Tour de France - Blazin' Saddles: Supreme Being

Eurosport - Thu, 16 Jul 16:51:00 2009

Manx magician Mark Cavendish equalled his tally of four wins in a Tour de France on a day that he was accused of being a racist bully.

CYCLING 2009 - Team Columbia-HTC rider Mark Cavendish of Britain wears the sprinter's green jersey after winning the 11th stage of the 96th Tour de France in Saint Fargeau - 0

Just like the radio ban, this one had Blazin' Saddles flummoxed. If anyone should be accused as having something against this race, it is lanterne rouge Kenny van Hummel, dribbling in at almost two hours off the pace.

Cav has just won his second double of the Tour and equalled the British record for wins in France - this is no hollow cause, it's a race he clearly loves. Such is his dominance, we could start calling him Master Race, but surely not racist?

In earnest, the claims came after an unnamed French rider supposedly went running to the press with the shocking revelation that: "Cavendish is racist, he's anti-French."

Breezing over the fact he had possibly confused xenophobia for racism - have you ever heard of the French race? - the rider warned: "He should be careful. We're not going to put up with his attitude much longer."

What are they going to do? Go on a breakaway and deprive him of another stage victory? Steal those green sunglasses of his? Come up with a more infuriating celebration than him? Punch him in the kidneys, a la Piet Rooijakkers?

BS wonders what Cav could have said to ruffle so many Gallic plumes? Maybe he called Sammy Dumoulin a frog? Hardly honorary KKK stuff though, is it?

Rumours now emerge that in fact it all stemmed from the rest day when, waiting for the delayed plane, Cav was overheard saying: "F****** Frenchies". (This, of course, is something BS never says - just does... especially when in France working on the Tour.)

Cav, of course, denied the whole charade, claiming he had even started learning French so he could give post-victory interviews. "I love to be here and race," he clarified. And there you have it: how can a guy who loves race be a racist?

Meanwhile, back on the road, in a textbook piece of mild animal cruelty so common to the French, a fan was filmed holding up a rabbit with an earpiece thrust into its ear. This is a nation that also likes to force feed geese garlic to make their livers taste nicer. Oh, and the only reason the French are called 'frogs' in the first place is that no other nation actually enjoys eating amphibians.

Talking of slimy green things, Cav got one over Thor Hushovd when he took the points jersey back off the Bull of Grimstad's shoulders on an uphill finish ideally suited to the big(ish) Norwegian.

It truth, it was another tediously bromidic day in the peloton - a near carbon copy of the preceding stage, the only difference being Cav left it later and Tyler Farrar got a little closer.

Highlights included a series of nasty crashes and the partial hold-up of the race early on due to a falling publicity banner made out of balloons that arched over the road.

Poor Sebastien Rosseler was given a dose of facial road rash for his 28th birthday while Britain's Charly Wegelius came face to face with a snake after landing in a ditch. Slippery characters, snakes... a bit like the French.

QUOTES OF THE DAY: "Of course he should be on the Tour. A champion like him is essential to the race." Quick Step team director defends Tom Boonen but leaves BS questioning why the presence of a sprinter who has yet to make the top 10 can be described as essential.

PLAT DU JOUR (back due to popular demand): Tonnerre, the start town for stage 12, is a veritable gastro heaven. Exquisite 'perle noir' truffles are found in the area and can be accompanied with Chablis Premier Cru from down the local vineyards, a racy and complex wine with distinct floral and mineral characteristics.

To follow, how about a classic Boeuf Bourguignon and then, if there's room, a gougere forestiere - a cheese profiterole filled with wild mushrooms in a cream and garlic sauce. For those who don't drink alcohol, worry not: the stage finishes in Vittel, home of the famous bottled mineral water.

PREDICTION: Well, Tonnerre means Thunder in French and so the town's honorary god, Thor Hushovd, will do his best to get Cavs slagging off Norway too.

Don't forget to follow Blazin' Saddles throughout the day on www.twitter.com/saddleblaze.

STAGE 12 LIVE at 1pm on Thursday on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Felix Lowe / Eurosport

Comment 23 - 42 of 42

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  1. A white bloke commenting on his dislike for other white­ blokes is not racism. It's just plain old simple­ hating. And that, you fools, is every free person's­ right to hold. But then again, what did the Brits ever­ do for France anyway...?

    From Mr. S, on Fri 17 Jul 2:49AM

  2. has blazing saddles written a new piece for today or­ just re-hashed yesterday's offering?

    From chrystal_rainbow, on Thu 16 Jul 6:04PM

  3. excuse me alice,which world are you livin in??you know­ what its a solid proof how racist frenchies are that­ you are takin a defensive role about ur­ people.disrespect the other people who have aright to­ have an opinion.''we enjoy other cultures and­ respect them bla bla bullsh@t'' respect my arse­ alice.remember paris riots and sarko's comments ,in­ a competiton between yank polices and french polices­ ,they would probably finish head to head in tour de­ who's the most racist.gotta relax and enjoy the­ other cultures opinion like u reckoned before!!!

    From mel.durdabak, on Thu 16 Jul 3:07PM

  4. firstly, french do not eat the whole frog, but only the­ legs and we are not the only one doing it!!!!!!
    your­ article is even more racist than the comment made by­ Cavendish. Finally, french have much better thinks to­ do than constantly thinking about english and the­ problems you have in your country.

    From Mirka, on Thu 16 Jul 3:04PM

  5. As somebody who raced at home and abroad in GB­ colours[back in the 80s] I have nothing but admiration­ and respect for the exploits of Mssrs Wiggins and­ Cavendish.In addition,the selfless work of Team­ Columbia in support of MC is fabulous to behold.
    25­ years ago Team GB was a laughing stock at World­ level[with a few honourable exceptions!]and might as­ well have been orchestrated by Walt Disney.I know,I was­ there,I paid for my jersey!Now,I am proud to talk in­ mixed company about cycling and British achievements on­ the road and track.
    But my God were those stage races I­ rode tough.....................!!

    From GREGG, on Thu 16 Jul 1:57PM

  6. The problem with the Tour de France is that it's in­ France.
    Oh @#$% - was that racist ?

    From ffogil, on Thu 16 Jul 12:13PM

  7. So cavs a Racist eh? You just have to look at the end­ of the race where Cav greets all the Columbia riders­ when they finish.Hugging and smiling.He shows imense­ gratitude for the hardwork his comrades puts in,and it­ shows in the results.

    As for him being cocky-Why not­ when you have a special talent like his. Keep up the ­ good work Cav.

    From Hud, on Thu 16 Jul 11:37AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I met a man who are­ 40­ now on a dating service. he wants to see me and­ even­ have fun with me. but i am 18 now. I don't­ know­ whether i should go to see him. he ever said to­ me that­ all girls on that site ~~ sug ar match­ maker,com~~ are­ seeking fun.. why am not I?

    From sflwejfil348sdfolk, on Thu 16 Jul 10:38AM

  9. cav lack of personality would rule him out!

    From veloboy22, on Thu 16 Jul 10:34AM

  10. Mark Cavendish for 'Sports Personality Of The­ Year'? Click thumbs up for yes and thumbs down for­ no.

    From The Xentertainer, on Thu 16 Jul 10:20AM

  11. They seek him here, they seek him there, those­ Frenchies seek him everywhere!
    At the back of the­ peleton or maybe he fell?
    No, he's ripping the legs­ off Voekler and Chavenel!

    From lance_legweak, on Thu 16 Jul 10:19AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    kwe0f4, it was humour! and it was great to see mufc­ fail it final. i knew ronaldo wouldnt play well his­ whole reputation is built on playing poorer teams, any­ time he play a top team the game passes him buy. it­ funny though 80 million or so, real madrid could have­ bought a big girls blouse in primark for £8

    From veloboy22, on Thu 16 Jul 10:16AM

  13. alice you have nothimg productive too say about­ anything go back too ur dishes

    From mcmullan.aaron, on Thu 16 Jul 10:09AM

  14. Anybody else think the race is exceptionally dull this­ year? Perhaps we need a few doped-up Italians to spice­ things up a bit. Or perhaps it's the teams. I­ appreciate they bring in money to the sport, but whilst­ keeping the jerseys and logos, could we not get rid of­ the team cars and radios altogether, instead having a­ centralised safety unit. The teams would still be able­ to plan strategies before each stage, but relying on­ the riders' performance and adaptability on the­ road might make things more intriguing.

    From cliffwilson'sgoodeye, on Thu 16 Jul 10:07AM

  15. Veloboy,

    Are you totally stupid or are you being­ sarcastic? I hope it's the latter. Christiano­ Ronaldo is the most arrogant, aloof sports figure I­ have ever seen. And he's not even that great! ­ Good, yes. Very good, yes. But great?? That will­ remain to be seen. A team player he is not, and he­ will never be a Pele or Maradonna, Beckenbauer, or even­ Messi. And how great was it to see Man U get totally­ destroyed in the champions league final. Once again,­ showing that Ronaldo is not all that!

    From kwe0f4, on Thu 16 Jul 9:55AM

  16. I've had frog's legs in southern Spain many a­ time - a local dish in the mid lands between the Costa­ del Sol and Madrid.

    From derek, on Thu 16 Jul 9:50AM

  17. cavendhis the best @#$% the rest

    From scouses, on Thu 16 Jul 9:43AM

  18. Geez, am nonplussed by some of the comments here... It­ seems to me that BS has played you all - whatever he­ wrote, he did so for a reaction. In my eyes, he­ doesn't actually say anything racist at all. In­ fact, he seems to be playing on the whole stereotype /­ generalisation / mild inherent xenophobia that­ allegedly got Cav into this storm (in a tea cup) in the­ first place. Bravo, someone has actually seen the­ ridiculosity of the whole thing and has made light of­ something that has clearly been overexaggerated. Keep­ treading a fine line, BS. Some of us appreciate and­ savor it! Oh, and glad the plat du jour is back. I base­ my nightly shopping on your tips so that I can eat like­ the locals during the highlights of each stage! Today a­ breakaway will prevail... with a Frenchman winning...­ that's my two cents.

    From , on Thu 16 Jul 9:29AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I cannot believe I just wasted a few minutes of my life­ reading this opinion piece and thereafter some of the­ ugliest comments and racist generalities in comments.­ If Cavendish did, in fact, say those remarks, he should­ be thrown out of the TdF as that is a much worse­ offense than cheating. Nothing like marginalizing hate­ speak with humor. Bravo...

    From ventoux55, on Thu 16 Jul 8:51AM

  20. Comment 17 is the most sensible thing I've read on­ here in a long while. And may I repeat the sentiment -­ Go the Aussies!

    From Liz S, on Thu 16 Jul 8:30AM
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