Comments on: Cyclocross fans, breathalyzers and the word “go”

By: Brad A

Brad A — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:49:57 +0000

Sorry, but I have to but in here as an anglo-phonic and yes, franco-phonic Canadian. Canada does in fact speak two languages. However, if you think the Quebecers speak anything close to French ask some of your Parisian, Lyonnaise, Nordoise, etc. friends if they understand a word coming out of Quebecers mouths. The answer is emphatically no. Quebecers speak Quebecois, not French. If it makes it easier to understand, think of the Haitians. They speak Creole, not French.

The article was great. Thanks for the news.

By: Markk

Markk — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:19:25 +0000

Re “Hooligan” sport. While this is bad, this IS cycling and always has been. Cycling has been a hooligan sport since day 1. It has always been part of the sport. Things like this are stupid though.

By: Bluenoser

Bluenoser — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:19:06 +0000

Hold it here now. What did I miss? It went from a post about a drunk guy elbowing the world champ to in a snap being told that Canada is not only an English speaking country?

What the heck does that have to do with the post Joe? Why does someone always have to put in that Canada has two languages?

We know this. My step daughter a Canadian was in Mexico on vacation this Christmas she was told in the small town that there was new people that sold Canadian food. They went. It was Poutine. A Quebec fast food. They met the couple who owned the place and it was New Years Eve They were drunk.

She said hey you are Canadian and they said no we are Queberers. So my Stepdaughter asked for them to show their Quebec Passports.

Enough said. We know you speak french in Quebec.

-B

By: joeparkin

joeparkin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:55:05 +0000

unless, of course, you've landed in Montreal on a flight filled entirely with Euro bike racers and heard the laughter of an entire 747 when the poor gate agent begins to speak French. I love Quebec, but didn't want to my pal Dre to get his nose pinched by being left out of that English speaking group. ; )

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:48:26 +0000

FYI, Canada is not a strictly English speaking country. Lots of French is spoken there too. The Quebs are more likely to yell “envoye!”

By: joeparkin

joeparkin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:46:56 +0000

Yeah, I’ve been reading and listening to the continuing coverage of this from the Belgian media and was going to add an update. There’s a pretty nice little interview with Beniest on sporza that has him apologizing from a bar stool, while reasonably impaired. Albert has done a good job apologizing to Nys’ fans and to Nys himself, but I reckon he is not acknowledging Beniest as one his own fans either …

Whichever side Beniest is on, this kind of thing sucks for everyone involved, including the legitimate fans. Personally, I cannot understand why anyone would want to do something if it took being so chemically altered to enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong, I come from a long line of drinkers and love me the heck out of boozes of all colors, shapes, flavors and nationalities, but it seems to me that if you can’t enjoy watching something while at least reasonably sober, (at least some of the time) then that something must be boring as hell – go watch something else.

By: Brij

Brij — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:26:40 +0000

Looks like a bit of a misunderstanding:

From CX Mag:

“Patrick Beniest, a race spectator, mistakenly hit his elbow, causing him to swerve across the icy course and crash twenty yards later. Albert’s stem impacted his chest to break his ninth rib on the right side of his body, exactly where the bike leans when he’s shouldering it.

“In an interview immediately after the race, Albert was quick to name the culprit as a Sven Nys supporter because, when he looked back immediately after falling, he saw a collection of Nys supporters clapping for him. It was later discovered that it was one of his own fans who was wearing his Albert supporter cap during the incident. Since then, the man has publicly apologized to Albert for hitting him with his arm, blaming the special shoes he needs to wear for his bad back combined with the icy ground and too much beer. Albert has also apologized to Nys for his hastiness in calling the guy a Nys fan.”

http://cxmagazine.com/niels-albert-injury-update?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CyclocrossMagazine+%28Cyclocross+Magazine%29

By: Brian Ignatin

Brian Ignatin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:55:06 +0000

Joe, thanks for this commentary. It seems like for the past few years, cycling has been appealing to somewhat of a hooligan element, or perhaps unveiling the hooligan element in otherwise normal folks.

It was painful to watch the ToC, seeing all the idiots running alongside the pack. Hard to believe no one tripped, fell, and took out the very riders they were cheering on.

What happens at cross races, while maybe not as potentially dangerous (Albert’s incident aside) is often rather vile. Verbal heckling is one thing, but keep your hands, beer, and saliva (etc.) to yourself.

I am not a huge Lance fan, but his shove to the Syringe Devil was great to see, as was the reaction of the other riders who saw it.