Le Tour de Dreyfus

Politics, prejudice and power sowed the seeds for one of the world's great sporting events. The Tour de France is a tangential outgrowth from the controversy that surrounded the Dreyfus affair.   Five score and eleven years ago the announcement was made for the first Tour de France.  111 years later the event continues to deal with cheating, lies, graft and now doping that has dogged the event since its inception.

J'Accuse made public the
Evidence of Dreyfus' innocence

The Dreyfus affair resulted from the wrongful conviction of a French military officer, accused of selling secrets to the Germans.  The affair is so renowned because he was not only wrongfully convicted once, but twice. Initially, in 1894, Dreyfus was convicted based on lies and false documents.  In 1896 when suggestions of his innocence were made known  the French public became divided into the pro and anti Dreyfus camps.  Both camps held protests and demonstrations to promote their positions.

In 1899 a second trial was held and Dreyfus was again convicted based on more lies and forged papers.  Nevertheless those in political power pardoned him and he was set free.  But for years some believed he was unfairly pardoned while others remained convinced of his guilt until his exoneration in 1906 when he was reinstated in the French army.  The Affair divided the nation.

The public's emotional divide was no more apparent than when one anti-Dreyfus proponent struck the king of France in the head with a walking stick. This event was reported by a pro-Dreyfus sports newspaper in a way that angered the anti-Dreyfus group. Thereafter a group formed a competing newspaper in an impressive act of journalistic revenge.  Alas, the newspaper was not the success they hoped.  In a meeting to discuss their next steps the idea of the Tour de France was born.  It represented an ambitious sporting event and a multi-week several stage race that ultimately attracted 80 riders.

Miguel Indurain

Over a century later the Tour has endured through early scandals and the recent frauds highlighted by Lance Armstrong, his apparent courageous wins, outspoken denials and ultimate admission of doping to achieve unbelievable results.  Corruption and cheating aside we still consider the Tour de France an incredible test of human endurance.  The achievements of Eddy Merckx, Greg Lemonde, Miguel Indurain, Jaque Anquetil and other great riders outshine the stains of those who decided to deceive.

Alfred Dreyfus

Sadly scandals abound.  Governor Christie can only hope his bridge leads to nowhere. Military leaders aren't sure whether officer cheating or drug abuse poses the biggest threat to our nuclear security. Abroad royals are being summoned to appear before courts to declare their actions of potential criminal misconduct.  And Edward Snowden has provided the data to support scandals of spying, intrusion, foul play and governmental over reaching.

Today we can see that that scandal will create intense and passionate debate. Some will indict and others will defend. Pick your side carefully, but unless you plan on starting a grand sporting event, avoid hitting the king on the head.