Any black pro cyclist on the tour? I don't think I've seen one yet

[Strathlubnaig]

Of course it matters. What a pointless and ignorant comment. Perhaps you would like to read some of the links in the 'Good news' thread on African cycling, where some of us have occasionally been noting the rise of especially Eritrean, Ethiopian and Rwandan cycling.

I think perhaps he was saying that race / colour does not matter, and should not matter.

 

[AndyRM]

Just curious why I haven't seen one yet.

You can't have been watching much cycling.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I think perhaps he was saying that race / colour does not matter, and should not matter.

I think you will find that 'does not matter' and the 'should not matter' are two completely different things... few people would disagree on the latter, but anyone who thinks the former I would suggest probably has either a very blinkered or privileged view of the world.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Daniel Teklehaimanot,rode the veultra last year for OGE,great climber and sense of humour

And he just won his first race of the season in Spain (check the 'good news' thread, mentioned earlier...)

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I think perhaps he was saying that race / colour does not matter, and should not matter.

I was not.

 

[ufkacbln]

There is an interesting perspective if you read the history of Marshall (Major) Taylor, the American cyclist wo became the first black American to win a World Championship in 1899

His legacy is still here with teams and clubs that promote black cyclists in the US (although the clubs are open to all)

 

[Hip Priest]

Too many people are searching for racism and prejudice and what they look for they WILL find.

Nairo Quintana has spoken candidly about racism in the pro peloton.

Some thirty years ago, Colombian cyclists were viewed in a disdainful way within the European peloton. How was the team treated in this occasion [Tour de l'Avenir 2010]?

The same. Things have not changed. This time we had problems with the French, the Australians and also Americans during the race, but we never allowed ourselves to be humiliated as they clearly wished had been the case. They didn't want us to be in the front of the peloton, they "brake-checked" us, they yelled at us, treated us badly, but we took them on and gave it right back. One day, a French rider grabbed Jarlinson Pantano's bike by the handlebar and threw him off his bike. So in retaliation, I went over and pushed this French rider into a ditch. In the end, however, it was him [the French rider] who asked us for forgiveness. At the end of that stage, the directors had to mediate the situation, so we wouldn't have any more problems. As the days went by, things calmed down. They saw that we were the strongest, and they learned to respect us.

Has the team received any type of help in a psychological sense, in order to handle the stress and moments of anxiety that come with moments like that in such a big race?

Yes! In the team we have a psychologist, who has worked with us on this matter. We have even seem movies to help us work through this, and help raise our self esteem. This way we won't feel inferior to them. We are not only from a small country, but we are also physically smaller, and that puts us at a disadvantage with people who are much taller and, as if that weren't enough, are also racists.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Nairo Quintana has spoken candidly about racism in the pro peloton.

Thanks for posting that reminder of the dark distant days (a whole 3 years ago!) of pro riding. Is the interview anywhere online?

 

[Hip Priest]

Thanks for posting that reminder of the dark distant days (a whole 3 years ago!) of pro riding. Is the interview anywhere online?

I got it from here http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2013/04/who-is-nairo-quintana.html

 

[Milzy]

My friend studies genetics & he says that black athletes are genetically better suited to running type of sports & whites are better at swimming & cycling. Controversial? There was a tv documentary on it last year.

 

[junglegusset]

My friend studies genetics & he says that black athletes are genetically better suited to running type of sports & whites are better at swimming & cycling. Controversial? There was a tv documentary on it last year.

Are you able to provide a link to the study by any chance?

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Not my usual area but the OP interested me. What does it matter WHAT colour the riders were ? Would it be better if black riders were give "free tickets" just because they were black or were forced to compete just to "keep the numbers up" ?
Too many people are searching for racism and prejudice and what they look for they WILL find.
There are many black athletes [and olympic medal holders] but nobody seems to be saying "why arn't there more white athletes". Positive discrimination is as degraging as any other form.
There wern't many inuit or chinese riders either but I don't see many comments about that fact.
If a black rider wins the TDF - great, if not so be it. After all how long has it taken for a british rider to win ?
If the current riders either choose not to or are not up to the standard of winning then maybe the next generation of black riders will, but let them get there on their own merits.

When I posted the question, deep down, I knew somebody would come along and make a big issue of it. I should have said something to try to prevent it.

I don't watch much cycling, the just finished TDF was what I have watched the most.

Watching the last TDF I couldn't see any black riders but it seems I was wrong. My observation made me think back to what tennis used to be like, not that tennis has changed tremendously but it is changing gradually.

Even if there are a few black pro riders on the tour I can't understand why there aren't a lot more. The same goes for Chinese riders, going back in time, the bicycle was the main form of transport in China but it seems that Chinese aren't particularly interested in competitive cycling but I might be wrong.

I get a feeling that this has nothing to do with race but what sports are popular in a particular country, with exceptions of course. Cycling in Colombia has always been important, especially climbing. I understood that Colombian cyclists were good climbers. The terrain in Colombia helps their training I suppose. French, Italians and Spanish have a long tradition in Cycling, along with many other European countries.

So, I'd like to think this is not a race issue but I know it's a far more complex issue too.

 

[Milzy]

Are you able to provide a link to the study by any chance?

The information is on the internet. I've just remembered another documentary with Micheal Johnson which was on channel 4 a few years back.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/...ohnson-Survival-of-the-Fastest-C4-review.html

The theory is, it's down to the slave trade as they were bred to be big & strong. Weak guys with low endurance suck as slaves. Many of West African descendants have a Superior centre of gravity, better rotational qualities & higher quality muscle that performs for longer. Christophe Lemaitre the French national record holder is the only white 100m sprinter who can compete with the like of Ussain Bolt.

It's nothing to do with racism just good old fashioned science & rather interesting too.

 

[Noodley]

Oh look, a thread on the same topic from a few years ago:
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/black-pro-cyclists.37349/

And for the benefit of members who have joined post-2009; yenners was a nobber, just to forewarn you. As was Mr Pig, he was a huge nobber.

 

[Milzy]

That thread is just nonsensical drivel in all fairness.