Professional Cycling For the Fans - Is it just a huge coincidence or is cycling really a racist sport?

Until Lemond all the pros were European. Today its just them and a handful of Americans. Everyone is white. I think there was a Japanese guy on some team but that's it.

Pretty funny when a good amount of long distance runners are black.

Another thing, there are lots of non-white cyclists in my area, but not sure if that's true of most amateur and recreational groups.

Until Lemond all the pros were European. Today its just them and a handful of Americans. Everyone is white. I think there was a Japanese guy on some team but that's it.

Pretty funny when a good amount of long distance runners are black.

Another thing, there are lots of non-white cyclists in my area, but not sure if that's true of most amateur and recreational groups.

You need to adjust your television set. You havent seen all the browns from South America?
I am also not sure what you find "funny" about it.

Europcar has Yohann Gene this year, who I think is the first black competitor ever in the Tour de France.

This is obviously a hot button topic, but I doubt there is any sort of racist conspiracy in pro cycling to exclude anyone. All the teams want to do is win.

There was a really excellent article in a recent New Yorker about the Rwanda national cycling team:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/07/11/110711fa_fact_gourevitch

This is because black folks are better at "team sports".

This is because black folks are better at "team sports".
Racism means it only aplies to black people to you?
Racism applies to all races, from all races, not just black.
You just revealed what type of mentality you have, and the level of evolution you are at as a person.

It seems like cycling is more likely to thrive in a region with a well-developed road system where many people have enough disposable income to be able to easily afford quality bikes and where these things have existed for long enough to create a cycling sub-culture. Bing, bing, bing for Europe and South America with the U.S. closely behind. I don't see where race comes into it.

It seems like cycling is more likely to thrive in a region with a well-developed road system where many people have enough disposable income to be able to easily afford quality bikes and where these things have existed for long enough to create a cycling sub-culture. Bing, bing, bing for Europe and South America with the U.S. closely behind. I don't see where race comes into it.

I think the OP needs to bookmark this, or better yet, copy and paste it into his/her sig to remind themselves of the facts.
Thanks for writing this so simply, yet so comprehensibly.

excuse me? south america?

maybe if you'd have said South Africa I could get it,
but south America has some of the worst roads ever.
Doesn't meet the criteria for disposable income either.

It is an expensive sport especially at the competitive level for any race of human to get into. Funding is a major issue just like in golf. And in the USA "organized youth cycling" means riding around with your buddies and going somewhere. So unless you have a mentor that is into cycling how are you going to get into it? I'm talking about youths in general not just non whites.

excuse me? south america?

maybe if you'd have said South Africa I could get it,
but south America has some of the worst roads ever.
Doesn't meet the criteria for disposable income either.
True, but it meets the remaining criteria, and hence its second place to Europe.

Until Lemond all the pros were European. Today its just them and a handful of Americans. Everyone is white. I think there was a Japanese guy on some team but that's it.

Pretty funny when a good amount of long distance runners are black.

Another thing, there are lots of non-white cyclists in my area, but not sure if that's true of most amateur and recreational groups.

The Tour de France is a European race, so it makes sense for Europeans to be most interested in participating. There are UCI races in other countries. And more than a few world champion bicyclists have been non-European and non-white.

Racism means it only aplies to black people to you?
Racism applies to all races, from all races, not just black.
You just revealed what type of mentality you have, and the level of evolution you are at as a person.
+1


If you want to see more black riders move to Atlanta. MACC is a great organization. http://www.maccattack.com/

Racism means it only aplies to black people to you?
Racism applies to all races, from all races, not just black.
You just revealed what type of mentality you have, and the level of evolution you are at as a person.

Dude, you're probably the only person in here who didn't get that was a joke.

This topic has been covered hundreds of times in the five years I've been posting here - I get to poke fun of the OP's banal reiteration of an old topic and your petty "team sports" troll with a single post - PWN!

BTW - Team Radio Shack alone has riders from five different continents - missing is South America... I think they had a Columbian last year though.

Dude, you're probably the only person in here who didn't get that was a joke.

This topic has been covered hundreds of times in the five years I've been posting here - I get to poke fun of the OP's banal reiteration of an old topic and your petty "team sports" troll with a single post - PWN!

:thumb: Well played, DS.

Dude, you're probably the only person in here who didn't get that was a joke.
Your "joke" was not only stupid, but in bad taste. And bad attempt at back peddling. (being a bike forum, pun intended)

1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

Like others are saying, there are a lot of socioeconomic factors driving black people to other sports. If you want to call cycling a racist sport you need to be very careful. Doing so assumes that the sport itself excludes blacks from participating.

Edit: I focused on black people here, but the same goes for other races.

As others have pointed out, there are quite a few South Americans (notably Colombians) in the peloton.

One of the earliest prominent bicycle racers was Major Taylor (http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/who.htm), and there is a cycling club out of New Jersey named after him.

FYI, African nations are just starting to get into cycling, and it's very popular. A recent New Yorker article talked about the state of pro cycling in Rwanda: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/07/11/110711fa_fact_gourevitch

Although the obstacles facing the African cyclists are daunting, it's apparently a popular sport in much of Africa and the riders are highly motivated. I expect they will eventually break into the elite ranks of cycling.

It seems like cycling is more likely to thrive in a region with a well-developed road system where many people have enough disposable income to be able to easily afford quality bikes and where these things have existed for long enough to create a cycling sub-culture. Bing, bing, bing for Europe and South America with the U.S. closely behind. I don't see where race comes into it.

ding ding ding!

Although the obstacles facing the African cyclists are daunting, it's apparently a popular sport in much of Africa and the riders are highly motivated. I expect they will eventually break into the elite ranks of cycling.

You are exactly right. Although I am not black, I am one of few Africans to have gone to race as a pro in Europe after racing in Africa. It is a very challenging thing. For example, when I won the national junior TT, i beat 5 other riders; that was the national turn out for the event for juniors under 18. Going to Europe was like starting over, the level and participation was an eye opener for me.

Within a few years though, there were about 6 of us racing in Europe. The national events back home had grown to groups of around 15 or so. I actually raced in South Africa before Europe, which has normal size pelotons, but that peloton got very familiar very quick.
Cycling has become very popular, but in South Africa remains a predominantly white sport. In other African countries how ever, its mainly black riders.
Believe me, there was nothing about "team sport" when racing in Africa. I had the opportunity of racing in the All Africa Games, The Commonwealth games, and finally the World Championships in Portugal before racing in Europe, and there was nothing 'team sporty' about it. It was, and is, each man for himself.
I would say in another 50 years or so, the Tour will be dominated by black athletes

It seems like cycling is more likely to thrive in a region with a well-developed road system where many people have enough disposable income to be able to easily afford quality bikes and where these things have existed for long enough to create a cycling sub-culture. Bing, bing, bing for Europe and South America with the U.S. closely behind. I don't see where race comes into it.

The discussion here is about diversity among cyclists in the pro ranks. Friend of mine from Eritrea says his country is crazy for cycling... a remnant left by Italian colonialists and something you might not appreciate just from watching the "Giro d'Eritrea" on TV. While the equipment and the roads suck, the level of athleticism and enthusiasm is as high as it is for any other sport in the country. So bike racing is thriving but the economic opportunity just isn't there to get the coaching and other necessary ingredients to make it pro.

The reverse side of the coin is that at the collegiate level (at least here in California) the ranks are very diverse... but there's lots more money to be made in business and technology so few of the collegiate racers of any ethnicity ever think about trying to go pro.

I played ultimate frisbee in college but I don't anymore because it's racist. Everyone who played was a skinny white guy.

I'm sure the audience watching/following le Tour is vastly white. In US bike racing isn't very interesting to most blacks. Indeed its one of those things that could get a black kid accussed (by other blacks) of acting white.

I'm sure the audience watching/following le Tour is vastly white. In US bike racing isn't very interesting to most blacks. Indeed its one of those things that could get a black kid accussed (by other blacks) of acting white.
Acting white is one of my pet peeves :p

How does one act white?

How does one act white?
Apparently ride a bicycle!! LOL, jokes.
Although I dont know if BMXs count, lots of BMXs in the hood.

There is a book on this isn't there? You can buy it at Urban Outfitters.

It is an expensive sport especially at the competitive level for any race of human to get into. Funding is a major issue just like in golf. And in the USA "organized youth cycling" means riding around with your buddies and going somewhere. So unless you have a mentor that is into cycling how are you going to get into it? I'm talking about youths in general not just non whites.

^This.

How does one act white?

Looking ridiculous while dancing.

Major Taylor.

I think it's more an issue of economics and peer pressure.

1. Most blacks, especially in foreign countries, come from economically disadvantaged areas and cycling is very expensive...not to mention it takes ready access to roads urban kids don't have. Cycling is very big in the Carribean but terrain is rather limited. They don't have the funds to get to areas (Europe) where they can do the hard races often.

2. When I was young I played the sports my friends played - football, baseball and track. I knew one kid that did BMX but that seemed weird.

How does one act white?

Dress in lycra plastered with foreign words and block traffic of course

Dress in lycra plastered with foreign words and block traffic of course

? Getting lonely up there?

Hey, doesn't the Euskaltel-Euskadi team only sign-up riders from the basque country. Does that count:D

Don't forget the great Nelson Vails, either.

It amazes me that there aren't a huge amount of Asians in the sport, considering how many bikes are ridden per capita in those countries. Also, the fact that so many bikes are built there.

Hmmm just answering to the Op ok? Pls dont take me wrong but i'm a minority also ok?

Well the french guy that is black doesnt look black to me if you ask me, he is born french and probably mixed, he looks like all black french people I have seen.

The Japanese guy is at radioschack, I think they did not include him in this year's roster for the TdF.

Not for being racist but this is something I have noticed ok? Blacks and Asians are pretty bad for road racing, is that simple. Just like asian women drive like cr@p, the same. In the track is different because are built for it, a lot of power and really really explosives but in the road caucasian whitey guǐlǎo or Gweilo is just better for the road.

All the south americans that are racing or have raced the TdF come from mid to low class families, thing that is common basically everywhere in europe but maybe the US. We say in my country "cycling is a riches sport that is performed by the poor". coming back to south americans, all of them have european roots, maybe the only mixed with black I have ever seen was wanderley magalhaes back in the day when lotto started (he was Brazilian and basically everybody in brazil is mixed with black). The only kind'a indian guy to race the TDF was back in the day when the colombians showed up in the TDF back in 85, small and tiny guys, those were mixed with colmbian indians and spanish, cant remember a name right now.

TO close, have to recognize, whitey does better road cycling than minorities. With some other races u basically dont have cyclists because they simply suck at it, and maybe to any other sport like HINDIs that suck in everything but maybe to play cricket, and that's a sport that pretty much hindi multimillionares are involved with.

Pro cyclists are some of the dorkiest looking athletes in the world. White folks don't mind looking ridiculous, but most other ethnic groups have more pride.

You think Michael Smith would be tweeting how hilarious Hoogerland's crash was if it was a black guy wrapped in the barbed wire?

You think Michael Smith would be tweeting how hilarious Hoogerland's crash was if it was a black guy wrapped in the barbed wire?
No.

Hey, doesn't the Euskaltel-Euskadi team only sign-up riders from the basque country. Does that count:D

Some purist Basques do consider themselves a separate race... they're wrong of course.
Pretty much anyone with a Basque name will qualify for E-E status, I think they've had a few South Americans. Also anyone who came up through the Basque "minor leagues" is also eligible. Is this racism?

You think Michael Smith would be tweeting how hilarious Hoogerland's crash was if it was a black guy wrapped in the barbed wire?

Yes I do.

well racist is a pretty strong word. No one is being discriminated against or excluded....

Pretty funny when a good amount of long distance runners are black.


How many of those black long distance runners are from the Western world, or even West Africa?

It's not racist but at the highest level, it is an elite sport in a lot of ways, meaning you've got to put a lot of personal resources into it to be among the best. Compare to many winter olympic sports in this manner.

There was an effort a few years ago into a tour in Africa (not South Africa) that featured quite a few African (black) riders. I can't remember the name of it but some cable network had coverage of it. A

I don't think they care what race someone is when picking Tour De France teams but I would think it be horrible if they did pick someone just to be a token rider for publicity stunt.

Kill this thread. Kill it with fire.

Next you are going to say Olympic curling and swimming are racist sports for being majority white. The list goes on of sports that are majority white. I'm pretty sure nowhere on the entry form does it ask race.

I guess track is the one non racist sport because it's majority black.

There was a craigslist ad here about a week ago that said "If you had XXX road bike stolen I saw a black kid riding it on YYY road". Guy said he knew it was stolen because he had never seen a black kid ride a bike.

I got a chuckle out of it because I'm an evil white guy.

(Vails was my boyhood hero. I wanted to be Nelson Vails -- but no velodromes within 2,000 miles of where I lived. And our family couldn't have afforded a cyclist's training / equipment needs at any rate.)

But, let's come clean, folks. There is a multi-national white supremacist conspiracy against black cyclists everywhere. All the professional, amateur and collegiate teams are in on it. The bike manufacturers, with their separate black/white bike price lists, are in on it. It was a closely-held secret. This thread blew the lid off of it!!

[I would say in another 50 years or so, the Tour will be dominated by black athletes[/QUOTE]

And what on earth makes you think so?

Hmmm just answering to the Op ok? Pls dont take me wrong but i'm a minority also ok?

No, it does not make it ok nor does it make it valid. A minority group can be racist just as well, and guess what…it is not acceptable either.


Not for being racist but this is something I have noticed ok? Blacks and Asians are pretty bad for road racing, is that simple. Just like asian women drive like cr@p, the same. In the track is different because are built for it, a lot of power and really really explosives but in the road caucasian whitey guǐlǎo or Gweilo is just better for the road.

You just pulled this out of your ass, this is why your claim reeks of crap! Do you have studies to back this up…sweeping generalizations are major fail. And that Chinese term you used does not make it less racist. Not being racist claim…FAIL!


All the south americans that are racing or have raced the TdF come from mid to low class families, thing that is common basically everywhere in europe but maybe the US. We say in my country "cycling is a riches sport that is performed by the poor". coming back to south americans, all of them have european roots, maybe the only mixed with black I have ever seen was wanderley magalhaes back in the day when lotto started (he was Brazilian and basically everybody in brazil is mixed with black). The only kind'a indian guy to race the TDF was back in the day when the colombians showed up in the TDF back in 85, small and tiny guys, those were mixed with colmbian indians and spanish, cant remember a name right now.

TO close, have to recognize, whitey does better road cycling than minorities. With some other races u basically dont have cyclists because they simply suck at it, and maybe to any other sport like HINDIs that suck in everything but maybe to play cricket, and that's a sport that pretty much hindi multimillionares are involved with.
Your whole post reeks of unfounded “facts” based on what, again? You are the worst kind of racist…the one who claim they are not...then write in such a way that proves them otherwise.

A minority group can be racist just as well,

Jeez, ya think?

Jeez, ya think?

Call me Capt obvious :D

This is BF...it is a requirement.

hopefully this will get this train wreck of a thread locked. Who looks more baddass on a bike?

this guy
http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/06_16/obama_bike.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gcA0ZuKGkI8/THqJpqBZh3I/AAAAAAAAIi4/ysmGGFzCWts/s1600/weenie-in-chief-on-bicycle.jpg

or this guy
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2008/writers/the_bonus/09/04/sports.politics/bush.bike.jpg
http://scottystarnes.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/bush.jpg