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Monday's Mailbag: Tour of California and Bergman's confession
The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
Fox covers fishing and poker, but cycling? Nah
Editor:
I wasn't able to watch the taped coverage of the Tour of California last night and assumed I'd be able to catch up on it this morning. I was at the Fox News web site and thought for sure they'd have something on it. Their sports page covers everything, with pull-down menus that include things like fishing and poker. Was there even a short blurb on the Tour of California with its international field of athletes? Not that I could find.
I have to admit, I am disappointed. Meanwhile, thanks for the great coverage, VeloNews! Some day cycling may be accepted as a sport worth following here in the U.S. I mean, come on, people tune in to watch golf, for crying out loud — there has to be a way to draw people to watch cycling.
Lane St John
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Now here’s what we call a cycling fan
Editor:
Thank you for all the great pre-race coverage of the Amgen Tour of California. I have ridden on most of the roads that will be used in the race, and I must say the promoters have done a good job in the course design.
I am planning to ride my bike to the event each day and watching all the action. After the event each day, I will then ride as much of the course as I can myself. It will be quite a thrill to ride the same roads as the top pros just did.
I'm hoping VeloNews.com will have some of the reader contests like it has had in other local races that it covered. I might not be able to compete in the race, but at least I will have a chance to do battle in the reader contest.
Ed Goulet
Watsonville, California
Dad shares Bergman’s confession with son
Editor:
I was profoundly moved by Adam Bergman's open-letter confession. I have been struggling with my 12-year-old boy over exactly the same type of issues — truthfulness, honesty, and admitting your mistakes without putting it off on others.
I printed out his letter, underscored and highlighted the issues involved, and let my boy read through it. Afterwards we discussed the similarities on his actions compared to Adam's. The very principles I have been trying to teach were outlined perfectly in Bergman's letter.
How much impact it will have on a 12-year-old I don't know, but we both cycle and like sports, so I hope the message gets through. The message is not about sports — it is about life.
Pat McKay
Corpus Christi, Texas
Admission after bust is hardly courageous
Editor:
I am once again disappointed at how quickly many people are to forgive and forget.
I, too, was a fan of Adam Bergman's. I can remember seeing him climbing alone in early spring in the hills of western Wisconsin, weeks before that Tour of Georgia where he tested positive. At that time I was impressed by his dedication and professionalism. After the positive result for EPO I no longer wanted to support such a rider.
Contrary to many of the letters posted on Friday, I feel that admitting and apologizing after being caught is no sign of courage. Do you believe such an admission and apology would have been forthcoming if Adam had not been caught and was currently riding for a ProTour team in Europe?
True courage is displayed when no one is watching. When the opportunity to cheat presents itself and is not taken, is when courage and moral conviction are displayed. But that kind of action doesn't get headlines and may never win races, either.
Bjorn Carlson
Eagan, Minnesota
The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
