Categories: EtiquetteFolkloreNostalgiaRacingThe Rules

Respect the Jersey

Laurent Fignon, in Yellow, wins the stage from Bernard Hinault.

Domination, at least from the spectator’s point of view, can quickly wring the suspense and excitement out of watching an event. In most cases, the sporting events we look back on most fondly are those most closely fought; even in recalling my own competitions, those where my winning margin was smallest feature most prominently in my memories. The smart money says Greg LeMond feels the same way.

Cycling is a difficult sport to spectate, or has been in the past. Point-to-point races covering hundreds of kilometers are hardly friendly to an audience who waits for hours at the roadside only to watch a colorful blur speed by. The modern days of start-to-finish coverage that you can watch on your mobile while driving to work, sitting on a conference call, drinking a cup of coffee, texting a friend, eating a sandwich and raging at inattentive drivers are a relatively new innovation; in the past, the races were documented only by journalists who may or may not have been in attendance of the event. The sole purpose of holding a bicycle race was often to sell newspapers, and in accordance with that goal, the journalists did what they needed to in order make the racing sound interesting. In other words, they lied like their pants were on fire.

Nevertheless, the feats documented were herculean. They built the leader and championship jerseys of our sport – the jerseys reserved for the elite of the elite – into sacred fleeces handed down from the very heights of Mount Velomis. These were jerseys that the hardest and most respected names of our sport drew unimaginable overdraft fees from the V-Bank in order to earn.

Certainly, this is why Rule #16 exists; we mortals have no business sullying such holy garments, however good our intentions may be. But the modern Pros claim their adherence to Rule #16 through their actions when offered the privilege to briefly bear its burden; invariably, they will dig deeper than ever before to stay within contention to honor their jersey. On some days, these jerseys give them wings while on other days, the jersey’s weight may prove too much.

Watching Froome lead the Tour from Stage 8 onwards challenged my interest in the event; his show of dominance on Ventoux did so even more. But with his final attack on the climb to Annecy-Semnoz, with nothing left in the tank, I recognized as a show of honor – of respect for the jersey. Of panache. He had no need to win that stage, and he had no realistic means to do so under those circumstances, given that his legs had already left him on the slopes of l’Alpe d’Huez.

But honor drove him to try – honor fueled by a respect for the Maillot Jaune. It would have been glorious for him to win the final climb of the Tour in the leader’s jersey, but attacking and failing is what earned him at least one more fan.

There’s no such thing as a failure who keeps trying
Coasting to the bottom is the only disgrace

– John C. Popper, Blues Traveler

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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frank says:

Jul 25 2013 at 9:19 am

@Mike_P

Yes. Not to mention Hinault.

And, here's what Hinault does to Rule 16 (see, I got it right this time) violators.
frank says:

Jul 25 2013 at 9:20 am

@starclimber

Andre Mahe looking similarly committed to getting shit done:

What always amazes me is how big those gears were and how much flex there must have been in those systems, between the frames and shoes...I can't even imagine.
Chris says:

Jul 25 2013 at 9:24 am

Before I found this site and embraced the one true way of the Velominati, my kit was team kit. I never mixed and matched but I did wear a Cervelo Test Team kit on my Cannondale. I still do, but only in the comfort of my own home when I'm on the rollers (serving my penance while sinning as it were).

These days, it's V-Kit or my local club kit only but I find myself somewhat conflicted. My youngest has some birthday money that he wants to spend on a Sky Wiggo replica jersey. Part of me is chuffed to bits that he's getting into cycling and isn't planning on buying another Barcelona kit but the other part is concious that it would amount to a clear Rule 2 breach in respect of Rule 16 and, given that his current bike is a BMX, in respect of Rule 18. I've suggested that Sky polo shirt would be the way to go, he can ride in it but also wear it at other time and it's would be rule compliant but he's set on the jersey.
Chris says:

Jul 25 2013 at 9:27 am

@frank

@Jamie

Like a lot of other Velonomati...

Also, I'm not 100% clear on what a Velonomati is, but it sounds serious.

Sounds like the cycling equivalent of Billy No Mates.
frank says:

Jul 25 2013 at 9:27 am

@Elric

To extend the question, do you think the jersey has the power to permanently change a cyclist? I do in that it opens new horizons, new possibilities in their minds. depending on the conditions in which it is won and retained, even briefly, it confirms that they can push themselves beyond their self imposed mental limits which is some powerful mind fuel. I saw it all the time in wrestling where a pivotal win over a key rival can change the arc and dynamics of someone's career. New expectations, better performance, and the cycle continues assuming good coaching. Everyone has physical limits but that being said we most often never even approach them. The psychology is the same for selection into Special Forces, Delta, SAS ( caveat: am not and never was any of those). The soldier accompanied only by a weapon, map, compass, impossibly heavy packe, and his own self doubts trudges endless miles with zero feedback and no known end point. There is no published standard, they are only told to do their best. It becomes an internal struggle between mind and body to push through ones limits only knowing that you must go faster and farther. Those that make it, like the champions of sport reach a critical psychological break point where they simply refuse to recognize when they are physically beaten. Find a man like that, and with the right coachung and training you have a winner.

It depends on the personality of the individual. There are some for whom that little push was all they needed to start taking chance; I think Cuddles was one, so was Virenque when he took Yellow early in the '92 Tour.

But there are just as many for whom that adds a degree of pressure of expectation that they aren't equipped to deal with; in those cases it ruins their career because they forever think they should do better or repeat the performance.

regarding Rule #16, john does it apply to teams no longer in the peloton, teams so far gone it would be farcical to even think the wearer was frontin'? I lust after that wool Cinzano warmup that just oozes class. I also wear my MG jersey mountain biking with baggy shorts. Call me a philistine, but I love that jersey.

This is a gray area, but my inclination is to say yes, it applies. Those teams were great and I respect them too much to wear their colors. Taken to the maximum, I'd never wear a Molteni jersey, or a Bianchi jersey modeled after Coppi's.
frank says:

Jul 25 2013 at 9:34 am

@Chris

Before I found this site and embraced the one true way of the Velominati, my kit was team kit. I never mixed and matched but I did wear a Cervelo Test Team kit on my Cannondale. I still do, but only in the comfort of my own home when I'm on the rollers (serving my penance while sinning as it were).

These days, it's V-Kit or my local club kit only but I find myself somewhat conflicted. My youngest has some birthday money that he wants to spend on a Sky Wiggo replica jersey. Part of me is chuffed to bits that he's getting into cycling and isn't planning on buying another Barcelona kit but the other part is concious that it would amount to a clear Rule #2 breach in respect of Rule #16 and, given that his current bike is a BMX, in respect of Rule #18. I've suggested that Sky polo shirt would be the way to go, he can ride in it but also wear it at other time and it's would be rule compliant but he's set on the jersey.

I wouldn't sweat it. Emulating your heros is a form of respect for a young gun like your kid.

I suggest you let him get the jersey and let that enthusiasm develop. Its a small violation to allow him to ease into the sport.

Then drop him mercilessly as he tries to hold your wheel on his BMX while you're crushing it on the 'Whale and then mock him for being a douche in team kit.
Chris says:

Jul 25 2013 at 9:41 am

@frank I won't be able to do that for long if his big sister and brother are anything to go by. His 10yo big brother, Angus, was cracking along at a steady 22kph on his BMX on Sunday before he fell off and put his chain ring through the back of his leg. Brought me down as well.

The 'Whale is sulking in the garage waiting for some new hoods and a shifter face plate to arrive so it can have a re-cable and re-tape.
seemunkee says:

Jul 25 2013 at 9:44 am

@frank

@starclimber

Andre Mahe looking similarly committed to getting shit done:

What always amazes me is how big those gears were and how much flex there must have been in those systems, between the frames and shoes...I can't even imagine.

Yeah, but when you have the tendons in your legs surgically replaced with steel cables does it matter?
VeloVita says:

Jul 25 2013 at 10:12 am

@frank

@Jamie

Great post Frank and well timed. Like a lot of other Velonomati, I was dissapointed with your previous attack on Froome. Don't let the fame off the book spoil things.

When did I attack Froome? I just said he looked like shit on the bike. Which he does. Its not even an opinion, its been proven mathematically at this point.

I have to agree here. I watched every stage and never saw Frank attack Froome - in fact I didn't even realise he rode the Tour. This lack of visibility must mean he was riding for either Cofidis or Lampre.
Souleur says:

Jul 25 2013 at 10:25 am

@PT

@VeloVita

Love him or hate him, here's another guy who never fails to respect the jersey when it finds its way onto his shoulders

Possibly true but I think he respects the TV cameras just as much.

I think that Voeckler is and EXCELLENT example of the respect for the jersey

I mean, the cat rode himself into the ground defending the jersey and really came closer than I thought to riding it in to Paris. Personally, I love him, and personally the talk in the peloton is they HATE him