Why do we still all follow cycling despite its problems?

[B_Ugli]

Its really interesting that despite its doping problems a lot of the people I know still watch Pro Cycling and follow it closely (albeit with greater circumspect). I wondered why this is?

 

[will10]

I'm a cyclist first, a fan of pro cycling second.

 

[luckyboy]

Its still a beautiful & exciting sport to watch & All sports have the same problems to a lesser or greater degree

It is by far the best sport in the world regardless of what goes on behind the scenes in the professional ranks.

 

[sniper]

who are "we"?
in germany cycling has significantly lost popularity and media coverage due to doping.
doping stories are still covered abundantly though.

 

[Sydney21]

As long as I believe there is atleast one clean rider in the peleton I will still support the sport for that one. It is by far the most beautiful sport in the world and is also heavily tactical which adds another dimension to it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I am passionate about the sport despite its competitions.
I still beleive that there are some riders out there riding and clean and I also think that cycling will become clean.
Following a sport like cycling is a great way to further your general knowledge about different places, languages and cultures.

 

[Grand Tourist]

I don't like doping but I've got to admit there is a part of me that takes a perverse satisfaction in trying to spot which riders are 'at it' & being 'outraged' at the latest scandal. It's an inherent part of the sport - always has been & always will be.

 

[Mambo95]

I suspect that there there's a few posters on here who watch cycling primarily for the doping.

 

[The Hitch]

All sports have these problems. And the bloodsucking media while making gazellions out of football in the uk, baseball and nfl in US, AFL in Australia (no sure about afl but the other 3 are rife with doping) single out cycling like a bully in the playground singles out others to beat up. Like mafiosi single out people to steal from and terorise if need be.

If you hate the way Armstrong treated Simeoni you should hate the way the media treats cycling.

I generally sympathise with the poor, the wretched, take their side. Its not great because it means you usually end up on the losing side, by choice, but every time I read headlines about "Another" doping problem in cycling and see the protagonists from sports that get tested twice a year and where the connections and finance for doping are greater, get treated like national heroes, like supermen, like gods, i dont turn away from cycling. I warm to it.

Turning away from it while warming to the others is weakness. Stand by your sport as it gets attacked by the media.

 

[YoRUsh]

Well, for me all the doping cases are just something that keeps me occupated on times that there isnt a race to watch. The second I watch real cycling the doping doesnt matter anymore. For example: before this Giro I really was against the idea of Contador riding because of all the controversy, but the second I saw him riding the way he does Im just cheering him on because he is that good. Its still impressive to watch, even if they are doped.

 

[gregrowlerson]

I've long had a liking for endurance sports. I find the GC battles in the GT's very exciting and interesting.

 

[veganrob]

I voted other but really it is just more than one reason. Primarily for the beauty, excitement and passion, and certainly hope that it is cleaned up one day. But that may be a pipe dream. I don't buy the level playing field argument at all because it is not level as has been proven. And the same would hold for other sports. I just am not as passionate about them.

 

[auscyclefan94]

All sports have these problems. And the bloodsucking media while making gazellions out of football in the uk, baseball and nfl in US, AFL in Australia (no sure about afl but the other 3 are rife with doping) single out cycling like a bully in the playground singles out others to beat up. Like mafiosi single out people to steal from and terorise if need be.

If you hate the way Armstrong treated Simeoni you should hate the way the media treats cycling.

Totally agree.

AFL doesn't have much problems with PED's because players are only tested 3 times a year. They don't get blood tested. Even when they test for illicit drugs they give them 3 chances before they announce it. Anyway, AFL has a lot of problems with party boy sportsmen which are always in troubles and betting (there has been no official convictions of such incidents but it happens).

 

[craig1985]

How is this any different to MLB, or the NFL?

 

[sars1981]

I follow it because the scandals make it more interesting lol

 

[Sydney21]

I follow it because the scandals make it more interesting lol

Tis true! but also I love the transfer season and I also love following aussie sportsmen in just about any sport.

 

[movingtarget]

I am seriously thinking pulling of the plug. I have had enough of corruption, lies and cheating and not only in cycling.

 

[Markyboyzx6r]

I used to watch all races avidly - read Cycle Sport and Cycling News in the UK.

I drifted away due to all the doping scandals

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

I watch in the hope rather than the expectation that one day I will see rides that I can believe in, rather than the current brand of drugged up **** taking.

I keep on watching because walking away would mean that the people who want to ruin the sport have won. I stay and remain critical.

 

[Master50]

I still love it because it is hard. Regardless of its troubles the speed, the physical challenges, the colour, the scenery.
I ride and am always challenged to stay in the group, to keep up on the climbs, to roll endlessly at speeds I could not maintain alone. There may be dopers but they are all still athletes far above the average talent of most of us. The kid that could ride at the front on the weekend ride all day and make us cry. Those guys that would attack the pack in the mall crit and stay away alone. Those riders that had the gift all meet in some epic battle or race 20 days in a grand tour. I am exhausted after just 1 or 2 days at the distance and speed never mind 3 weeks of it. Because we understand why they take drugs and the struggle to be honest against the demands.

I watch because it is the most beautiful sport and the hardest. I support it so it is there for the honest riders if we ever get above the troubles.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Its really interesting that despite its doping problems a lot of the people I know still watch Pro Cycling and follow it closely (albeit with greater circumspect). I wondered why this is?

Cause it's the same in any sport

 

[VeloCity]

It's the best sport in the world. Yeah ok maybe that's a bit glib, but it's true And yeah the doping sucks, the doping scandals suck, the corruption and so forth sucks, but every sport has its share of problems and goes through black days, and you stick with it in the hope that things will get better.

But even in the darkest days, and for all the attention that the doping and other scandals get, there's still a thousand times more great things about cycling than there are bad.

 

[Marva32]

While I still think the sport is beautiful and exciting, I've stopped caring about the personalities.

 

[ElChingon]

Well who has stopped following the regular news due to the issues presented there? No one.

So I see no reason not to follow my favorite sport.

 

[VeloCity]

While I still think the sport is beautiful and exciting, I've stopped caring about the personalities.

I agree - everything changed for me when I stopped having favorite riders and teams etc and just tried to focus on the sport as opposed to individual riders. There's always going to be certain riders that I like more than others of course, but after being burned by my hero-worship of first Bugno then Bartoli then Pantani then Armstrong (when he first started winning the Tour), I've learned better than to get too invested in this guy or that guy.