Originally posted by 2WheelsGood
I've always had a bit of a hard time with the country pride thing, especially with American cyclists.
Let's face it; if a racer from the US is successful in European racing, it isn't because he's American--it's in SPITE of the fact that he's American.
With the exception of a few select areas in this country, by and large the US is not a cycling-friendly place to live.
To be a successful racer here is almost a matter of survival. Aside from the fact that the rest of the country looks at this sport like it's a freak show, training on the roads in most parts of the US is a suicide mission. You want to see how well America supports its cyclists? Let's do a quick check... raise your hand if you live in the US and get hassled from motorists on almost a daily basis. I see a lot of hands.
And on top of all that, where do these successful American pros live for most of their racing season? Europe.
Perhaps I'm partly bitter because of all the flag waving I see from Americans who wouldn't even know who Lance Armstrong is if it wasn't for his cancer story. But now, suddenly, because they know who he is they feel some strange pride in the fact that he's American.
My point: being American is far more of a handicap to being a great cyclist than it is an advantage.
But aside from that, I do still love this country.