the utility of the arguements does not equal justice. Justice in this is cycling, cyclists...we own these places in our hearts and minds, as frank well said, we made these places our holy ground, our forefathers, Merckx et al did. Not only the past, as there will be others going forward we will all Hail in the end as greats. No corporate vermen will ever own this, the Pave', the Arenberg, the Muur, and the host of every other thing in cycling we treasure with meaning....and corporates/douches never will.
If doping gets an anti-V award, then this site itself is a source of douchbaggery, anti-V, and hypocrisy unlike any other.
There are no clean riders at the professional level, but let me refer you to a comment posted on roadbikereview.com before it got deleted:
So please, stop searching in vain for a embodiment of V in professional cycling because you won't find it. Seriously, the desperation here for worthy hero worship is so beta it makes me sick to my stomach. HTFU should also apply to anyone who tries too hard to live vicariously through some completely contrived public image sports figures put on for the media. Try looking for the hero within instead.
Also that post was submitted before AICAR became the drug du jour of the most well funded GC guys. Team Sky is currently rocking it. There is no way to test for it. By the time WADA can figure out who's using it, all the riders will profited from its use will be retired and rolling in dough like Lance.
All professional sports are freak shows guys!! Stop sticking your heads in the sand trying to pretend like there's something noble about a tradition that only non-competitive plebs still follow.
Somehow you managed to fall on your head and it ended straight up your ass. Happy New Year!
@unversio
Is that the best you got? Maybe the comment about your head in the sand got you too butthurt to come up with a clever rebuttal.
Try taking some Provigil or amphetamines bro. You'll do better next time.
The Keepers, the lurkers, and all the rest of us plebs [sic] have been told. I feel as if a weight has been lifted.
@PeakInTwoYears
It's a word bro Nice try with the net sarcasm though. It's about as easy to catch as doping.
@crucible
Fascinating post. Can you now tell us why eyewear arms are worn over helmet straps?