Cheating

Formula One motor racing and the Tour de France are two of the biggest sporting properties in Europe. Only Football trumps them, but today has been a black day for both. The leading Formula One team McLaren were ‘let off the hook’ despite being caught in possesion of the technical plans of their leading competitor Ferrari and in France ‘La mort d Tour’ has been declared because of the ongoing Tour de France drugs scandal.

Watching this from the sidelines is PR specatator sport of the highest order. Who will win the day? Those in the commercial and legal corner arguing pragmatic solutions that try and balance all sides or those that recognise that sport is nothing if the illusion of fairness is broken. If the result of a race in a car or on a bike can be predetermined by chemicals or espionage, then why the hell should we watch? It’s not like we don’t have choices.