Christophe Bassons

Christophe Bassons

Personal information
Full name	Christophe Bassons
Born	Birth date -1st March 1966 Mazamet, France
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Professional teams
1996–1999	Festina
2000	Jean Delatour

Christophe Bassons (born 10 June 1974 in Mazamet, France) is a former professional road cyclist known for his stance against doping in the professional cycling world. His career and personal ethics brought significant attention to the issue of doping within the sport during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Early Life and Career

Christophe Bassons began his cycling career in the mid-1990s, joining the professional ranks in 1996. He rode for the Festina team, which later became infamous for the doping scandal that rocked the Tour de France in 1998.

Professional Career

Bassons' professional career was marked by his outspoken views on doping. During the 1998 Tour de France, he publicly criticized the pervasive doping practices in the peloton, which made him unpopular among his peers. His stance led to isolation and harassment from other riders, notably after he wrote a column in a French newspaper during the Tour discussing the issue.

In 1999, Bassons left Festina and joined the Jean Delatour team, but his career continued to be overshadowed by his anti-doping stance. He found it increasingly difficult to compete in an environment where, according to him, performance-enhancing drug use was widespread. Bassons retired from professional cycling in 2001.

Post-Cycling Career

After retiring from cycling, Bassons began a new career focusing on sports ethics. He has worked in various capacities, including roles with the French Ministry of Youth and Sport, where he has been involved in anti-doping activities.

Legacy

Christophe Bassons is often cited as a rare voice of integrity in a sport plagued by doping scandals. His experiences have shed light on the challenges faced by athletes who choose to compete clean in a sport where doping was, at times, rampant. His story has been featured in various media and is often referenced in discussions about ethics in sports.

See also

• Doping in sport
• Festina affair
• Tour de France