A gentleman's sport

Cycling is a sport with a very storied and prestigious history. Cycling traditions are stitched into the fabric of the sport. One can easily argue the most sacred traditions of the sport, but surely the honor and respect one achieves from wearing the Maillot Jaune (yellow jersey) is one of the most hallowed.

So it came as quite a shock to the cycling community today when Alberto Contador, the reigning TdF winner and second overall of this year's tour, attacked the current leader, Andy Schleck, when he had a mechanical on the day's last climb. Schleck was pulling ahead of Contador when he mis-shifted and dropped his chain off the sprockets. Contador seized this opportunity to charge ahead while Schleck replaced his chain on the sprocket.

Perhaps in some sports this would be seen as the right thing to do. However, in cycling, where there is debatably no other more gentlemanly culture amongst athletes in a single sport, this is frowned upon. I can remember years ago, back in Armstrong's heyday, when his arch-nemesis Jan Ullrich had a mechanical on a very tough mountain stage. Lance actually asked the rest of the peloton to slow and wait for this potential threat! Why? Because that is what you do in cycling. If it were you with the mechanical, wouldn't you want to be the one who is given a chance to catch up?

Contador proved to the cycling world that he has no class, no honour and certainly no sense of what it means to be the best. He may win this tour, but I will not congratulate him for this cheap win. Instead, I will cheer for Schleck and Ryder 'Weight of a Nation' Hesjedal. Two men who know what it means to ride with heart.

Photo credit: VeloNews