After two days of much needed rain the sun finally broke through this morning and things seem to be heating up again. I have a lot to do today and I hope I get to it all before sunset. Wow… what an SDA thing to say!
I was rather disturbed to learn this week that Greg Lemond, three time Tour De France winner and American cycling icon, and Trek have decided to part ways under hostile circumstances. Things began when Lemond decided to sue Trek based on the grounds that the brand had put marketing his line of bicycles on the backburner and thrown all their support behind Lance Armstrong, (he who won the Tour a record 7 times under now questionable circumstances) during his string of Tour wins. Trek countersued to get out of their obligations to not only manufacture but also market the Lemond line till 2010. They announced on their website that they would terminate their relationship immediately.
I find this news disheartening, seeing two of my cycling heroes going up against each other over underlying business reasons. The sport of cycling is already suffering from the effects of the doping allegations of the past few years that culminated in the ousting of 2007 Tour De France race leader Michael Rasmussen on the eve of his win. These events are furthering the tarnishing of cycling.
I’m also saddened because the Lemond brand was finally turning out some noticeable machines including the flagship Tete De Course which rivals Trek’s own Madone 6.9 in innovation and performance. The competition is taking advantage and manufacturers like Cannondale and their System 6 (which I briefly covered in my last blog) are spearheading new marketing campaigns with the recent crop of fresh young riders.
And that is really where the future of cycling lies. In young riders like Alberto Contador, Danielle Bennati, and Tom Boonen. By marketing these new “clean” riders the sport eventually pull out if it's slump. This will take time. And, off course, this only applies to the professional side of things. The sport will continue to live on in the hearts of us who ride just because it is just so darn good to do so!
SPECIAL BULLETIN
I haven’t listened to Stephen Curtis Chapman music in a while but I remember being introduced to it in university by my then girlfriend. I loved his rhythmic guitar work on songs like “God is God” or the romantic undertones of “How do I love a Woman”. So it was truly tragic to learn of the accidental death of his 5 year old adopted daughter Maria. Even more tragic was the fact that it was Chapman’s son who hit his sibling with the family SUV that precipitated her passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
"My peace I give unto you."
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