I don’t normally follow pro cycling too closely, but the grand tours are a different story, and I’m glued to the tv every night now for the Tour de France. It’s been an exciting start, full of drama, and I’m loving every second. Their 200+ km days rather put my outings to shame, shall we say…
Anyhow, living in England, I can hardly have been oblivious to the national outpouring of expectation and hyperbole for the football and tennis over the last few weeks. Over-rated players are built up, then damned and judged when they inevitably lose, fans crying into ragged flags. Some sense of perspective would be nice, but no – in the world of English sport, everything is very, very black and white.
Except for cycling that is. The Tour is underway, with Geraint Thomas currently in second place, and two further Brits hot contenders for the yellow and green jerseys. This does not cause anyone to decorate their cars with flags, however, (thankfully, I suppose), even though England has not triumphed in the Tour since 1984, when Robert Millar was crowned King of the Mountains.
What will it take for the English to get excited about the Tour? English sports fans are for the most part armchair fans anyway, not actually participating in any sport (as we’ve discovered here), so why do we not get the same level of support for the riders who are taking part in what must surely be one of the greatest feats of endurance in sport?
But I guess the pressure from the adoring public hasn’t done the tennis and football players any good, so perhaps Cav and Wiggo should count themselves lucky that they don’t compete in a sport England identifies itself with.
As for me, I shall be cheering for Thor Hushovd, for the green jersey, and for super-talent Edvald Boasson Hagen. Hushovd has been known to take his mum along on tour, so as to ensure he gets proper, home-made food (who knows what’s wrong with the French food, but anyway), so that only goes to prove that good cooking enriches every cyclist’s life. Knowing that he is partial to Norwegian dishes, and that mum travels along in a caravan, complete with a freezer, I am now finding myself imagining what might be on his dinner plate every night. Reindeer anyone? Here’s my suggestion: Finnbiff (reindeer stew)
I think a lot of people find the rules and tactics confusing. (I know I did for ages when I first started following the sport!) How can the guy in front not be the leader? How can you win the race without winning a stage? Why do they all ride together? That sort of thing.
For instance, I’ve just explained to a colleague at work who is watching the Tour for the first time why Geraint Thomas can’t just ride away from Cancellara and recover his apparently trivial 23-second deficit. I’m not sure he believed me; I’m pretty sure he’s still a bit confused, at the very least! (He couldn’t understand why I get so excited about Jens Voigt either – “how can he be any good if he finishes nearthe back?”)
I’m an unabashed Cav fan, but I think Thor is brilliant. Anyone who can win sprints, climb a bit and master the Paris-Roubaix cobbles is a serious bike rider. (EBH is definitely a big talent too, although I don’t know yet whether he will end up as a Grand Tour rider or a Classics specialist.)
That’s a good point, it does take a fair bit of watching to understand the tactics and the team dynamics (though I wouldn’t say cricket, for instance, is any easier to get your head around, and I am still struggling with the complexities of rugby). Full marks to the tv commentators for answering questions and educating viewers.
Still, the Norwegian media are devoting endless column inches to the Tour at the moment, and though cycling seems to have a bit more of a foothold amongst sports fans in Norway than in England, I still find it surprising that the media aren’t doing more to celebrate the success of the English riders.
It’ll be exciting to watch EBH develop, and Geraint Thomas too. Thomas could well be the surprise package of this year’s tour.
There may only be two Norwegians in this year’s Tour, but they’re good ones!
I know what you mean about rugby. I’m an occasional follower of the sport and have even been to a few Wasps games (I used to live up the road from their ground), but I’m still forever confused by the nuances of the game.
After yesterday, I think Thor’s in good shape for the green. He had understandably lost a bit of zip from his legs after the cobbles (as had Cav), but he’s in a good position, his key rivals are struggling, and I will be amazed if Petacchi makes it over the Pyrenees, so I doubt he is a realistic threat.
Whilst England actually produces some very good cyclists, it is still a minority sport. I also think that our roads aren’t yet cycle friendly and so road cycling won’t really take off for a few years. It’s a shame schools don’t do more to get kids into the sport. It would free up the roads, but imagine just how good England could be if more people took the sport seriously! So many pupils live within cycling distance to their schools and it would also get people fit without exercise having to be a formalised event.
I too took a number of years to understand just how much of a team sport cycling is and to the untrained eye it is hard to pick up on and is potentially boring until you understand the tactics.
Loving this year’s tour and please don’t “dis” rugby!