A Reticence Bordering on Invisibility

I’ve been watching ITV’s coverage of the Tour de France with Gary Imlach and Chris Boardman, including race commentary by the incredible duo of Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. Imlack, and particularly Boardman, don’t like Lance Armstrong. Their criticisms are many and varied, but seem to revolve around the idea that Lance gets an undue amount of attention and respect for someone who is washed up. The implication is he’s a showboater who has no respect for tradition and doesn’t belong in the race.

As an American, I understand their point of view, but don’t agree with it. Although Armstrong may fail to be on the podium in Paris, and is sometimes rather loose with his mouth (for example, his derogatory comments about Sastre winning last year’s tour), coming back after three years and a broken collarbone and facing the French cycling authorities (who would give anything to prove a drug violation) is one of the gutsiest things I’ve seen a man do.

Lance is about as far from the last great British cyclist, the Scot Robert Millar, as you can get. Millar seldom spoke above a shy whisper and deflected attention whenever possible. Perhaps this is what Boardman would prefer from the seven-time winner of the Tour—a reticence bordering on invisibility.