NoMoreGears

Tour de France TV implosion

July 18, 2007 on 10:46 am | In Uncategorized |

Cycling is big news in Germany, The German TV stations run a very professional show during the Tour de France. With little expense saved. I don’t know how many camera crews they have running around the Tour and in the media village their trucks occupy a fair chunk of space. They also take a hard line against doping. With all the stories with doping, - some never proven- they said that if there was one more case of doping in this Tour they would pull out . No more broadcast. Maybe a bit far fetched, but perhaps necessary aswell after the Ullrich rumors and the penance of Zabel and Aldag more than a month ago. This morning, minutes befoer the start in Tailard, the shit hit the fan.

It was reported that Sinkewitz, a rider for the German T-Mobile team had tested positive before the Tour for Testosterone. Suddenly huge crowds outside the T-Mobile bus and an impromptu press conference. During the drive to Marseilles, we got the news that ARD and ZDF, the German public broadcast channels pulled out until the case was fully investigated.

That news hit like a bomb. I can’t remember seeing such an event anytime before. I expect to be at the finish soon and see what is happening. Obviously this news overshadows, whoever wins this mainly flat stage.

So for now, no more Tour on ARD or ZDF TV in Germany. Only on EuroSport, an international cable and satellite channel. The reason I write this is that a) it is big news and b) it reminds me of an interesting chain of events:
A few days ago I met up with an old friend who probably knows as much there is to know about German cycling. We talked about Sinkewitz who indeed had the name last year to take some things which he probably should not take. Under the hard line anti doping policy of his team, T-Mobile, the word was that he had toned that down. But no-one knew how much.

Then ten minutes later, news came, last Sunday that he had crashed on his drive down from the finish against a 79 year spectator. He was out for the race and had to be airlifted to a local hospital. I believe he was still in hospital when this name came.

I just read a story where he denies taking part in any doping. Yet the losers are the German sponsors and the German audience. Another bad day for cycling. Although when you watch this race, the crowds are still there.

More later.