"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - "90 % of all pro-cyclist are using doping substances..."

On thursday a "very well known" Italian pro-cyclist said on Italian TV that about 90 % of the peloton uses illegal substances. The person didn´t want to be recognised. Rumours started saying it was Cipo, but he denied and threated to sue for libel. Italy´s cycling association is more than just outraged...
I wonder what´s going on next.
In fact, I think pro-cycling really is in a deep crisis. A lot of teams break up, the rest almost has no money...doping accusations...I´m really worried about pro-cycling in general.

I read about this in Cyclingnews and they said the program was a satirical-type news commentary show. Don't know, haven't seen it, but if it was satire, perhaps the "man behind the screen/voice" was just a put-on.

Just the same, pro bike racing is getting laughed at, which undermines it's credibility, which will tarnish the sponsors, which will damage the sport.

On thursday a "very well known" Italian pro-cyclist said on Italian TV that about 90 % of the peloton uses illegal substances. The person didn´t want to be recognised. Rumours started saying it was Cipo, but he denied and threated to sue for libel. Italy´s cycling association is more than just outraged...
I wonder what´s going on next.
In fact, I think pro-cycling really is in a deep crisis. A lot of teams break up, the rest almost has no money...doping accusations...I´m really worried about pro-cycling in general.

sure there is a doping problem but I do not see the end of pro level cycling in the coming years.... with the tour passing it's 100th year and the giro on year 86, I think pro cycling will continue, although it may be damaged goods due to bad press...

Personally I think 90% of all professional sports people the world over are using doping substances.

Personally I think 90% of all professional sports people the world over are using doping substances.

I'd say 90% is the minimum. I think they all have used or are using drugs.

Personally I think 90% of all professional sports people the world over are using doping substances.
And the other 10% snort coke!!! :p

As with most pro sports, I think the root of the problem is that there is so much money involved that the athletes feel compelled to take chances to stay on top, and the teams owners/sponsors are having problems financing it all.

90% then nobody has much of an advanage do they?

[QUOTE]90% then nobody has much of an advanage do they?

WRONG

-That is where the team doctor comes into play. You need a clever guy to mix it just right. Take Dr. Ferrari for instance.

90% then nobody has much of an advanage do they?

I say most of them don't know how to do a GREAT job at it. I know the doping problem cant be THAT bad when you see a doper have such a great increase in results (meaning the other guys dont have what he has). Take Virenque's odd TT ability in the late 90's tours... or Rumsas' performance in the 2002 TDF...

about 90 % of the peloton uses illegal substances

Illegal substances may not always constitute substances used for performance enhancement. First, "illegal" I think does not mean only prohibited by law but by the cycling federation regulating the races, and the list is usually very long. A lot of drugs commonly prescribed by doctors appear on this list and may only become performance enhancements only if used in large dose. Others are pure doping substances. What the interviewed may have wanted to say is that most pro-racers at some stage take substances that appear on the list of "illegal" drugs but not necessarily always as performance enhancer. Don't get me wrong, substance abuse does exist in cycling as in many other sports but I think there the reporter may have wanted to sensationalize on an otherwise harmless statement.

The really impressive ones would be the whatever % that can compete at the professional level "clean."

The really impressive ones would be the whatever % that can compete at the professional level "clean."

I think some of the greats just have the talent to race and win without PED's (besides recovery drugs).
And I'm sure there are many riders who have sacrificed potentially winning careers by not doping. Past members of the sport like Willy Voet have talked about particular riders that probably could have done a lot better if they doped.

90% then nobody has much of an advanage do they?


that is a trick question
if you thicken your blood too much, you die and fall down, like a Danish cyclist did some years back in a race
(the thickening was done using drugs)

Jacob

I hope I clarified properly if I did not.
You can multiply the red cells of the blood by doping, which thickens the blood. If done too much, this causes the capillaries to not be able to function, and one can lose circulatory function. I would not inveigh by any means against drinking responsibly, which thins the blood, but that is beside the point. The Danish cyclist who died in Italy was using blood thickening, and this caused him to die while in a race.

Jacob

(the thickening was done using drugs)
Just a nit...
Prior to availability of EPO, riders increased red blood cell count by having it extracted, centrifuged to increase the red cells concentration (that's probably not a technically complete or accurate description, but I don't know the details), and transfusing it back into their system. No drugs, same effect, same risks.

another good reason not to dope

http://www.iht.com/articles/119322.html

this has always been the speculation on how these athletes die as someone else already posted.

article compliments of my wife.