Stuart O’Grady. Only a short time ago, simply his name was enough bring a smile to any cyclist’s face.
He is ‘the Aussie battler’, a true hard-man of any pro-tour peloton. O’Grady, admittedly, was hot headed in his youth.
He provided a blinding turn of speed not many experienced European professionals could match.
Later in his career, he transformed into a super domestique for various professional teams, most recently Australia’s first World Tour cycling team OricaOrica-GreenEDGE.
Throughout his successful career, O’Grady held the hearts and hopes of fans worldwide.
This was due to his hard working attitude, as well as showing European professionals the boys from ‘Down Under’ had some serious talent.
He paved the way for many prolific Australian cyclists, being somewhat of a role model for three-time green jersey champion Robbie McEwen.
Most likely, you already know this.
You also probably know, about the banned blood-booster erythropoietin (EPO) O’Grady used, two weeks before his triumphant campaign in the 1998 Tour de France.
This information has been painfully spread throughout media, the story becoming global in a matter of hours after O’Grady’s confession.
O’Grady announced ‘I sourced it (EPO) myself, there was no-one else involved, it didn’t involve the team in anyway’.
With no doubt, this was an incorrect decision.
The consequences of his actions, could possibly lead to the loss of Olympic gold medals, loss of sponsorship, and result in a toxic cloud over his otherwise lustrous career.
However, what is most excruciating for O’Grady, is the loss of respect from his fans. Telling his parents that he had used an illicit substance, O’Grady stated, ‘was the worst moment of my life’.
What does this tell us about Stuart O’Grady?
The disappointment is understandable. After so much accomplishment, the first thing O’Grady would like to ensue, is for the past to be forgotten.
He is not alone though. 83 other cyclists named by the French senate inquiry that tested positive for illicit substances, also have been burdened with inner demons regarding the events that occurred 15 years ago.
Stuart O’Grady knew his time would come. Before anything was proven, O’Grady announced his use of banned substances. At a recent press conference, O’Grady states ‘There is nothing more to hide. I have done everything since then on natural ability’.
Understandably, many people have chosen not to believe this proclamation. The likes of Lance Armstrong, Michael Rasmussen and the recent case of Mauro Santambrogio, have all revealed incessant lying and dishonest behaviour was rampant throughout the sport of cycling.
The untruthful nature of these men comes as no surprise, as their arrogant behaviours are indicative of such immorality. However, for such a grounded, humble man, with a relatively ordinary approach to the elite end of cycling, only a truly cynical man would doubt his legitimacy.
The personal sacrifices Stuart O’Grady made captured the hearts of Australians, including Non-Australian support as well. His hard-working mentality lead to an intense training schedule.
O’Grady would spend months away from his family, training in foreign parts of the earth, often living with lingering hunger, as many professional cyclists do in an attempt to remain supremely lean.
His victory in the 2007 Paris Roubaix was nothing short of phenomenal.
Previously to 2007, no Australian had ever won this prestigious event.
It has been titled the toughest one-day race in the world by the cycling community due to the brutal cobble-stone surface the cyclists pedal over. This is often undertaken in unpleasant weather, all the while through passionate crowds screaming for carnage.
The Paris Roubaix is a suitable race for Stuart O’Grady. Someone sensible, intelligent, who races with compassion, is required to win on such a tasking day of competition. He has been the only Australian to win this highly esteemed cobble classic.
We, since then, have thanked him for the exposure to Australian cycling he has provided.
This has been the case until now. It seems the cycling population has ignored such feats of strength and endurance in the midst of the drug-scandal. What angers me primarily, is the people who have turned their back on this wonderful role-model.
They have thrown the blanket of shame over him, along with other cyclists who proven positive.
This is the man Australia was in love with only weeks ago, as he captained Orica-GreenEDGE to their first stage win in the Tour de France among various yellow jerseys.
Now it seems he is a ‘filthy cheat’, a burden on the sport of cycling.
O’Grady stated to the media, regarding his parents, ‘I just asked them to listen so I could paint a complete picture. All I’ve ever wanted in my career was to make mum and dad and my family proud.’
What I ask of you, is to see the whole picture. A young man, thrust into the deep-end of cycling in 1998, was justifiably incredibly nervous. His first Tour de France, was unfortunately at a time when performance enhancing drugs were raging through the peloton.
To beat them: impossible. To join them: the worst decision of his life.
A lose-lose situation had been presented, and Stuart O’Grady, unfortunately chose the greater loss. This mistake has potentially ruined his career.
I would like you to consider, is there anything you have done you are ashamed of?
If so, how would you feel about the world knowing?
It is highly hypocritical to criticise O’Grady from the comfort of your home, about something he is terribly ashamed of, which occurred 15 years ago.
I urge you to continue supporting Stuart O’Grady, as he is an icon for Australian cycling, paving the way for future generations of Australian champions.
He made a mistake, he has apologised. He is currently suffering the consequences of his acts, while remaining humble and true to his nature.
What more can you want of such a highly esteemed champion?
Long live the legacy of Stuart O’Grady.
always right
Guest
These people are obsessive. That is how they get to the top in the first place. If you place an obsessive sportsman in an environment where it is endemic for the whole peleton to take drugs in order to remain competitive.....they will falter. Victimizing them now in retrospect by a sport seeking credibility by that process is hypocrissy. Ok, he cheated. Better we/they (ie the sports administrators) accept that what is past is past and that the ADMINISTRATORS are the ones responsible for having failed to take the obvious and available steps to clean the sport, change the culture THEN as they choose to do now. Of course no administrator will be held to shame for they wont be labeled cheats. As Ulrich said of Armstrong...as far as he is concerned he remains Tour champion because he was still the best of the total peleton all of whom were doing likewise. The sport as a whole needs to stop this focus on the past and destroying EVERYONE's historical achievements and concentrate on certainty of drug free competition NOW. Little good comes from discrediting every rider who ever competed. My view
Sam Hill
Roar Rookie
David, what you have said is very true. Patriotism can blind, and I am realising now that perhaps I have been affected. Australians indeed have a reputation of turning into fanatical patriots when beloved Australian icons suffer under the scrutiny of the media. Needless to say, I am 100% against drug usage in sport. Stuart O'Grady should confess to further cases of doping, if they indeed did occur. On the seemingly unlikely chance they didn't, what assholes we are accusing the innocent? I remain true to the fact, that Stuart O'Grady should be treated with respect until he is proven guilty of more sinister acts of doping. Re-reading my article, I can now observe that I wrote out of anger and some things I said were childish attempts to provoke readers who did not share my opinion. I am still surprised at how harshly he is being treated. Much like in the scene of Monty Python regarding the burning of the witch, people now scream for him to be burnt. I think it represents the mob mentality we possess nowadays. People have become so callous.
david
Guest
There are times when I feel disgusted to be an Australian. The Aussie Larrikin we admire at home can be an embarrassment when out of place. In the world of sport a stand is being made against doping. Much more needs to be done, and that starts by discussing the issues, so thanks for the article. Unfortunately I find your jingoistic sentiments damaging to the “war on drugs”, especially in your closing arguments:. "we have thanked him for the exposure to Australian cycling he has provided." NOW being in the world spotlight we should act as we would expect the rest of the world to react. "Highly hypocritical to criticise O’Grady?? " His images and interviews have come into my house for the last 15 years. HE SAYS HE HAS DONE IT ONCE! If we do not condem his lack of honesty (past and present) then we are being complacent to the issues. If we believe there is no place for drugs in sport, then we are hypocritical to hero worship O’Grady. If on the other hand we think there should be drugs in sport then we are being Hypocritical by not demanding rule changes in sport. "What more can you want of such a highly esteemed champion? " To come clean with details in an effort to stop this happening again. He could follow the actions of David Millar, and others who have returned to the peleton as anti doping leaders. Yes he IS a good bloke, and has a place in the sport, but we need more from him now. Aussies need to do more to avoid being seen as uneducated patriotic bigots.
Mark the Roadie
Guest
I am not angry - disappointed but not angry. And, I do feel for Stuey as a person. The point is Brad started his Tour career in that 98 Tour, didn't dope and got chucked in jail for a few hours, he didn't win a Yellow Jersey and all of the doors that opens and opportunities that presents. Stuey did dope, won a Yellow Jersey and launched his stellar career based on a lie. Stuey will get to keep all (or at least most) of the money he has made. Brad didn't get the chance! I am sure that Brad wasn't the only clean rider in that Tour either.
Sam Hill
Roar Rookie
The talent of Stuart O'Grady, assuming his other victories were clean (which we must till proven otherwise) were sure to be recognised regardless.
Sam Hill
Roar Rookie
I have read the article, and fully understand where Brad is coming from. Cycling is so important to people like these, and not being able to have a proper shot at it must be infuriating. However, the only proven time Stuey has doped was in 1998, a year in which 83 other cyclists decided to as well. His choice was to not contend the tour, or join the other dopers. Like I've already said, he made the wrong decision but look what he's done for Australian cycling over the last decade as a result. Its never ok to dope or lie, but under the circumstances I think Stueys actions are forgivable. Your anger does not lie with Stuey, but with repeat offenders who have continually abused drugs in an effort to gain an advantage.
Mark the Roadie
Guest
Sam - please read this: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cycling/how-dopers-stole-the-best-years-of-my-career-20121026-28aif.html and then look at Stuey's offense in context - sure he says he only used EPO once BUT the time he did use it happened to coincide with his first Yellow Jersey - it is that first Yellow Jersey on which he built his subsequent career because, that gave him his subsequent opportunities. Opportunities which rightly belonged to a non-doping someone else. Do you get it now??
Sam Hill
Roar Rookie
How many times must I re-iterate the facts. Stuey has been proven guilty of doping ONE time. Until it is proven otherwise, he does not deserve this treatment
Sam Hill
Roar Rookie
Valid point. I will continue to support Stuey till he's proven guilty on more than one occasion of doping. Perhaps I do hold a slight bias towards Australian athletes. However, for the record I supported Lance Armstrong right up until hes downfall. Its harder to forgive Lance because he's so arrogant. Stuey is such a humble, nice man I think I would forgive him even if he doped on more than one occasion.
savvy
Guest
Hopefully whay he says is true and the Festina affair did scare him off. He could have denied it because the result said suspicious. Also given that other results could be retrospectively retested he would know he risks being outed again.
liquor box
Guest
I think the police part of your point is an extreme example, if you smoked pot years ago and are asked if you ever smoked then you just admit it. Ogrady was asked about doping after the Armstrong affair and at various times in his career but never admitted it.
liquor box
Guest
so you have forgiven Armstrong? he did not test positive very often in his career so he was a great bloke too? I think that Pantani is another who never tested positive, or only a few times and these were abnormal and not positive. The simple fact is that he cheated, the number of times is irrelevant.
Jeremy of Perth
Guest
I think I can seperate my feelings for the man as opposed to the cyclist. I am sure Stuart O'Grady is a terrific bloke and on that level I empathise and feel disappointed for him. As a cyclist though, he cheated and did so in a sport where cheating and lying about it are rife. When you have cheated (supposedly once) and lied (for 15 years) about the very thing for what you are known it carries the obvious penalty of any legacy being invalidated, no matter how great a person you might be. I am a GreenEDGE member and have had the excitment of their perfomance at this year's Tour dampened, if not totally shattered, by this and I think Stuart O'Grady selfishly rode when he knew this was about to come out. Cycling fans seem to only have the choice of being cynical or naive when it comes to doping.
Mark the Roadie
Guest
Ask Brad McGee how he thinks we should deal with Stuey - Brad said guys like Armstrong and co "stole" his TDF years
Sam Hill
Roar Rookie
He is guilty for one drug related incident, in 1998 in which I think he should be punished, but forgiven. People have been making all sorts of assumptions as to how frequently he doped. The only thing proven is one case. Perhaps I am slightly biased, but if you look at the facts and cast aside suspicions, what I'm saying is reasonable.
Midfield general
Guest
You're right Gayle, not everyone was a doper but you just need to look at podium finishers in major races during that era...and 1998 was called Tour of Doping and by all accounts you couldn't keep up unless you were on the gear. All I'm saying is that you don't need to be an evil person to cross that line. If you're in your early 20s, struggling to keep up and everyone else was doing it, it's not that hard to get caught up in it. Anyway Stuey is getting crucified regardless of what I think. My money for the next confession is on Mick Rogers
aussie sports lover
Guest
errr i thought he is already guilty. Loyalty to any true blue Ozzie who cheated in his profession?
aussie sports lover
Guest
wow, you obviously have a very selective memory. If this is Ozzie self-flagellation, it is a walk in the park compared to the criticism directed towards athletes from other countries. Remember Lance Armstrong? German and Chinese female swimmers? Personally I don't hate o'grady even after his admission because it is not surprising at all. It's thehypocrisy that that annoys people. Funny how few people who defends o-grady actually defends armstrong as well - both cheated but o-grady is a hard working self sacrificial australian who only doped for 2 weeks - sort of a smoke but didn't inhale defence...take your blinkers off, mate.
Gayle
Guest
I am sure there were many riders that did not cheat in the period up till the mid 2000s.. Do you have any proof that everyone wad doping??? Evidence? Suspicion? Mindless competition????? Explanation please. We compete with many things in our daily lives.. Sport is no exception... Sport is about competing. Have I missed the point.. I am sure someone will be only too willing to tell me....
Brad
Guest
Just finished reading David Walsh's book 7 deadly sins, the story behind Lance Armstrong, it is a must read before you comment on the drugs in cycling. To mine if you think Stuart O Grady deserves our sympathy talk to the cyclists during that period who didn't dope and saw their professional careers dissolve because people like him took that option, and those who did not dope were left behind. Too late for you O Grady, you waited till you retired, till you had a career then you spoke up. And then and only when they re tested the 98 results from the tour. Bad things happen when good people don't say nothing. You sir are a fraud you're admission 15 years too late,