Grace Defined

HSO (Hot sports opinion) warning:

The Tour de France is the greatest sporting spectacle on earth. And, cycling the most exciting sporting event on the planet. Now, hear me out before you tune me out.

Facts:

• Cycling has been desimated by doped up idiots who think the only way to win is to dope
• The world community has given up on cyclists being honorable people
• The UCI (world cycling body) is reeling from several gut wrenching scandals and is trying to get back on its feet
  
• The world community has no respect for American cyclists (Andy Hamptsten, Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong are reviled)...by the way, there are 10 tour victories between them.

So, with all of that against cycling, HOW can it be crowned the greatest at anything other than a disappointment? Some more facts:

• It is grace defined.
  
• Best teams win in cycling. If you doubt that statement, watch a stage of the tour with me this year and I'll show you. It is the consummate team sport. Armstrong will be the first to tell you that it was his domestiques that made the difference for him.
• The riders temper their competitiveness and enthusiasm with an elaborate but unwritten code of conduct. When possible, a rider is allowed to lead the race through his home village or on his birthday. It is considered unsporting to attack a leading rider delayed by a mechanical breakdown or other misfortune, one who is eating in the feed zone or one who is satisfying un besoin naturel (roughly translated to "a natural need"). Not sticking to these customs can lead to animosity. Unless the final stage is a time trial, or the gap between the top two is extremely close, riders generally do not attack on the final stage, leaving the leader to bask in the glory of winning.

So yes, the Tour has been riddled in its history with doping (both alleged and true) and other unfortunate controversies. It's a fact that disappoints me as a rabid cycling fan and shrouds the Tour, and cycling in general with questions. However the poor decisions of some shouldn't ruin it for everyone and therefore I choose to remain faithful in my support of the sport.

2008 Projections
I'd say watch for Alberto Contador to defend his 2007 win. But Contador won't be riding. It's a long story. It's an unfortunate story. I agree with heavy payment for past crimes...but this is sad...simply implicating and keeping a team out because they share the same sponsor as a team from 2007 that was a part of a major doping scandal. Over 60,000 people have signed a petition sent to the ASO (which owns the Tour de France) asking for these young men (including Contador and Levi Leipheimer) to be able to ride in cycling's grand sport.

So, we move on. This year's Tour has only 5 main mountain stages (including Alpe d’Huez, Col du Galibier, and Col de la Croix de Fer...40 miles of climbing in one day alone!) This short but important stint in the mountains also brings Michael Rasmussen to the forefront as a legit contender in the general classification. And, don't count out Cadel Evans, last year's runner-up in the overall classification, although he is better in the time trials. This year the tour features only two individual time trials (18 miles and 33 miles) and the length and placement of those stages will make it difficult for Evans to make up more an a few precious seconds he loses in the mountains.

My pick...Evans...assuming that Team Astana can't race.

So where do you watch this exciting 22 days of racing? Check out Versus (formerly OLN) on your cable network of choice.