Relative Something

I can’t figure out what it is about Alberto Contador that explains why I find it difficult to appreciate his incredible abilities as a mountain climber. If you don’t know who he is, you have not been paying attention to cycle racing in the last few years. Ever since Lance Armstrong retired from racing, and even after he returned to try again, Alberto has been the strongest climber, and as a result, the man to beat in the big races. So why don’t I like him? I don’t know. But doesn’t every drama need a villain? I will let him be mine. I’m cheering for Andy Schleck, a guy whom I used to hope would fail in his attempts to challenge Lance. Now I wish for him to somehow find a way to out-smart the wily Spanish rider, Contador.

In the race yesterday, they climbed a mountain where the ascent was longer than the distance I ride to work, and they did it at a faster speed uphill than I can ride on flat terrain. I’m pretty sure I could ride faster if people stood on the shoulder of the road along my route and shouted encouragement. Oh, and if they cleared all the cars off the road and let me blow through the intersections, that would help a lot, too.

You know, if I had throngs of excited fans cheering me on during my work day, I think I could accomplish a heck of a lot more than I otherwise normally do.

Unfortunately, my new hero, Andy, suffered a bad shift of gears just as he was kicking in with a monster acceleration at a key moment of the climb. To make it even more heartbreaking, it appeared he was about to achieve a gap on Contador. Instead, he needed to get off his bike to put his chain back on the sprocket, while the group of key competitors raced right on by, countering his attack with one of their own. As they were pulling away, Andy fumbled with his chain and then he needed to put in an incredibly intense effort to limit his losses on the descent. It wasn’t enough, and the overall lead, signified by the honor of wearing the yellow jersey, passed from Andy to Alberto.

Some people question the sportsmanship of attacking a competitor who has been compromised by a mechanical disruption. Right or wrong, as Alberto stood on the podium, in the ceremony which bestows the yellow jersey, he was roundly jeered by the crowd.

Today’s situation didn’t do anything to dispel my disdain for the Spanish leader of Team Astana. Ultimately, I hope the better man wins.