To all those people who think that cycling is full of cheats, and who discredit the sport because of the recent expulsions (Rasmussen and Vinokourov), I urge you to think about this: at least the tour is actively doing something about it. While baseball covers it up, ignores it, and lets known cheaters keep their records (and keep playing), the tour is publicly chastising and throwing cheaters out.

People say this hurts the tour, gives it a bad name. But I think it is making it stronger for the years to come. Cyclists don't want to be embarrassed like Vinokourov (who may never ride professionally again). They don't want to be taken out of the race two and a half weeks into it, by their own team (like Rasmussen). Cycling is making a point- we do not allow cheating. And I appreciate it.

I hate the hypocrisy and the looking the other way in baseball. It is embarrassing, and it is a heart break every time a rider is discovered cheating. But I would rather know about it now, so I'm not worshiping false idols.

Labels: cycling, Tour de France