When Alexandre Vinoukourov and his team were ousted, and then the next day Michael Rasmussen’s team got rid of him, and finally when Christian Moreni and his teammates left in much the same way all because of doping; I was beginning to wonder if anyone would be left to ride up and down the Champs-Elysées! No need to have worried, the people lined the avenue and 141 cyclists crossed the finish line, but somehow the spark seemed to be missing.

To begin with, why have teams in the first place, and why can’t each cyclists ride for himself? It’s completely insane to struggle through three weeks of pain and suffering just to push your team leader into first place! Take the case of Levi Leipheimer, when asked yesterday if he would try to pick up bonus time in the final race, he replied, (and I’m paraphrasing) No, Contador will win tomorrow and Cadel Evans doesn’t have to worry, I won’t try to pass him.

Why, you ask? Because the leader of his team, and the winner, Alberto Contador had the race in his pocket. Levi Leipheimer was only 31 seconds behind the leader and Cadel Evans 23 seconds behind! It could have been anyone’s race! And what a race that would have been if they had gone neck and neck fighting for the win, rather than cruising up the Champs-Elysées surrounded by their teammates to make sure no last minute disaster occurred.

It seems to me that not only do changes need to be made in drug testing these atheletes, they need to look at changing the way the race is won and let every man compete for himself!

Photo Credit: Flickr

Post from: The Paris Traveler