THE VILLAIN WHO BROKE A NATION'S COLLECTIVE HEARTS

The blog might be a wee bet less frequent in the days ahead.  Try as I might, I can't take my eyes away from the outstanding coverage of the 2012 London Olympics on BBC. It's available on 24 different dedicated channels and if you go surfing through them there will always be something to grab your attention. Christ, I even found myself hooked on an archery match for about 10 minutes early on Sunday morning...

Anyway....I avoided the opening ceremony but am told there are bits I would have liked...especially the use of some music that has been a staple of TVV over the years.  I always intended to catch the men's cycling road race, partly as it has always been a sport that has fascinated me and partly because in Mark Cavendish the race had the presence of someone who is a genuine talent that doesn't come along too often.  Just a week after Bradley Wiggins had become the first ever UK rider to win the Tour de France in the 99th time the race has been held, the stage was set for Cavendish to claim gold  in front of his home crowd.

That is until Alexandre Vinokourov from Kazakhstan became the baddy in the story...

This is a guy who has been around the pro cycling scene for years during which controversy has never been far away, particularly in 2007 when he failed a dope test during the Tour de France.  He was subsequently given a ban which, given he was 34 years old at the time meant most fans thought we had seen the last of him.  Particularly as he actually announced his retirement....

At that time of his doping offence Vino was a huge favourite of many fans. His performance in one particular stage in 2007 was so spectacular that many of us watching on the telly immediately had suspicions that it was not just down to s supreme human effort. What added to many of our disappointments was that he showed no remorse at all about it.  It was almost as if he thought the authorities either wouldn't catch him or would just ignore what they found.  He never said sorry afterwards.  Indeed he decided that rather than face thongs again it would be better to turn his back on the sport and retire.

In 2009 he had a change of heart and came back to to the sport in August 2009, just one month short of his 36th birthday.  Incredibly, he won his first race back and was soon back in the big tours.

In the 2011 Tour de France, he had a dreadful crash and broke his thigh bone.  Such was his despondency that he again announced his retiral only to again change his mind and go for one last crack at glory in 2012.  Despite some strong showings in some stages of this year's Tour de France he was never really a contender and so he announced, yet again, that he was retiring but only after competing in the 2012 Olympics.  A race that he very unexpectedly won.....

So now, he is entitled to race wearing a special jersey which signifies he is the reigning Olympic road race champion.  Only problem is, he's said he has retired.  But then again, he's said that before, so I reckon he will be back....and taking them all on again at the age of 39.

This one's for him:-

mp3 : Ballboy - Olympic Cyclist (acoustic version)

Oh and it's Morrissey at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh tonight.  Can't wait.