Is Change Always Good?

This is a special addition of the weekend update...

They always seem to happen when I am moved by some observation or experience...

Yesterday I had one of those that I could not "jot down" and post later...

As many of you know...July is the month that I go into seclusion...it is not driven by the heat...but by the Tour de France (TdF)...

I think that this may be the last year that this happens...

Not because I have changed...but because it has changed...

This is the 100th year since the first race...

It is not the 100th anniversary...the race was not held for a few years (I think 3) during WWII.

It is known as the world's premiere bicycle race and for good reason!

Sprints, mountains, long distance treks through almost every topography, and climate imagineable!

2,000 miles+ of absolute endurance!

The race is a real show of an individuals ability and strength as a rider...or at least it was!

The TdF separated itself from all of other competitve events...How?

It is hard to describe and even more difficult for American competitors to understand...

But I will try...

I began noticing the change in the TdF on stage 2 of the race...I thought it was a fluke...but the demon proved that it has take up residence and intends to stay!

The TdF is a gentlemen's race. The competition is fierce...but it is about man's ability against himself and that of anothers. Chance has seldom played into the equation.

What does this mean?

In American competition...everything is fair within the rules.

If a runner's shoe is untied during the race...tough luck...

I remember running a 200 meter race in high school...I was the favorite to win, having set the school record...

I had the inside lane which was my favorite lane...

This race was a staggered start so the rules specifically stated that the runners had to stay in their lanes.

The track was a 400 meter oval. We started halfway around the track and finished at the normal finish line.

As I rounded the curve I ran headlong into a "low hurdle" I was in the lead and simply ran around it and was disqualified.

We argued the fact that some idiot left the hurdle in the lane and the officials answer was that I should have jumped it! Rules are rules! Tough luck!

If a distance runner trips...tough luck...

Winning is everything and American competitors will take advantage of everything...their ability and others tough luck to win...

Many people will say...that they don't understand or see a problem with that...isn't that what competition is all about?

In the TdF the competitors want the challenge to be between abilities and strength...

Up until this past year...If a person crashed...and the unfortunate one picked himself up and restarted...the word traveled up to the peleton and the other competitors slowed the pace and gave the unfortunate one a chance to catch up and the race started again...

Now that is a gentlemen's sport, seeped with tradition...and played on the real competitive field...

This year from the third stage onward...there were many crashes...and the peloton traveled on...it was sad...

Yesterday the two real contenders broke from the pack...to go head to head on a grueling climb...one took the lead and suddenly the chain jumped its sprocket...

The competitor who was 50 meters or so behind caught him...passed him and never looked back...

In American competition that is accepted...but it is not the behavior of the TdF!

It is sad when someone has to do that to win! He should not have been given the yellow jersey...but this was a gentlemen's agreement and not a formal rule in the TdF. That is something that I respected in this race! THe rules were unnecessary and stronger than if they were officially part of the race.

The gentlemen's race has died...and it was at that moment when Contadore didn't slow and allow the real competition to ensue.

The TdF has had its share of blood doping and performance enhancing drugs...

Whether all of the riders or just a few did that...really doesn't matter now...the TdF has that under control...it is old news and time to drop the subject!

The tradition of the TdF needs to be maintained and supported...and this can not happen through written rules...

The racers need to speak out!

The fans need to speak out!

If a person wins any aspect in the TdF it is because they were the best competitor...

Is Change Always Good?

I used to believe so...

and in this case the tradition lasted for 99 years...

It changed...

and it needs to change again! Back to what it was!

Enough said!