geneman

I know that when high-profile racers retire, they are typically "gifted" a final win. This usually occurs in a second tier race, often a crit. However, I wonder if and when other gifts are awarded to high-profile members of the peloton. For clarification, I'm not refering to the gentlemenly gift where, for example, in a break of two guys, if one guy is largely responsible for the success of the break, he is often given the win. What I'm talking about is blow-out wins or half-hearted sprints to set someone up. For example, Bettini's win in Germany three weeks ago was an absolute blow out. He solo'd from 35K and won by almost 3 minutes against some serious competition. This is almost unheard of. Another good example was Richard Virenque's uncanny ability to bring home a dramatic solo victory on Bastille day almost every edition of the TdF he participated in ...

So ... completely conjecture, but do you believe that Bettini was on superior form, or did the peloton know he was going to win before the race started? Moreoever, do you, like me, think that even some of the larger wins are gifted. Have any examples?

Mark

timmhaan

are you saying cycling is like world wrestling?

RockyMtnMerlin

Well the only consistent "gifting" have read about is the crits after the Grand Tours. Big appearance money is paid to top riders to come to these crits, the locals turn out in mass to see the "competition" and the big name alomost always "wins." Can't remember where I saw the article (probably cyclingnews.com or velonews.com) but they interviewed a couple of the crit organizers and a couple of the riders and they were quite candid about it.

RockyMtnMerlin

Actually Virenque has only won once on Bastille day (14 July) and that was 2004. Other wins were on 12, 15, 18 (twice), 20 and 21 July.

geneman

Thanks for the correction. Perhaps I should have said a "Frenchman." Seems like the odds of being French and winning on Bastille day are MUCH higher than any other day of the tour.

Mark

RockyMtnMerlin

No problem. I did find that "15 Frenchmen have won on Bastille Day since WWII." Thats one in four. Pretty good ratio. Kinda hard to find out if that means only 15 wins though because it is possible that someone has won it more than once. Unfortunately my sources make it rather time consuming to check that out. Think I'll go for a ride instead.

YMCA

Frenchman win on Bastille Day through pure motivation. There are no gifts from the whole peloton at the Tour.

There are plenty of wins though that were bought and sold over the years, and I'm not talking of just the Kermesse circuit.

It is, and always has been the way of the world. Sometimes it is for money, sometimes for favors in a future race. Either way, it's still the most beautiful sport I know.

And Bettini won because of his form, his tactics, and his number one team.

Keith99

And on rare occasions just because it is right. Perez was 'gifted' his first Giro stage win and with it became the first Mexican rider to win a Giro stage. He was in a 2 man break with the eventual Giro winner. A few days earlier he had about a 55 second lead (Barely under a minute) over a chasing group on the final climb when his chain broke. No support cars between him and the chasers. His work all for nothing. He had been working with the leader, the stage should be his. But he totally ran out of gas. The leader would have been entirled to leave him, instead he towed him the last couple of Kms and gave him the win.

Justice and a chance to play God.

geneman

As great a contributor to this forum as you are, I've only got one reply to this comment ... phooey!!

Moncoutie performance this year on Bastille day was completely uninspiring. The group of Casar and Merckx just let him ride away with a couple of K to go and Mancoutie looked like he was pedaling backward.

I have no problem with it being rigged, I'd just like to see it called for what it is.

Mark

YMCA

I thought Moncoutie or his team may have made a deal that day too as the chase was completely uninspired, but...