Pro-cycling thread

Thought a lot of this was interesting (http://www.ridemedia.com.au/ride-features/nationalism-and-pro-cycling-in-spain-part-one/). (Although, having been published in 2009, it misses a few important events that have happened more recently - the historical stuff is neat, though).

After winning a repechage match that landed him the bronze medal in the sprint competition, Baensch raised a middle finger at Franco. “He was sitting up there in his armchair, his little throne, right on the finish line. He had armed guards with machine guns all around him. I was a bit worried, actually. He could have you locked up forever, if he wanted to.”