In a press conference earlier today, current Global Cycling Promotion president and former UCI Pro Tour manager Alain Rumpf declared there was no reason for the Tour of Beijing to be cancelled or truncated in light of the massive pollution index, at one point measuring 432.
While the Tour of Beijing may run, will anyone be actually able to see the riders around Beijing? (photo courtesy Wikipedia.org)
“Look, it’s safe in Beijing. If it wasn’t, would all these people live here? It’s not liked they’re forced to live in China. I’ve spoken to many riders and managers who were concerned about the smog, and I’ve assured them the situation is overblown,” commented Rumpf as a steady stream of people entered the hotel lobby from outside wearing gas masks.
The concern reached fever pitch after BMC Pro Team superstar Taylor Phinney today tweeted the air pollution index, well over the “hazardous” rating of 300, carrying a warning that people in Beijing stay indoors or underground.
Screen grab from Taylor Phinney’s phone in Beijing
“Taylor is right to be concerned. When you have a plus 300 or a plus 400, you have a situation where athletes can develop asthma or other serious health issues from the pollutants. It’s especially dangerous for the Irish or the Dutch, who could develop ‘McQuaidy Delusional Grandeur’ or ‘Henie Supreme Evilness’ with prolonged exposure. Keep in mind Los Angeles is around a 54, and look what it’s done to that city,” commented environmental expert Natasha Greenwell of the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States.
Many riders and team managers in Beijing were concerned as they couldn’t find their bicycles nor the team cars for training rides, as the thick smoke rendered objects completely invisible. In fact, a search was mounted when RadioShack-Nissan-Trek-CSE-Livestrong rider Andy Schleck let go of the tow rope set up to guide athletes to dinner. Fortunately, Schleck was found nearby in the fetal position sucking his thumb after mistakenly opening a text message from Johan Bruyneel.
“Considering Rumpf, McQuaid, and Verbruggen don’t want to cancel Beijing in these circumstances, what’s next? Chernobyl? A South African diamond mine race? How about racing around an erupting volcano spewing lava? Based on their track record, I’m thinking about going into bounty hunting. That profession is safer than this,” commented one anonymous rider who may or may not have been Henrich Haussler.
Brad Wiggins expressed his sadness for missing the race.
“We all know what a smoker I’ve become, and I’m fairly lazy. I could just lay on a bench outside and get my buzz in Beijing. I think I’m going next year,” declared Wiggins.
Riders were organizing a protest at press time, and were pondering tying Rumpf to a bicycle, tying said bicycle behind a bus, and forcing him ride around the city for 48 hours.
No word if any teams were actually going to show up at the start line, or make their way to the airport instead.
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