Are all records made to fall?
July 22, 2017
This 2017 edition of Le Tour de France is almost over. And to be honest folks, I lied. Cycling can be boring. Despite of the suspense due to very little time difference between the leaders, most of the mountain's stages were useless. Yesterday's stage which was finishing with the climb of the Izoard was no exception. Everyone was expecting THE final big fight. But it ended like my uncle's garden firework, under the rain...I just let you a second to imagine the scene. Nothing. Niente. Nada.
As I was slowly closing my eyes, sinking in a deep lethargy, one man went out from his box to save the race from another disaster. Warren Barguil, the young french rider, 2017 king of the mountain, who proudly wear the polka dot jersey, illuminated the stage with his "panache"! At 6 kilometers to the summit, he left Froome & co., for an an amazing ride straight to the finish line. Alone. With no one able to take his wheel. Swallowing riders after riders from the morning breakaway, ravenous, starving for victory. When he overtook the last one of them, before raising his arms to the sky, I almost cried a tear. For two very different reasons.
Sport can be cruel. At one kilometer to the finish line, the anonymous Colombian's Atapuma was still leading the race. The 29 years old rider fought all day long for a stage victory, representing proudly his country on the 20th of July, the Colombian's national day...Before being swamped by Barguil. What could have been his biggest victory, turned into a huge disappointment. The guy was literally slapped in the face. Without mercy. Seriously Warren, who does that? Can't you share a bit? I always liked dramatic finish, but this one was really hard to see.
My second reason is less dramatic. Or maybe actually even more, depending on how you see it. The new french hero, announced like a future Tour winner by Greg Lemond, climbed the Izoard in 38 minutes and 15 seconds. Guys, it is fast. Very fast. Very, very fast! He actually smashed the last record, going 2 minutes faster than the previous one. Impressive. Amazing. "Grandiose"! Warren Barguil deserve his polka dot jersey, and was probably the best climber of this edition. At only 25, he has one of the brightest future in the pack, without a doubt. So why should this make me sad? Sport has shown once again that human being can push their limits, more than what we have ever imagined. Isn't it amazing? Well, yes. In a way. But not only.
When I saw Barguil doing his show, I remembered the biggest climber I had so much admiration for. Pantani, Armstrong, Ullrich, Virenque and others. The one who offered us epic stages and some of the most memorable days of cycling. They were monsters, gods on their bikes. But unfortunately most of these guys, actually all of them without exception, had a dark side. And their demons finally caught them. Since then, I have had a mixed feeling about cycling. Admiration and excitement obviously, but unfortunately also skepticism. Breaking a records is ok. It is not the first time neither the last, and I hope we won't have to frown every time it will happen. But in this case, I have to admit, I did it. And I guess for a good reason.
In 2006 during the Dauphine Libere, one of the most important preapration race to Le Tour, Christophe Moreau, Levy Leipheimer, Denis Menchov and Iban Mayo climbed the Izoad in 40 minutes and 10 seconds. In 2007, during il Giro d'Italia Riccardo Ricco, climbed it in 40 minutes and 14 seconds. The record itself is not the problem but the guys who owned it before. Yes, I may have a problem whit it. I assume not everyone knows them, so let me give you some insight.
Iban Mayo, was banned for two years after an EPO positive control during Le Tour 2007, Levi Leipheimer, was banned as well, admited to having doped from 2000 and 2007, Christophe Moreau, part of the sadly famous Team Festina, ejected form Le Tour 1998, will confess the using of EPO and other drugs during his career, Denis Menchov, banned for two years after a control of his biological passport in 2014. I don't even talk about Riccardo Ricco, without a doubt the most drugged rider ever, currently banned until 2024...And this is only the top of the iceberg.
I guess you understand where I am coming from. So now the question can be asked. Is Warren Barguil able to beat the record detained by cheaters without suspicion? Yes, maybe...These last years, training and recovery techniques have evolved a lot. Strict diet and medical assistance get more and more professionalized and riders are followed by complex software, helping them calculating their efforts. History of sport has also shown that records were there to fall. Warren Barguil is definitely one of the most talented rider of his generation. Everything encourage me to believe in his performance. And I will. I don't want to let the doubt pushing me away from my passion for cycling. I refuse to give up for the mistakes of the old generation. I want to believe in these guys. I want to think that when they wake up in the morning, they are able to look in the mirror, being proud of what they see, without being tortured by secrets too heavy to carry on.
Am I blinded by my love for cycling? Maybe. I am trying to stay vigilant though. Some performances can raise questions. Froome's 2013 Mont Ventoux record is one of them, the yesterday's Barguil show is another. History has shown that doping techniques were often a step further on controls and UCI laboratories. But also that cheaters, in the end, always fall. Future will talk. Soon enough.