From Caple’s column on Page 2 of ESPN.Com.

I love the Tour. I love the history and the geography. I love watching the shots of the riders climbing the towering mountains. I love listening to the Versus broadcast team. I love the dedication, endurance, athleticism and pain thresholds the riders display over the three weeks. I love getting on my bike after the broadcasts and racing away as fast as I can, pretending I’m breaking away from the peloton as I struggle up my own modest slopes.

And before this Tour began, I wrote that despite cycling’s many scandals in the past year, I still was excited for and eagerly awaiting the event. Just this Monday I wrote a couple paragraphs praising Vinokourov for the way he had fought on through injury.

I don’t feel embarrassed about that any more than do people who eagerly anticipate a football season when they know that sport is dirty as well (one reason cyclists get caught so often is because they are tested so often).

Mostly, I feel depressed and saddened by the latest scandals. And worried that the Tour’s very future is in jeopardy.