Boardman can express his opinions all he likes but unless he goes and gets some proper transport planning qualifications his expertise isn’t any more valid than mine, although I’ve probably got more relevant qualifications than him anyway.Funny how a man who flogs very expensive bikes as part of his living should be a passionate advocate for increasing cycling. That, and his fondness for flying to exotic locations to pursue his snorkelling hobby don’t make him an entirely trusted witness.I had an interview with Wiggins in 2006. After recovering from the shock of him having the limpest handshake I’ve ever encountered he went on to tell me that he hated road racing and it was ‘all about the Olympics’ for him. Then he was enticed back, even though at the Grand Depart in London in 2007 he was clearly not very happy. Just my personal experience, gained first hand.As for drugs in cycling? Heard that all before (EPO was undetectable for a while, of course), just because there are ‘protocols’ to catch the cheats doesn’t mean they work. They’ve had the same in athletics for years and still people do it. Cycling is big bucks for the top teams and riders, and the temptation will always be there, especially in a sport that flogs its riders mercilessly through grand tours. They could always rely on the contaminated meat excuse, I guess.To be honest, I like watching cycling and have been lucky enough to meet some of the best, including Merckx. But it’s tiresome to hear about it being touted as the great cure-all for London. Clearly it isn’t. It’s not even the most popular mode of transport in countries like France, Italy and Spain, where the infrastructure and cycling culture are much stronger than here.
Simon Hayes ● 1944d