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Pedal’s Holiday-Winter 2012 Cover Controversy

by pedalmag.com

December 28, 2012 (Toronto, ON) – We’ve received several comments from readers regarding our final issue of the season, Pedal Holiday-Winter 2012, with Michael Barry featured on the cover. Local Toronto rider, Erik Box, posted the following note on our FB page and here’s our response and explanation for the Barry cover… we invite more comments here on this post or on our Forum.

Erik Box posted on Pedal Magazine’s FB page

“Good to see Pedal Magazine supporting and acknowledging an athlete (Micheal Barry), who has tainted and helped to ruin the sport I love. I refuse to support your magazine and will NOT be buying a copy. You, as the media, need to take a stand and promote athletes who are working hard and not getting the recognition they deserve. Why is someone like Benjamin Perry, who has a ton of talent, is working his butt off and getting results in Europe, while CLEAN, not on the cover?

Right now, what you’re telling me, is that if I take drugs, cheat, lie, lie some more, oh ya, and lie again, take government funding from honest riders, etc.., well, you’ll put me on the cover of a magazine! Sweet! Both you (Pedal Magazine) and Canadian Cycling Magazine, need to take some responsiblity regarding this matter and put the lime-light on those who actually deserve it; not those who have taken from and tainted, the sport of cycling.”

Hi Erik,

Thanks for your comments and while we can see where you’re coming from our intent was quite different. Michael Barry’s confession is the most important cycling news story in Canada and we want to ensure that it’s in everyone’s face, not just another article in the magazine, hence the cover.

In the greater scheme of things doping in sport is the bigger story in which Barry played a part, and we believe his shameful acts, and the truth behind them must be told front and centre.

Dishonesty or cheating can be found in any arena of the human condition, and while we cannot right the wrongs, we can strive for a better tomorrow by revealing the dishonesty and punishing the perpetrators, and thereby hope to prevent others from falling into the shameful trap that Mr. Barry acceded to. Yet we are grateful that he agreed to share his story with readers.

Yes, Barry is guilty of doping, lying and lying again – a bed he must lie in forever. He joins a long list of now revealed dopers as none were brave enough to withstand the system. But Barry and the others can still contribute to the solution from the sidelines as examples of players that brought dishonour to themselves and to the sport within a flawed system.

To this date Mr. Barry has never made the cover of Pedal and I hardly think anyone is proud of the reason that he finally did.

Sincerely,
Benjamin Sadavoy
publisher/editor

 





2 Comments For This Post

  1. lowe, ON, Canada says:

    You must be kidding!!!

    Most important news story in cycling, how about Ryder In the giro?

    I concur with the comment above and Kabush’s comments on twitter. We need to stop putting these clowns in the media. The best thing for cycling is to get rid of these individuals forever they having nothing to teach the up and coming althele’s and should not be provided the venue to do so.

    I’m disappointed in pedal and Canadian cycling for placing any media attention on this subject.

  2. Editor, , says:

    Hi lowe,

    The reference to the most important news story in cycling pertained to the time period associated with our coverage in Pedal’s Hollday-Winter 2012 issue. Clearly Ryder Hesjedal’s Giro victory is the most important cycling story for Canada this year and beyond.

    Sorry to disappoint you but this story is bigger than the athletes alone and can’t appear mundane. That so many apparently good people chose the wrong path is an important part of this fated situation, and the more we can learn the better we can fight it.

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