Who’ll win first?

On the heels of the World Cup and the Tour de France, I couldn’t help but ask myself who would likely get to the top first, the Azkals or our LBC-supported cyclists. It’s interesting because both sports have long history and is deeply embedded in the cultures of countries who have won it.

I was reading an article on the Internet during the World Cup about the chances of the US ever winning it. The conclusion of the writer was that a US Word Cup win was not likely in his lifetime. The writer also said that maybe if the NBA, the NFL and the MLB would be shut down, leaving the MLS as the only major league, then team USA could probably win.

Since 1930, there have been 20 World Cups. Seven of the champions came from South America and the rest from continental Europe. The US competed in the first World Cup, and got its best finish, third. From Africa, thirteen nations have competed in the World Cup, with Cameroon having the most at seven while the first African team to compete was Egypt, back in 1934.

Asian soccer nations like Japan only qualified for the World Cup in 1998 while South Korea had a longer relationship starting in 1958 and nine appearances. Australia on the other hand, has four appearances while New Zealand has two.

The Tour de France started in 1903, and all of its winners have a Caucasian heritage. Don Kirkham and Snowy Munroe were the first Aussies to ride the Tour back in 1914. While the first Asian to accomplish the same feat was Kisso Kawamuro, back in 1926. Kisso was a Japanese had moved to France in 1918 to work in the airline and automobile industry.  The Americans were late in the Tour bandwagon. It was only in 1981 that Jacques Boyer, born in Utah and grew up in California, ride the Tour.

Then last July, Ji Cheng made history as the first rider from China to ride and finish the race. You see, riding and finishing the Tour are two different stories!

So going back to the question as to who’d win their respective events, I’d like to believe that a Filipino will win the Tour first before the Azkals win their World Cup based on history. But it will take more than LBC to make it happen. Corporate sponsors have to step up.

It took Australia close to a century before winning the Tour in 2012 with Cadel Evans. On the other hand, it took the Americans took only five years with Greg Lemond winning in 1986. Since then, 14 English-speaking riders have won the Tour! Of course, you have to remember that the World Cup is held every four years while the Tour is an annual affair.

Cycling, especially stage races like the Tour de France, is a fit for the Filipino, physique. But the problem is that cycling it’s not ingrained in our culture, basketball is. And with Philippine cycling in the doldrums, in contrast with the momentum that the Azkals have whipped up, I hope that I’ll be proven wrong.