Tour de France, Stage 15. Mark Cavendish beats Tyler Farrar to the stage win
Another sprint stage, another HTC-led Cavendish win. This one giving him a 70-odd point lead at the top of the Green classification standings. I’d say that the Green jersey is now his to throw away; make it through the alps and he should be wearing it on the final podium, no?
Today was one of those days where the breakaway (again, containing a team member of FDJ; they’ve been in every single breakaway this year) led out for most of the race, only to be caught at the end and for the peloton to contest a bunch sprint. There’s only ever going to be one winner in those circumstances, so it wasn’t the most enthralling stage.
What caught my attention today, before, during and after the race took place, was the tidal wave of paranoia that has infested this year’s Tour de France. Fans and competitors alike have mumbled and groaned throughout, reaching a climax over the past 48 hours.
If it’s not Cavendish moaning about Roman Feillu or ASO, then it’s fans accusing commentators of bias; if it’s not Philippe Gilbert and José Joaquin Rojas accusing of Cavendish of cheating by being towed by race cars, then it’s fans arguing over who loves the sport most; if it’s not Frank Schleck complaining about other riders “not trying”, then it’s fans declaring that cyclists are definitely doping (what happened to innocent until proven guilty?)
All this makes it difficult to like and to get emotionally involved in a genuinely thrilling and exciting sport.
Although, perhaps those that proclaim to love the sport more than I do don’t need me to.
