A Welshman, a Dutchman, and a Kenyan climbed on their bikes

[Jarlaxle]

Sporting competition is highly regulated in many ways, so I see no reason why the decision to remain at play after serious injury shouldn’t also be regulated, and removed from the circle of individuals who profit from the athlete’s continued participation while seriously injured.

A game is not worth losing a life over, whether in the immediate moment, or decades after from the effects of repeated concussive injury.

Define serious injury. Should, say, a pitcher be allowed to pitch, risking a serious injury?

[ex-khobar Andy]

There was a study conducted in the 90s by Bob Goldman in which he asked elite athletes: If there were a drug available which would guarantee you an Olympic gold medal (or whatever equivalent there was in the athlete's sport) but would also kill you in five years, would you take it? Around 50% of the responders said that they would. When this survey was repeated recently, the results were much lower probably because of changing attitudes to PEDs. it's called the Goldman dilemma.

[Big RR]

I know people who have literally worked themselves into the grave, ignoring health consequences in the drive to get ahead in their chosen profession (and this is not limited to any profession, I've seen it among all sorts of workers), much as those elite athletes said they would. Unless we are going to regulate every phase of a person's life and make the choices for them (putt6ing aside the question of who should make these choices for them), I think we have to respect the individual's choice.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Yet if you do, they will erect a monument to you, and the rest of the peloton and the tifosi will turn it into hallowed ground

Ah - I thought you meant they turn it into a trash heap

[Crackpot]

I know people who have literally worked themselves into the grave, ignoring health consequences in the drive to get ahead in their chosen profession (and this is not limited to any profession, I've seen it among all sorts of workers), much as those elite athletes said they would. Unless we are going to regulate every phase of a person's life and make the choices for them (putt6ing aside the question of who should make these choices for them), I think we have to respect the individual's choice.

I am one of those. I lose weight and eat better when I’m not working.

[Jarlaxle]

I know people who have literally worked themselves into the grave, ignoring health consequences in the drive to get ahead in their chosen profession (and this is not limited to any profession, I've seen it among all sorts of workers), much as those elite athletes said they would. Unless we are going to regulate every phase of a person's life and make the choices for them (putt6ing aside the question of who should make these choices for them), I think we have to respect the individual's choice.

That.

Offhand, I have NEVER seen a motocross racer who hasn't been hurt doing it. The Holy Grail of motorcycle racing is the Isle of Man TT...riders die almost every year. (One died this year...147 in the 99 races.)

[Gob]

Going to go to the IOM TT in the next couple of years.

[Jarlaxle]

Going to go to the IOM TT in the next couple of years.

Running, or spectating?

(And I only realized it was the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy recently...I thought TT was "time trials.")

[rubato]

It was a broken shoulder blade (and mentioned in the article) which is far less bad than a broken clavicle because the shoulder blade is much better stabilised by surrounding muscles. But as someone who has broken three large bones ( radius, ulna and humerous) as well as ribs and toes, broken bones are exquisitely painful. The jarring of the shocks coming up from the handlebars as well as the stresses of standing on the pedals on climbs must have been electric. And he was not riding for a gc finish he was riding to finish, period.

...

After the death of Tom Simpson the Tour tried to reform their image by adding drugs testing and switching to Evian as a major sponsor. Jacques Anquetil the great champion of the Tour scoffed and said "no one wins the Tour on Evian water!.

...

Cycling has been dirtier and for longer than most sports. Dating back more than 100 years open drug use from caffeine to strychnine and amphetmines has been a part of the culture.