Road Bike Racing - Contador criticizes forced exit of Rasmussen

He better watch it. If he criticizes them enough, he just might test positive.


The winner of the 2007 Tour de France, Spain's Alberto Contador, on Thursday criticised the forced exit of Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen which paved the way for his victory.

"I don't know what is really behind it but I know that what should not be possible is to be told in the middle of the race that you can't participate when there was no problem at the beginning," he told private radio Cadena Ser.

Hasn't Armstrong been critical of the UCI as well? Funny how he hasn't tested positive yet.

dopers stick together

Hasn't Armstrong been critical of the UCI as well? Funny how he hasn't tested positive yet.

2 things:

1. He wasn't critical of them until he quit
2. According to the UCI he did test positive AFTER retiring, but the third party they got to investigate found in Lance's favor (but after that the UCI announced they were investigating the third party!)

I want my EPO.

The UCI says that they had no part in the decision. It was supposedly 100% Rabo.

not a non large amount of not positives in there.

2 things:

1. He wasn't critical of them until he quit
2. According to the UCI he did test positive AFTER retiring, but the third party they got to investigate found in Lance's favor (but after that the UCI announced they were investigating the third party!)


Didn't the UCI use a old sample from many years in the past that was suppose to be thrown away?

Didn't the UCI used a old sample from many years in the past that was suppose to be thrown away?

No. They used an old sample but the contract the riders signed in 1999 stated that they could keep the samples and retest them at a later date when a valid test for EPO became available.

good for contador. Of course, he comments on this after he is declared the winner, but at least it sounds as if he feels he obtained the Jersey perhaps unjustly? Perhaps he wanted to prove that he could have smashed the chicken in a TT. Methinks it would not be the case, but I am sure he is hearing (and maybe feeling) the ole' "you only won because Rasmussen was forced to withdraw."

No. They used an old sample but the contract the riders signed in 1999 stated that they could keep the samples and retest them at a later date when a valid test for EPO became available.

Not exactly. The riders agreed the samples could be used for research purposes only which at least was the claim for testing the old samples.

good for contador. Of course, he comments on this after he is declared the winner, but at least it sounds as if he feels he obtained the Jersey perhaps unjustly? Perhaps he wanted to prove that he could have smashed the chicken in a TT. Methinks it would not be the case, but I am sure he is hearing (and maybe feeling) the ole' "you only won because Rasmussen was forced to withdraw."

Yes. From the velonews (http://velonews.com/race/int/articles/13039.0.html) article:

"I would have liked to have won in another way."

To me, his point is more that Rasmussen should not have been allowed to start. If he was allowed to start, then why not allow him to finish? (Yes, I realize that was a Rabobank decision.)

Yes. From the velonews (http://velonews.com/race/int/articles/13039.0.html) article:

"I would have liked to have won in another way."

To me, his point is more that Rasmussen should not have been allowed to start. If he was allowed to start, then why not allow him to finish? (Yes, I realize that was a Rabobank decision.)

Right, but saying he should not have started is a criticism of UCI (and one that is at the heart of the ASO claims of splitting with UCI).

I want my EPO.

You get your testosterone for nothing and your syringes for free

You get your testosterone for nothing and your syringes for free

Now that aint workin thats the way you do it
You spin the pedals in the ITT

No. They used an old sample but the contract the riders signed in 1999 stated that they could keep the samples and retest them at a later date when a valid test for EPO became available.


Not exactly. The riders agreed the samples could be used for research purposes only which at least was the claim for testing the old samples.

The use of these B samples for research came with the promise of anonymity. I guess that aspect was too inconvenient.

Retesting these old samples was meaningless under WADAs's own rules of evidence because one sample has to be confirmed by a second sample. When this condition isn't possible or is just too hard then the authorities too often simply leek the A sample results for their own jollies to sensationalist newspapers desperate to recapture their former dominance.

Contador has a point and it is basically the same that ASO is making. Allowing a rider to start and then pressuring him out is pathetic and deserves such questions. Rasmussen may have quit on his own terms but I somehow doubt it was his idea. I wonder when Contador will start having problems with the UCI (other than his '06 OP stuff) now that he is questioning their behavior.

le tour is in Dire Straights:D

"le tour is in Dire Straights"

And don't forget a little STING operation thrown in for good measure :)

le tour is in Dire STRAITS:D

Fixed!:D