-
It's a good point. And it was related to one of the reasons I decided not to do it last year (along with realising that I would be totally out of my depth) - I was particularly concerned about the impact on food supplies in remote areas from 100 hungry locust westerners eating as much in a day as locals might in almost a week. I did ask Nelson about it and he had thought about it, and tried to do things to make sure it wasn't an issue.
When I've toured in remote areas in the past I've tried to tone down the image a bit, avoid shiny lycra and just wear normal clothes. Bell to ring to children in villages, etc. Helmets in particular, are not a good look, given military associations. I think that people in full bike racing kit must look very other-worldly and intimidating. But, for a racer, there isn't much option.
TBH some bits of Eastern Europe felt like this as well. Just an hour out of Burgas on TCR the parcours took us through remote farming villages where fields were being tended by hand or with 50-year old equipment and tiny houses had crooked, leaking roofs. I felt a bit out of place there.
frank9755-
I felt a bit out of place there.
I cycle through London in casual clothes and still have people swerve at me. Cyclists are 'out of place' everywhere drivers exist.
-
Tbh having been here I think you're views are far from reality. You should probebrly come hede and travel before making assumptions.
Cyclists are pretty common here and lots of locals use bikes, tourists and bike tourers are 10 a penny. There is plenty of food. It's really not as you imagine.
Helmets and military? Right.
hippy
skinny
The per capita GDP of Kyrgyzstan is $3,400 per annum. Male life expectancy is 66 years. In rural areas on 86% of the people have access to improved drinking water. Unemployment is 13%. 33% of the population is below the poverty line. Rural communities are incredibly poor.
The race introduces Kyrgystan to a wider world and opens it up to tourism but the benefits of that tourism are probably not immediately apparent to all of the communities that the races goes through. While one hears beautiful stories of locals befriending and helping racers, at the same time, it not difficult to imagine a certain resentment in some quarters.
One way of looking at the race is of a group of highly privileged people parading their affluence in a masquerade of suffering in front of people for whom suffering is a quintessential part of life.
I think that the achievements of the riders are amazing in terms of athleticism and mental resolve. I do also think that we have to consider the position of the locals. It may be that more education of them is required together with more direct benefits delivered to the communities through whom the race travels; but it seems that we have, this year, seen some signs of resentment and one cannot merely blame this resentment on the people who live there.