We see Kenyans dominate the Marathons, thus, we know that there have to be some tremendously talented Black guys out there, who could win the Tour. How come, I don't even see any Black guys riding? Is the sport racist?
2006-08-05 05:12:23 · 8 answers · asked by conservativeguyfromnc 2 in Sports ➔ Cycling
"Major" Taylor was the predominant bike racer in his day,
Currently there are some great "black guys" as you say riding also South and Central American riders as well.
Cycling is a multi-year sport, racers rise up through the ranks from semi-pro, to pro, they play at first supporting roles in a team as lead out riders for example. It takes many years to get the skills to be a primary rider for a team.
As for the cost of te sport, many sports are more expensive than cycling . Once one is on a pro or semi pro team often the bikes, jerseys, socks...are supplied by the sponsor. At that level cost is not an issue to a talented rider.
2006-08-05 20:00:50 · answer #1 · answered by snip 4 · 3⤊ 3⤋
For a conservative guy from NC you're awfully politically correct. As someone else pointed out, only three Americans have won the Tour de France, Greg LeMond, Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis (and he's not even considered the 2006 Tour winner anymore).
Not all "black" people are African-American. This is an artificial construct of people who think it's not appropriate to call Blacks black anymore. I see plenty of Black guys riding around Denver. Why? Probably because people in Denver ride bikes in greater numbers than people in NC do.
Also, bikes aren't cheap. A significant number of Black people don't have the resources to buy an entry-level bicycle from a bike shop and get properly fitted. Yeah, they can get a bike from Kmart or Wal-Mart or a hand-me-down from some intercity program, but these bikes aren't made to be ridden tens or hundreds of miles every day, the kind of use you would expect to see from someone committed to becoming a Tour participant someday.
Competitive cycling is not a racist sport but it is an exclusive sport and it took a long time for any American to achieve success in the Tour. Cycling is still not a widely popular sport in the United States and you wouldn't expect it to be among Blacks who don't cycle regularly.
2006-08-05 07:18:41 · answer #2 · answered by metimoteo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wonder if the lack of black people in the cycling population has anything to do with the steriotype that most black athelets appear to have a genetic predisposition for having powerful, and muscular physiques.
I have seen Black road racers before but non at the elite level. All the elite black cyclist I can think of have predominately participated in Criteriums, Time Trials, and Track events. Marshal Taylor was a cyclist who won the one mile world championships in the 1890's some time
2006-08-05 13:10:12 · answer #3 · answered by Arch Teryx 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, and the sport is not racist. You should ask African Americans why they do not ride, and get it straight from them.
It could be because they do not have ties to Europe, nor did most of their friends and family grow up there, where the cycling sport is big. Or it could be cycling is probably the #1 exertion sport of all, the audience factor is next to nothing, the biking outfits, they know bicycles get stolen, or it could be anything, really. Or maybe there aren't that many Kenyan Americans. Ask them.
2006-08-05 06:31:26 · answer #4 · answered by craigrr929 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The three Americans that I know of who have won the tour have all been white (Greg LeMond, Lance Armstong and of course Landis).
2006-08-05 05:17:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who cares what race somebody is?
2006-08-06 01:14:18 · answer #6 · answered by Dave B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope
2006-08-05 05:18:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No!!
2006-08-05 05:17:09 · answer #8 · answered by eplayerj 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋