With the Tour de France now entering the critical mountain phase one important story has slipped under the radar despite its importance and role in rehabilitating a sport that has been severely tarnished by numerous scandals in recent years. At 30, Yohann Gene the Guadeloupian member of the Europcar team is the first black cyclist to take part in the Tour de France. A professional racer since 2005, Gene is described by other cyclists as a model teammate and vital to support the leaders.

Cycling has long been a sport with a homogenous culture which at last is being shattered by both Gene and a group of riders with great potential from the West Indies and Ethiopia who have the ability to compete in the major European events with just need a little more fitness and tactical training. For many associated with the sport of cycling it is hoped that the achievements of Gene can be mirrored in other sports that are still bound by “whiteness” and their failure to reach out beyond their regular constituency of participants, coaches, managers and most critically of all administrators whose perception and world-view of sport sadly remains very narrow.