"Gerard Lanois" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> "Sierraman" <[email protected]> writes:
> This article could probably help you out. The Indurain-specific
> stuff starts about halfway down or so:
>
> http://www.dailypeloton.com/spokes3.asp
>
>
> -Gerard
Interesting...
http://www.dailypeloton.com/spokes3.asp
Indurain, remained however keen to avoid being brought into nationalist
dialogue and debate. In June 1996 when asked about being Navarran he stated,
"I was born here, I like this region and its customs, but I don't feel
especially patriotic." On ETA activities he stated that, "ETA terrorists
have the same lack of respect for life as any other group of delinquents
have. The Basque Country is not the only place to have terrorists in that
respect. What hurts is that human values have been cast aside." On politics
in general Indurain claimed it did not interest him.
Indurain thus, found himself part of a nationalist discourse that existed
despite his opinions, but the media continued its subtle manipulation of the
nationalist dialogue surrounding the sportsman. In 1996 the Spanish press
and public awaited an historic sixth Tour de France victory. The Tour route
passed through Indurain's hometown, Villava, on route to Pamplona. Ikurriñas
dominated the route and especially the towns. The victory was not to be, but
whilst ETA threatened to sabotage the Tour and set off bombs in Pamplona,
the Madrid based sports daily, Marca failed incredibly to picture a single
Ikurriña in its extensive coverage. Conversely, Meta 2 Mil, a Basque based
journal succeeded, as did most of the international press, in showing the
mass of Basque flags.