I know what you mean, Badger. The Festina team has cleaned itself up but it'll always be remembered as the team that were disqualified for doping, and Virenque was one of them. That shook the tour to the ground, and some doubted it would pull through. Thankfully, LA came onto the scene when the tdf needed a hero at the most important time. Even though LA has always been a clean rider, the press doubted his success could be achieved by any means other than dubious, although I recall they did not overtly accuse him of doping, but ran a successful smear campaign against him. LA survived that, and the tdf has righted itself.

I also remember that sad day when Motorola's (?) Fabio Cassertelli (spelling?) was killed in the tdf a few years back. The next day, the tdf teams let Motorola ride 8-abreast at the finish of the stage, and all monies were given to his wife. The next year, the tour slowed to a halt as every rider paused at the scene of the tragedy (there is a monument erected there I believe) and that was something that proved the tdf had a heart that went beyond the act of cycling. Sadly, the doping scandals that were to befall the tdf in the years that followed would shake the tdf to it's foundations. It survived, and is perhaps better for it.