Road Bike Racing - trouble for Euskaltel

According to Cyclingnews.com
Gorka Gonzalez failed his pre tour blood work (High hematocrit) and will be
excluded from the tour. David Extebarria tested positive at last months
Bicicletta Basca (is he still in tour?). This could make Mayo's ride a
bit more difficult, especially in TTT (although with new rules it
doesn't matter much).

Marty

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2004/jul04/jul01news4

I don't understand why they don't add a ninth rider now. Is it too late to bring in a reserve or do they just have no one useful left?

Ooops!!

Why didn't the team doctor catch this the night before? They could have prevented this.





"Etxebarria said he has a UCI medical certificate demonstrating a natural hematocrit level of 52 percent, but his test came back with a level of 52.8, enough to warrant a 15-day "rest period." Euskaltel team manager Julian Gorospe said Etxebarria has been suffering from stomach problems since the GP de Llodio last Sunday and said he expects Etxebarria to start next month's Tour. "


note: stomach problems = diarreah, which would cause him to be de-hydrated. It's the usual excuse.

Thanks for the update on Extebarria, I couldn't find info on that, just that he had
positive test (yahoo cycling news).

Marty

Thanks for the update on Extebarria, I couldn't find info on that, just that he had
positive test (yahoo cycling news).

Marty

Actually, he tested high for hematocrit, but technically didn't test positive for any banned substances.
Subsuquent Urine and Blood tests were negative for EPO, but can only detect it within 3 days of use.

This will enable him to continue to say " I have never tested positive for any banned substances"

I love that line. I may make it my signature...


Marty, have you ever been able to find any info on what Lance's Hematocrit count was or is, pre cancer, post cancer etc? I would love to know.

Interesting question. I'd venture to say that its higher post cancer
although intuitively one would think the opposite (and I'm not saying
anything with that statement).
haven't really looked for the info but I just may do some searches on it.

Marty

Finally, someone spells Euskaltel correctly. I'm sick of people leaving out the first "L". This isn't good for Orange Crush, it could very well hurt them even worse (even though they can only lose 2'30") in the TTT.

This will be my last post until Monday, I'm sure all of you will miss me. Enjoy the Prologue and Stage 1 of the Tour. I know I will - on my friend's big screen TV. :D

Finally, someone spells Euskaltel correctly. I'm sick of people leaving out the first "L". This isn't good for Orange Crush, it could very well hurt them even worse (even though they can only lose 2'30") in the TTT.

Not to nit pick, but they could loose 3:00 and they "only" lost 3:22 last year.

-murray

I thought the limit was 2'30"?

Gonzalez is probably the most junior member of this team. He's a third year pro with some results last year, but he has no recognizable specialty at this point in his career, so his loss, while costing Euskaltel a domestique, is not catastrophic in any sense. Many teams lose riders in the first few stages of the Tour to crashes, illness, etc.... I guess that is why they allow 9 man teams.

Last blood test I had gave an Hematocrit reading of 53·7 % , no I don´t take EPO I´ve got asma . The cardiologist said that such levals are not uncommon in his experience and that some people can have natural levals quite a bit higher - just his word of course but interesting none the less .

Last blood test I had gave an Hematocrit reading of 53·7 % , no I don´t take EPO I´ve got asma . The cardiologist said that such levals are not uncommon in his experience and that some people can have natural levals quite a bit higher - just his word of course but interesting none the less .
And therein lays the problem. Stating that 50% crit level is the cut off (or implying anything
over 50% must be due to EPO or similiar) negates the fact that there are always exceptions
to the norm. Normal Hematocrit is a range its not a fixed number for the entire population.
Hematocrit can be affected (for a high reading) by dehydration as well as a few medical
conditions. A quick google search showed upper limits of 50.3 % up to 54% for adult males.
If dehydration is a factor what do you think Lance's Crit reading was after the
ITT last year when he got so dehydrated? Way high I'm guessing.

Marty

I thought the limit was 2'30"?

from: http://www.letour.fr/2004/docs/reglement_us.pdf

If the gap is more than that given in the table below, then the rider will receive the time of the winning
team plus the additional number of seconds indicated in the table below according to the place of
their team.
20’’ for the 2nd team
30’’ for the 3rd team
40’’ for the 4th team
50’’ for the 5th team
1’ for the 6th team
1’10 for the 7th team
1’20 for the 8th team
1’30 for the 9th team
1’40 for the 10th team
1’50 for the 11th team
2’00 for the 12th team
2’10 for the 13th team
2’20 for the 14th team
2’30 for the 15th team
2’35 for the 16th team
2’40 for the 17th team
2’45 for the 18th team
2’50 for the 19th team
2’55 for the 20th team
3’00 for the 21st team