Spitting in the Soup

June 6th: Spitting in the Soup

I was at the local Waterstones feeding my habit yesterday and bought the new Robert Millar book by Richard Moore. In my opinion he was a truly great Scottish Sportsman who never got the recognition he deserved way back in the 80's. He should not be confused with David Millar the Scottish arsehole who was banned for doping to enhance his performance.

He remains to this day a bit of an enigma and I look forward to reading this book about him to try to understand more. I do wish Robert Millar would write his own book though as a great many people would like to hear what he says for himself.

I have yet to start it but I am already worried that his reputation might be questioned. I remember him as being a great inspiration in general (I am not a cyclist). I hope my worries are unfounded. I will report back on that.

There is a massive problem in pro cycling. They have this "old omerta" thing going on with stock phrases about whistleblowers not “spitting in the soup” or as we Scots might more aptly say "nae shittin on yer own doorstep".

Many sports books are written to celebrate the glory of winning and achievement and I hope the Millar book is one of these and that he was kosher or it might just be a huge disappointment to me personally. But no matter what I will always respect the memories of him blowing away the Tour de France and being king of the mountains in his polka dot shirt.

During the eighties I watched city cycling in Glasgow and Aberdeen and a couple of races in Europe in the nineties. My older brother was a very good amateur representing Scotland in the milk race away back in the day and I remember seeing Millar bombing round George Square and thinking he was a legend.

Fingers crossed this new book fortifies my memory.

Now, talking of respect, I have to say I like Paul Kimmage. He’s a better journo that he ever was a pro cyclist. I would recommend his book Rough Ride. I found it absorbing when it first came out and it’s just as important today.

It's an honest account of a promising amateur who never quite made it as a pro. Second division if you like. A bit like being a Jasmine Mink, but us Minks have never squatted in our vestibules to the best of my knowledge. Kimmage was categorised by others as an also-ran and a dreamer whilst knocking in his pan as a domestique, a bit like us Minks. He never enjoyed big-time success, never earning anything more than a low wage.

Against all this, he succumbed to pressure to hang on in there and doped a couple of times to compete back in the day. He was on the periphery struggling to accept his limitations at that level. He had to put himself forward against the drugs that fuelled those around him to success. He chucked it in the end, disillusioned and probably very bitter. But he was there. He had the war stories.

His book was one of the very first to “spit in the soup” about the abuse of drugs in his sport and is utterly compelling stuff. He was mocked, abused and castigated at the time yet subsequently vindicated by all the stories that came out about his sport in the years that followed. He rarely named names or dropped people in the shit but his contemporaries and peers etc pissed all over the guy.

His honesty, frankness and the innocence of the book make it a vital read which should appeal to anyone, not just those interested in cycling or sport.

Balance afterall is very important in cycling.