F1: Don’t race in Bahrain!

This week, the Bahrain government is desperately trying to cover up its crackdown and show it’s now fit to host the Grand Prix. But if we expose their abuses, we can keep wavering F1 teams out of brutal Bahrain.

Six months ago the regime was shooting protesters and Avaaz got F1 teams to unanimously refuse to race in Bahrain. Now the Bahrain government is again trying to whitewash its image. But this weekend a young boy’s mutilated body washed up on the beach — a tragic sign of continued repression of democracy activists. We know Red Bull and Mercedes care what we think — let’s call on them to stop the race again until independent observers say regime violence is over and democratic voices are free.

We have only days before the decision. Let’s stop the Bahrain F1 and show the regime that only an end to brutality will unblock business. Sign the urgent petition now and send this to everyone — when we reach 200,000 signatures, we’ll deliver directly to the teams.

To Mercedes and other F1 teams:

As the Bahraini government continues to kill, injure and imprison peaceful protesters, we call on you to safeguard your reputation, and Formula 1’s by agreeing not to race in Bahrain this year. The Grand Prix should only return to Bahrain once it’s released and compensated political prisoners and taken verifiable steps towards democracy.

Former Sports Heroes

The Netherlands has a mentality to quickly forget old heroes. They must have done really something exceptional before their name is in eternity. In countries around us, the hero  is always recognized on the street and people don’t hesitate to approach.

In cycling, there are a number of  famous Dutch  names: Zoetemelk, Jansen, Wagtmans, Breukink, Van Poppel and so on.

Upon hearing the name Gerben Karstens will remind some people of  the sixties and seventies. An era the Netherlands had big names in cycling. Most of us, especially the younger generation, these names mean nothing. Only those who are well committed with sports.

On the list of most stages won in La Vuelta (Tour of Spain), Karstens is still in on seventh place. He has won several stages in the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. One of the greatest victories is for sure in the Tour de France, the arrival on the Champs Elysees. A video, available on the website you can see how he accelerates in gear. This was his secret weapon and nobody ever did the same. With huge speed you see him riding away and is first crossing the finish line.

Many old cyclist will never forget him. As serious as the riders are now in the grand tours Gerben was a clown.
A road pylon he picked up and used it as a megaphone. To climb on the back of his team mate will riding. The most famous act from Gerben is his escape from the peloton. After a solo ride of 2 miles he hid himself in an old barn. The peloton worried as they thought he was long gone. The group accelerated to chase Gerben. Nobody noticed Gerben joining the back of the peloton.
Through his achievements and his character a website is created for a great sportsman. Take a peek into the past and get carried away with great highlights of a cycling career.

Official website Gerben Karstens