The funny side of the Tour de France
It's the time of year again when France observes a modern tradition: the lament over drug-taking by riders in the Tour de France.
The 94th edition of the world's biggest cycle race starts on Saturday in London. For the geographically alert, yes, the British capital is not in France, but the three-week test of human endurance sometimes visits neighbouring territory before finishing on the Champs Elysées. This is the first time in London for the great Tour caravan.
The event is once again over-shadowed by the endless scandal over doping. Floyd Landis, last year's winner, is fighting an implausible campaign to retain the title that was cast into doubt when he failed a drug test. Suspicion lingers over Lance Armstrong, the American who won every year from 1999 to 2005. In the past month, former riders have confessed to using EPO (erythropoietin), the favourite doping agent for would-be wearers of the Yellow Jersey.
The latest wheeze to clean up the sport is a pledge of purity that riders must sign for the International Cycling Union. If they do not publicly reject performance-enhancing drugs, they do not ride. Most have complied.
That's the background for this video. Among all the hand-wringing and media debate, a couple of enterprising song-writers have scored a hit with a joke song on the joys of doping. Posing as a Mexican mariachi cycle team, they sing in French and Spanish: "EPO te quiero, grace à toi je serai numero uno" ["EPO I love you, thanks to you I will be number one"]
If the video looks familiar it is because Franck Lascombes, the singer-composer, made his name last year by setting to music the famous head-butt by Zinedine Zidane against Marco Materazzi, the Italian defender, in the World Cup football final in Berlin. His song "Coup de Boule"[Head Butt] was bought by Warner Music France and sold 460,000 singles in France and 600,000 ringtones. The Tour de France video, produced by the same LaPlage label, seems destined for similar success. It has already generated tens of thousands of internet hits as well as well as play on French radio.
The grand old Tour de France may be sinking ever deeper into disrepute but at least some are managing to laugh.
Dear Charles,
Thank you or this highly fundamental political subject that spares us from Sarko's love for cycling with Michel Drucker in front of TV cameras ;=))
Posted by: Dominique | 5 Jul 2007 15:29:47
I worked on the tour in 89 and 90 for ABC sports. The years of Greg Lemond. No talking about doping then but my oh my how things have changed.
Great experience, lots of fun but little sleep for one month because of the time difference and the American appetite for live broadcasts after the race so we often stayed on until practically midnight and then had to pack up to drive to the next stage at 150kms on mostly back roads. Then on the finish line at 7am the next morning. So little sleep.
Got an award winning photo of Mont Saint Michel at 6am in the morning from 20kms with a high powered scope.
http://tinyurl.com/ynms9n
PS - Dominique I've got some great pix of Drucker on the tour!!!!
Met lot's of great cycling stars
I also met Poulidor in Luxemburg. Shook his hand which was like twice the size of mine. (la main de paysan) Got his autograph but then proceeded to lose it. Ouff!
When I arrived in France in the late 70's I thought it was stupid all of these people just pedaling around France in their underwear but later began to learn the tactics and strategy and I really appreciated it and still do.
Bref- Great race but tragic what is happening to that sport now.
Posted by: rocket | 5 Jul 2007 16:43:00
Charles
"EPO te quiero"
In fact it's I want you not I love you.
Te amo - I love you in spaaaanish
[Thanks Rocket, but it it certainly does mean 'I love you' in this context. Te amo is the more passionate form (I used to live in Mexico). CB]
Posted by: rocket | 5 Jul 2007 16:47:33
I happen to love watching the Tour on t.v. It's a great event.
I can't believe how many spectators actually run behind the cyclists when they are going "slow" uphill. They really get close.
Posted by: Terry | 5 Jul 2007 17:49:22
Charles,
Just 2 things :
- Landis hasn't lost his title yet.
- You're right : "te quiero" means "I love you" in spanish (did you like living in Mexico ?)
I'm glad Rocket actually like something french. Hallelujah* !!
*Tiens ça me donne envie d'écouter la chanson de Jeff Buckley...
Posted by: Sandrine | 5 Jul 2007 19:23:07
Sandrine
Jeff Buckley ne fait "que" l'interpréter (de bien belle manière, c'est vrai). Mais vous le saviez peut-être déjà. Auquel cas toute mes excuses pour cette correction qui n'a pas lieu d'être.
L'originale est de Léonard Cohen.
Posted by: pouet | 5 Jul 2007 20:51:32
What date's the final stage on? Might pop up to the Champs Elysées. Maybe I'll get into the spirit by using the Vélib service!
Posted by: Helen | 5 Jul 2007 21:11:28
Carlos- Sandrine
Lo siento pero creo que te quiero y te amo dependa del sitio.
Hablo castellano y es quizá diferente en España
Te quiero es normalmente amor entre amigos, se ama a la familia y especialmente a la pareja.
Te quiero no te amo se podría traducir como I care about you but I don't love you.
y tengo ganas???
En todo caso eso es un pregunto bastante difícil
Posted by: rocket | 5 Jul 2007 21:56:35
Merci Pouet, effectivement je savais que Jeff Buckley avait simplement fait une reprise, mais je trouve sa version tellement plus belle... C'est celle que j'écoute à chaque fois !
Posted by: Sandrine | 5 Jul 2007 21:57:30
where there are money and fame, there are banned substances.
i don't think i have seen anything as pitiful and humiliating as floyd landis issuing pathetic denials after he was disqualified last year.
but for most fans, particulary younger ones, i'm not so sure they care about these drugs. most have tried so many drugs themselves that the bruhaha about steroids seems overdone.
QUESTION FOR FRENCH BLOGGERS: what is your opinion about lance armstrong's denial of using banned substances?? is he clean, and entitled to his superman reputation in the u.s, OR no better than the rest of the cheaters??
Posted by: azloon | 5 Jul 2007 23:12:05
Helen: final stage is on 29th July. But many things can happen since then. And because this is right time for predictions, i bet a pound on Vinokourov, he has the best chemist...
Posted by: Charly | 6 Jul 2007 00:53:42
ROCKET:
Se habla castallano en Espana! (Se habla catalan en Barcelona.)
Te quiero = I love you & I want you (which makes sense)
tener ganas de hacer algo = to like to do sth; and 'tengo ganas' = j'ai envie = I like to.../I would like to...
No es tan dificil!
[I lived in Spain]
Posted by: VisitorHK | 6 Jul 2007 06:50:50
ON LOVE (again):
I think you can distinguish "querer" like this: querer - towards objects = want; querer - towards persons = love.
querer = to love is as strong as amar = to love, but querer is more common, amar is more poetic.
Besides, amar turns into amor; there is no amor with querer...
You can say 'Te quiero, mi amor' or 'Te amo, mi querido/a', but when you talk about love, there's only amor.
"Yo no la quiero, es cierto, pero tal vez la quiero. Es tan corto al amor, y es tan largo el olvido."
(I no longer love her, that's certain, but maybe I love her. Love is so short, forgetting is so long.)
from: Love poems by Pablo Neruda
To get back to the blog entry:
C'est un jeu de mots - un double sens! It is up to ones own interpretation whether it means to want or to love. That is my interpretation.
Posted by: VisitorHK | 6 Jul 2007 07:27:06
@ Azloon : Lance Armstrong is the all-time greatest cheater, and he's very clever too. His using of doping substances in 1999 is proven, but he managed to escape any kind of punishment. Furthermore, his victory over cancer makes him appear as an undisputable hero.
@ Charly : I bet 1 euro on Christophe Moreau. If Vinokourov happens to be arrested by the police with a syringe in his arm, there's a quite unique opportunity for Moreau to win the Tour. He claims he's never been this strong before.
Posted by: LN | 6 Jul 2007 07:59:15
Love III (this should have been one post, the thoughts come in one by one...)
The syntax of "epo te quiero" clearly states that this means:
"EPO, I love you." (... to end the Spanish lesson)
Posted by: VisitorHK | 6 Jul 2007 08:28:15
Azloon: poser la question c'est y répondre..
My guess: he is most probably not clean, certainly not entitled to his superman reputation in the u.s, yet possibly better (physical aptitudes) than the rest of the cheaters.
Posted by: Actu75 | 6 Jul 2007 08:52:40
Azloon,
my view about armstrong denial? it's only mine and certainly not the "french blogger" view :
Poor Armstrong is just like any other Tour de France winner : he won because he cheated. Nothing particular there. They all cheated. From Anquetil to Landis, via Merkx, Hinault, Indurain etc...
They all cheated because you know what? This race is just not for humans. It is not even possible to ride three Alps summits in a row at 50km/h at the end of a 200 kms race within a day! Can you imagine that every day during 3 weeks. Bullshxx!!!
They all get what they deserve. I hope the huge ripoff sinks ASAP. What a terrible example for the children! cheaters, cheaters, cheaters...And after that, we try to explain children about rules, health, taking care of his own body and the "beauty" of effort and emulation.
PS : the next scandal will be Zizou's fall. I hope. Wikipedia says about him : "il est atteint de thalassémie bénigne, une maladie génétique fréquente autour du bassin méditerranéen, qui le fatigue naturellement"
in english: he has a special "mediterranean" illness that makes him "naturally" tired. So, when you are "naturally" tired, you become one of the greates footballer ever, winning world cup and all kind of sport's events? Thant's thanks to his visits with Johnny to the swiss clinique where you can switch your blud within a day?
To day, champions are all asmatics or .... who knows. Ha! EPO for ever...
Posted by: Dominique | 6 Jul 2007 09:25:05
The great former tennis player Pete Sampras also suffers from thalassemia. It's a very common illness really. I think Zidane took EPO during his career, but thalassemia itself has nothing to do with doping.
Posted by: LN | 6 Jul 2007 11:15:48
It's a great shame about the scandals involving the Tour, but one little bit of compensation in a troubled world is that skullduggery in so many places always brings out the satirists. There's no doubt that any cheating sportsmen (or politicians on the take) should watch out for Franck Lascombes and his team. Terrific video - thanks, Charles.
Posted by: christopher muir | 6 Jul 2007 12:28:12
LN,
Thalassemia has nothing to do with EPO I agree. But how can you explain that someone "naturally tired" is among the greatest champion ever without any help?
Nowadays, a champion needs to be either thalissemiac like Zizou & Sampras, asmatic or have a cancer like Armstrong! Their only problem : find the right illness that allows the otherwise forbidden treatment for being on the top!
The worst is to come : self wounds in order to get bodies that allow better performance!
Posted by: Dominique | 6 Jul 2007 13:00:48
Chère Dominique,
I understand your point, and I quite agree with you, but let's prevent us from being too paranoid. I once read that thalassemia had no real negative effects on performance. I also reckon that Pete Sampras and Zinedine Zidane stopped their career while still rather young (compared to Jimmy Connors or Paolo Maldini), because of exhaustion. But once again, you may be right, alas.
Posted by: LN | 6 Jul 2007 14:24:12
Dominique
Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed today or what?
plus
"They all get what they deserve. I hope the huge ripoff sinks ASAP. What a terrible example for the children! cheaters, cheaters, cheaters...And after that, we try to explain children about rules, health, taking care of his own body and the "beauty" of effort and emulation."
It's like cheating on your wife or partner as you seem to condone eh! How can you talk to children about rules if you yourself are dishonest.
Posted by: rocket | 6 Jul 2007 17:00:47
Rocket
??? what are you talking about?
EPO is cheating the rules. Cheating your wife is between you and your wife : no social rules brocken here.
Posted by: Dominique | 6 Jul 2007 17:31:44
"Cheating your wife is between you and your wife : no social rules brocken (sic) here." Dominique
i'll leave that one alone....
BUT how about french tennis (who cares about cycling anyway when we've got Wimbledon??).
Marion Bartoli represents the new 'smurf' look in women's tennis -- a welcome relief after all these tall, thin model-looking types from the former eastern bloc (tho dozens of those remain).
Richard Gasquet is phenomenal !! Roddick was frozen in his dumfounded tracks more than a few times in their match.
Gasquet looks american, with his cap on backwards, and general demeanor. i guess all these people imitate each other, and you can't tell national differences anymore. i remember seeing a bunch of kids in the paris metro wearing Chicago Bears jackets (professional football team) and almost said something to them. then i heard them speaking french and realized they weren't a school group from chicago.
getting back on point, do they drug test tennis players??
Posted by: azloon | 6 Jul 2007 23:35:31
wow , after 17 years as a tennis player gasquet has finally won a big match !!!!! [ guess what sort of club his father owns ] ; yes , I know it was only a quarter final , but even so ...lets hope he moves on from there , and doesn't become a nearly man like henman
but your point is well made azloon...what about drugs in other sports as well ? if you think it isn't the same you have your head in the sand !!! I don't really follow tennis , but a few years back I saw a certain high ranked female tennis player for the first time in almost a year ...I couldn't believe her physical development in that time, and had no doubt in my mind how it was done
in many sports drug testing is at best a joke ....face the fact there is too much money involved ; best way in my view is to let people take what they want ....life is about risk management ,isn't it?
Posted by: colin grayson | 7 Jul 2007 08:24:20
Azloon,
Yes! weather you like it or not, cheating on your wife is not illegal. Taking EPO is. sorry
Posted by: Dominique | 7 Jul 2007 16:18:46
DOMINIQUE;
if you read carefully, you'll notice i didn' dispute your point.
with an impolitic example such as this, 'you're damned if you do and damned if you don't," to use a popular english expression.
be sure to use this sometime with you wife/girlfriend if you want to be without sex for an indeterminate period.
Posted by: azloon | 7 Jul 2007 18:40:31
HOW THE WORLD WORKS?:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM
we can now return to our trivial converns
Posted by: azloon | 8 Jul 2007 02:44:09
Amusing piece but the poor choice of the throw-in "The grand old Tour de France may be sinking ever deeper..." is a comment by the uninformed merely towing the party line of a media which seems all too keen to harangue cycling whilst leaving the middlle class drug abusing bastions of the likes of rugby or rowing free from taint. Perhaps Mr. Bremner would do well in demanding a level playing field across sports not just the one- and that includes all you cocaine & amphetamine abusing hacks, lawyers, doctors, students and professionals using "recreational" drugs.
Posted by: c montagne | 8 Jul 2007 08:55:40
i think there is no clean guy on the tour de france !! Bicycle is a totaly doped sport... the most doped will win that's all ! :)
+ +Morg
http://video.google.fr/videoplay?docid=-274821516302607435&q=richard+virenque&total=29&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=5
Posted by: Morgoth | 11 Jul 2007 10:01:04
There is a big buisness behind anti doping. If the atheletes go clean, the buisness will remain. It is the grand idea that athletes compete on a level playing field, but are we not the hypocrites who have pills for everything? Whether they are drug free or not, bravo to the competitors that put everything on the line for their sport.
Posted by: l tucker | 19 Jul 2007 03:42:35