The swag. I was fully anticipating walking away with a complete gruppo, frames, wheels and numerous pairs of bibs. Sadly the only free things that found their way into my hands were energy gummies, the worst pair of cycling socks I’ve ever laid eyes upon and Celine Dion’s personal cell phone number and her itinerary for the next 2 weeks. All of which do nothing to enrich my life.
L’Interbike | Ritte van Vlaanderen Bicycles

Source: rittecycles.com

So while it seems that so many of you are so happy with this decision and relieved that we can finally move forward I sit here (in a Hermes scarf and Dolce slippers of course) sad. Sad for the sport and sad for a great champion. Because this embarrassing USADA charade masked in “unbiased fairness” has done nothing to clean up cycling. It has sullied it further. It’s the frothing at the mouth, pitchfork wielding mob who upon finally burning down the subject of their ire are left standing around a smoldering pile of smoke and ashes that lies on the front steps of their own house. Nothing will change because of this and if so many of you are so happy to see this outcome then I suggest you quit watching professional cycling altogether. It’s not cleaner now than it was, the sport will always have cheats and the science will always be one step ahead of the piss cups. This is a black eye for cycling, let’s just hope there’s enough ice to stop the swelling.

OK, I lied. One last thing about Lance. 

Lance Armstrong | Ritte van Vlaanderen Bicycles

Source: rittecycles.com

Perhaps the purest practitioners of sport are the amateurs. The riders who get out of the door at 5:30 in the morning before work to get in an hour and half of intervals in the hopes of crossing the finish line first at their local weekend crits. The riders who wrench and wash their own bikes so they can look their best at the group ride hammer-fest on Saturday. The riders who ravenously consume the sport like it’s a perfectly prepared Baked Alaska. The riders who literally fuel this industry we’ve all come to love and adore.

Amazing perspective from Ritte

il Chat del Giorno: iL Amateur Doping | Ritte van Vlaanderen Bicycles

Source: rittecycles.com