Anatomy of a Photo: It’s All About the Shoes

Chucky Mottet wins the '86 Eddy Merckx Grand Prix. Photo: Winners & Champions, V5

It’s been said before, but it bears repeating: the shoes say an awful lot about the rider. More than they’d like them to in retrospect, I’m guessing. Here we have the Prophet, looking mighty dapper, congratulating the unexpected victor in the form of Charley Mottet in the Grand Prix of his own name.

A first glance at the photo reveals a few gems: we witness the first hints of the death of the Cycling Cap at the hands of one of the worst examples of a “baseball cap” in existence. We also have a Kwantum rider whom I suspect had a time of it getting comfortable on his TT bike with that rod shoved up his ass. Whatever works, although that’s more Rule #5 than I’m equipped to deal with in a productive way. The rider who got third, whom I’m assuming is Italian based on his kit and impeccable style, is the only magnificent example of a cyclist in the photo. Aside from Merckx, obviously.

And the shoes. Again I point to the Italian with my “that’s how you do it” finger, and give a brisk wag of the “oh no you di-int” thumb at the other two. Loafers for Kwantum and a pair of what-the-fucks for Chuck. Not good.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

RedRanger says:

Jun 18 2011 at 4:50 pm

@Marko
I think what Jens is saying might be different than what Thor is saying. Sagan is what 21?
Markp says:

Jun 18 2011 at 9:47 pm

@Ron

And can someone fill me in on the backstory - I know the Badger had shoved someone off the podium, but I don't know why. What did the FDJ guy do, or was it just because he was in white bibs?

Tour de France 2009 14th stage Colmar - BesanÃ§on, as a result of a bet amongst mates the guy dressed in full FranÃ§aise des Jeux kit and strode to the top step of the podium. Hinault, as the manager of podium ceremonies at the TdeF had no hesitation in shoving the uninvited guest off the podium stage. Stage was won by Serguei Ivanov of Katusha.
rufio says:

Jun 21 2011 at 1:25 pm

@Markp
I wonder if that poor idiot knew Hinault was in charge? I wouldn't fuck with anything run by the Badger. He's lucky all that happened was a little shove off the podium...
Ron says:

Jul 11 2012 at 5:52 am

Ha, random article pop up. Completely forgot how bad Mottet's shoes are!

Hmm, shoes, eh. Very keen on the fizik shoes after all these recent reports. Wouldn't mind picking up a pair tomorrow in the intermediate stage...
slatanic says:

Feb 14 2014 at 6:18 am

"Because nothing says I'm a penny pinching hardman like winning La Doyenne with shoes held snug with a liberal application of duct tape"