Professional Cycling For the Fans - The Comebacks: Vinokourov v. Rasmussen

Anyone else making a return to top-level cycling? Landis?

How do you reckon they will perform? Vinokourov is in the best position, given the Astana support he is counting on ... or not.

Anyone else making a return to top-level cycling? Landis?

How do you reckon they will perform? Vinokourov is in the best position, given the Astana support he is counting on ... or not.

Landis rides for OUCH.

All three of them are done.

Landis rides for OUCH.

All three of them are done.

Can OUCH do GTs?

Can OUCH do GTs?

they could but it's not likely.

have we ever seen anyone come back from a two-years suspension and ride anywhere near the same level? i'm thinking virenque was close but who else? i think zulle was okay too.

i'd have to agree that they are finished.

ed rader

Can OUCH do GTs?

I don't think so. I don't know the specific rules between the UCI, ASO, etc.

Well, landis seems to be a little rusty and it looks like he gained some weight...but basso also came back from a 2 years suspension and hes looking pretty fit. fiished 7th at the giro ditalia only 3 mins behind menchov.

have we ever seen anyone come back from a two-years suspension and ride anywhere near the same level?
ed rader


What's the difference between coming back from 2 year's in the penalty box and what Lance did coming back from retirement. Just curious what's yalls opinion.

they could but it's not likely.

have we ever seen anyone come back from a two-years suspension and ride anywhere near the same level? i'm thinking virenque was close but who else? i think zulle was okay too.

i'd have to agree that they are finished.

ed rader

David Millar, suspended June 24 2004 to late June 2006

What's the difference between coming back from 2 year's in the penalty box and what Lance did coming back from retirement. Just curious what's yalls opinion.

Yeah that's something I was puzzling about too. Being banned doesn't mean they can't ride and train like before.

1) Lack of motivation. NYT on Landis (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/sports/playmagazine/0819play-floyd.html)
2) No drugs = No power. They used to win on drugs. Now without it, they're back to their original, mediocre level.
3) LA is an exception. He is a beast.

What's the difference between coming back from 2 year's in the penalty box and what Lance did coming back from retirement. Just curious what's yalls opinion.

When you're in the penalty box you have the possibility of a return, so you tend to stay in shape.

When you retire, it's more like "F it, I'm going to chase me some Olson twins". Apparently Lance decided he's not getting enough exercise that way...

David Millar, suspended June 24 2004 to late June 2006

yeah he's almost as good. they don't talk about him like he's going to win the TDF anymore.

ed rader

What's the difference between coming back from 2 year's in the penalty box and what Lance did coming back from retirement. Just curious what's yalls opinion.

many of the guys who come back from doping suspensions either no longer dope or they don't dope to the same degree as they did before.

ed rader

Ricco will be back in 2010 too. They're coming out of the woodworks.

Well, landis seems to be a little rusty and it looks like he gained some weight...but basso also came back from a 2 years suspension and hes looking pretty fit. fiished 7th at the giro ditalia only 3 mins behind menchov.

Basso's suspension was shorter than 2 years-he worked an agreement to plead guilty to attempting to cheat.

The afformentioned Millar is probably as close to old form as anyone post Virengue, although anyone recall if Pantini's had a 2 year suspension or was his shorter?

At Vino's age got to figure no way unless he's got stealthy juice.

Yeah that's something I was puzzling about too. Being banned doesn't mean they can't ride and train like before.

1) Lack of motivation. NYT on Landis (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/sports/playmagazine/0819play-floyd.html)
2) No drugs = No power. They used to win on drugs. Now without it, they're back to their original, mediocre level.
3) LA is an exception. He is a beast.


Yes, I agree. So we might be able to make some conclusions about Lance. If most dopers return and don't come close to their old form, it can be either motivation or the drugs helped them that much more. Since they don't dope, then they will never be their "old selves."

So either Lance never lost his motivation or he never doped to begin with and he truly is the VO2 Beast. He did place second in the Leadville 100 last year with very little training.

So either Lance never lost his motivation or he never doped to begin with and he truly is the VO2 Beast. He did place second in the Leadville 100 last year with very little training.

Not that I particularly believe that he dopes, but another explanation would be that he doped, still dopes, and just knows how not to get caught.

Did anybody see Vinokourov's kit in his comeback?

Never mind 2009 being the year of the ox. It is truly the year of horrendous cycling kit. Haven't we suffered enough with Colombia and Milram this season. Where will it end?

Yeah that's something I was puzzling about too. Being banned doesn't mean they can't ride and train like before.

1) Lack of motivation. NYT on Landis (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/sports/playmagazine/0819play-floyd.html)
2) No drugs = No power. They used to win on drugs. Now without it, they're back to their original, mediocre level.
3) LA is an exception. He is a beast.

The whole Landis thing is a mess. Moreover, Landis paying all this money to lawyers or the "fairness campaign" as he calls it is futile. He needs to move on, and use whatever celebrity he has left and make money for himself, not some lost cause.

I think Landis may do okay. He used to be quite the wind blocker for Lance. I don't see him winning while people like Lance and Contador and Andy are healthy, but I'm thinking he'll be a good second-tier rider like Evans or Sastre. With the exit of half the Astana team, it's possible the Kazakh's might lure him over. He would be a great domestique for Contador and Vino. Two good domestiques like that for Contador? If the Tour lets Astana back in despite Vino, I think he's got another great chance of winning.

Not that I particularly believe that he dopes, but another explanation would be that he doped, still dopes, and just knows how not to get caught.

I've got it! He's a time traveler.

Goes into the future to get his EPO hits then comes back to make everyone else look foolish.



Yeah, that's the ticket!