Zenbiker......mate....it has EVERYTHING to do with genetics. "If I just train real hard and remain mentally tough and focussed then there's nothin' I can't do!" is something parents tell their kids to stop them smoking pot and dropping out of school.

Also, if a guy succeeds at becoming a high class athlete, isn't it a bit of a contradiction saying 'He was not a gifted athlete'? If he wasn't 'gifted', he wouldn't be a high class athlete. Defies logic there Junior.

Errr, also, if a person has 'competitive nature' or 'plays the mental game well', isn't that genetic, or did the guy you mention magically develop this mental attitute through hard work?

Anyway, I'm sorry. Had a bit of a Dr.Cox from 'Scrubs' moment there.

Where were we? Oh yeah. Well, yes, it's all genetic. Whether a particular race has evolved to be better at a certain sport is irrelevant, simply because there's not much difference between the races. We're all human. No race is in any better or worse position to become a world class cyclist - the numbers don't lie. If you're of a certain body type, have the right sort of musculature, have a certain VO2 capacity, Power-to-weight ratio, you'll kick a55. END OF STORY.

What really defines how well any group will do in a given sport is actually economics. It doesn't matter how many kids in the ghetto play basketball, if there isn't a multi million dollar system in place to grow and promote the sport, there will BE no basketball, if you catch my drift. You can be as gifted and determined as you like, but if you have to scrounge for food, chances are you're not going to be the next Eddie Merckx.