fat and old wrote:
Anquetil is a great example of the public's ability to ignore the reality. Argued with a Gov. minister on TV over the issue; even De Gaulle backed him. Feted until his death, where every other TDF luminary attended. Ok, so the attitudes were different then....I accept that. So why are he and Tom Simpson still admired? Because of their love for the sport? The history? Pantani is loved because he was vulnerable and looked good on a bike?
You've answered you own question when you said 'attitudes were different then".
In 2018 we have decades of drug misuse, drug cheats, scandals which colour our view of these great champions of the past. Back then, the public didnt care about drugs. They didnt know about them, they didnt know what they did, they didnt care. On a list of interesting things to do with cycling, drugs ranked in last place. No internet, no information, no interest. It was not a topic of conversation.
You want to know why Anquetil was feted? He was feted for the same reason Cancellara was feted. Because he was the greatest time trialler of his era, because of his courage, his race ethic, his amazing performances (too many to mention). He enjoyed rock star status, he was handsome, a magnificent physical specimen and owned his own Lear Jet to take him to races. Pre-TV, the French public were enthralled by the radio and newspaper reports of his exploits which even today are absolutely mind blowing.
Simpson? Never before had an Englishman made any impact on the Continental scene which was dominated by the Europeans. Tom won the Rainbow jersey and everything he did was all class. Anquetil was Master Jacques, and Simpson was Mister Tom. He was the darling of the English speaking world, he wore a bowler hat, had excellent manners and rode every race with great courage and panache. He changed the face of cycling from being a European in-house thing to the true international sport which we see today. The fact that he and many others took drugs, when they were not illegal, was of little consequence. His death was due heat stroke and severe dehydration which was probably exacerbated by alcohol (yes they drank alcohol during races) and amphetamines. No-one cared till Tom died on the Ventoux. Then the public, who had lost their idol, realised there was a problem.
And Pantani? Do you need to ask why he was popular? Mate, who doesnt love a pirate! He rode with flair and panache, he attacked up the mountains with a eff you attitude. He was Italian for goodness sake. He was Coppi ...he was Cippolini ...he was a god. He took drugs? meh. Who cares.
People looking at previous cycling eras with the benefit of hidsight and their 2018 glasses on care.
I dont. I have read enough stories to put myself back there in history, and accept it for what it was.