Joe Friel, cycling coach guru, has written a piece about the fall of a man—Lance Armstrong—from his previously untouchable heights. While I understand what he is getting at—Armstrong was a picture of defeat after his ill-fated Stage 8 (Morzine-Avoriaz) escapades—Friel expresses almost a pity for the athlete.
It's an understatement to say that the tour hasn't been what Armstrong would have wished for or expected this year. But to pity a man, once deemed "the Boss"...seems just wrong. And is no-doubt not what the straight talking Texan would be wanting right now.
Of course, you would have to be living under a rock in Australia if you weren't aware of Cadel's great tour mishap...this time not in the way of a crash, but instead a broken shoulder, wayward nutrition and the weight of the maillot jaune.
Cadel's performance in Stage 9 (Morzine-Avoriaz) has stirred much the same reaction amongst people as Friels 'End of an Era'. Perhaps it was his cries in tour's past of "got no teammates", his critics statement that he unable to attack, the media's representation of the dog incident, or that he seemingly has an excuse for every bad day, poor move or lack lustre performance on the bike.
But despite this, Cadel has always been a bit of an Aussie battler. While not strikingly masculine in his lycra and being openly emotional (why is it that we attack someone because they show emotion?), Cadel has worked bloody long and hard to get where he is, with no doping positives or drug scandal implications. Can we not give him a pat on the back for that?
And anyway, he is a mountain biker from his roots...I think Aido cheers for him still because he remembers Cadel racing for Cannondale-Volvo before he rode and raced Cannondale.
Indeed, the Aussie contingency at the 2010 tour has been a rather ill-fated one, with McEwan injured, Cadel seeing yellow then out with a fractured wrist and no legs, Gerrans out with a broken arm and Rogers further back on GC than would be desired.
Despite my unwavering support and barracking for the Aussies, I think, that maybe just for this year, it would be excused if Aussies defaulted to barracking for a Luxembourg GC contender (Luxem-burger?) by yelling for Schleck. I'm still going to urge on Cadel up the mountains and watch in awe as Renshaw leads out the 'Man Missile from Manx' in another amazing sprint, but this year the Schleck junior is doing some amazing stuff. And if it's a choice between Contador and Schleck, I pick Schleck.
Plus, he can eat 21 gels and a deep-fried chicken without throwing up. That's pretty impressive.