The Big Dam Bridge 100 is set Saturday and I’d normally not have anything to say about a bike event, but Bill Kopsky, a political activist and dedicated biker, raised on objection I thought I’d pass along.
Part of his complaint, posted on Facebook:
I was excited to do the Big Damn Bridge 100 ride until I learned they are bringing in admitted fraud/doper George Hincapie as a guest rider. The lack of judgement is breathtaking. George deserves to be in jail, not STILL getting paid to ride his bike. He doped for his entire career, though he only admits doing a little there in the middle when he was riding with Armstrong and he only admitted that at the end, weeks before his retirement when he could never be punished. See, according to George, it was really natural talent and hard work that made him fast. The doping was just for fun.
George is every bit the cheat, the liar and the bully that Armstrong is – you can’t shun the one while idolizing the other. He made millions of dollars defrauding the sporting public and his fellow competitors of a fair competition. Imagine the Arkansas Travelers having bobblehead night for Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Alex Rodriguez. Imagine HR Block bringing Bernie Madoff in for an investment lecture. Hey kids, it’s white collar crime day at the penitentiary, let’s head down and pick out a new hero.
If you do the Big Dam Bridge Ride, interrupt George’s stories about his hard work and sacrifice and ask him for the names of the doctors and coaches who helped him cheat for a whole career.
I sent the organizers a note asking for a response several weeks ago. Silence.