this expresses my sentiments on cycling and the current tour de france. nothing signifies summer better than the most glorious of races through what can only be described as a vacation of pain. it causes wonderment in most who follow the sport and watch it constantly that athletes are able to accomplish such a race; and therefor it comes as little surprise that shortcuts are taken in order to obtain an advantage over both the race and one's body's limitations. the short of is it cycling is one of the few sports to take doping / performance enhancing / drug use seriously; and it has paid a frightening price of publicity, scorn, and humiliation. hopefully the sport will either be able to clean itself of its history of doping, or adopt a uniform code of prescribed enhancement.

for sports themselves, few things cause us to examine that which we find beautifully athletic and motivating. it is in this frame of mind that sporting agencies allow certain 'oversights' in the supposed enhancement of competition and entertainment ruse. if one takes athletics too seriously then all sorts of sordid complications arise; so i find it best to appreciate those sports you find beautiful and expect that there are always people who take shortcuts; because that is the nature of any situation that combines performance and money.