To begin with, historically the rules have changed and are changing, so doping (or whatever term you wish to use) today will be very different to doping yesterday - as will testing.

Use the modern era as the staring point, let's take that from 1998 and the Festina Affair when EPO first headlined in a big way. Since then: take Lance Dopestrong* as the prime example of systemetised doping on a huge scale - with the medical profession/doctors at the centre of the cheating.

I supposed what I'm attempting to say is I don't think it fair to judge the riders of yesterday with the doping rules of today.

I've followed pro cycling and the TdeF since I was 15 years old in 1975 when myself and three friends in the school summer holiday took ourselves to France to watch the 1975 edition - not missed one since

John.

*and US Postal of course.