In 1995 the new Rugby World Cup winners South Africa and their captain Francois Pienaar arrived in London for a friendly with England. England had not met South Africa in the tournament and the expectation was high that England could beat the World Champions. The England fullback Mike Catt, ironically South African born, was interviewed by the BBC. Catt said that South Africa were lucky to win the World Cup and that the captain Pienaar was an average player. In a separate interview the BBC, clearly looking for an angle, asked Pienaar what he thought of Catt's comments and in particular that he was average. Pienaar replied "Well I think Mike Catt is a very good player". A small thing but in one sentence Pienaar showed he had that very elusive quality which few sportsmen achieve - that as a rugby player, captain and man he had class.
There is very well known footage of Lance Armstrong crashing on a climb in the Tour following a collosion with a "spectator handbag". It is shown a lot because it is unusual, Armstrong hardly ever crashed. What is shown less is what happened further up the mountain. Jan Ullrich, Armstrong's great rival who always came off second best, slowed down and waited for Armstrong. But not only did Ullrich slow down so did his group. Ullrich showed that not only was he a class act, he was a rider with the presence to order other riders to slow down as well.
This is something Contador chose not to do.today. He chose not to do slow down for Andy Schleck nor to urge Menchov and Sanchez to do so. Was he right or not? Neither Paul Sherwin - he was wrong - and Phil Liggett - he was right - could agree on this. The ever wise Chris Boardman said afterwards that he was two minds on where he stood. What Contador did show though is that whilst he is a great cyclist who has won every grand tour he has entered, he was not able to match the class of his fellow Tour winners - not Merkx who refused the wear yellow the day after Luis Ocana crashed out, not Ullric, not Armstrong who once stopped for Ullric and not even Hinault.
So every one will have their own view on sportsmen who have shown their class.
My personal favourite is from a relatively small race in world sport - Ironman UK. A few years ago, I forget which year exactly, New Zealander Bryan Rhodes was leading the race well into the run. 10 miles from the finish he pulled up with an injury and was unable to do anything other than walk. As a pro whose living depending on triathlon, it would have been acceptable and completely understandable for Rhodes to stop and rush off to get treatment. Instead Rhodes walked the last ten miles to finish way down the field and out of the prize money. Rhodes stated afterwards that he finished to race out of respect to the event, his fellow competitors and the spectators. A class act.
And by the way South Africa beat England 24 -14.
