The Tour de France has finished more than a month ago. Landis was celebrated as the winner, but soon appeared as the protagonist in a doping issue. Two tests were taken, and both of them were found positive. That's were I lost sight. Is there yet a new winner? Should the Tour history be rewritten? This is probably what Pereiro from Spain is hoping for; he could become the official tour winner. Yet whatever happens: does it really matter anymore?
Apparently the verdict about the doping case is not finalized. Someone with a competitive attitude like Landis (of which we recently understand, to have run the Tour with a malfunctioning hip) will fight until the last bit to convince that he is the real winner. But what if - despite all judgment - Pereiro will be named as the winner of the Tour de France 2006? Will he be the real winner? If you try to search the engines for "news" on this topic you will not find nothing. As far as journalism as concerned the tour is over. The event is finished and any change on the matter will be written in the margin.
And that's all because of the power of the Tour Closing Ritual. The winner has been celebrated in public. After this event, the emotion has faded away and the Tour 2006 is history. Not only for the participants, but also for the public, the energy is shifted into a new direction. The memory of the public has been shaped because of the same ritual. And new information does not enter easily. Even if Pereiro turns out to be the official champion, he will be the winner of a game that has already been finished. That's like playing the World Cup final in an empty stadium. No journalists, No public, No one.
Which means for a future doping control; if you can't prove it before the final, you might as well forget about it... Most likely is that this question will be in the 2007th edition of Trivial Pursuit. Maybe that's where it belongs...
© 2006 Hans Bool
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