Concerning the side-discussion about how many days the pros race now versus the past: the average number has steadily declined for the last several decades. My guess is that there's increasingly sophisticated analysis behind those numbers and that the current practice is close to the ideal for the maximum rest/performance ratio.

And, about doping, omerta, too big to fail: Sure, that's all possible.

Another guess: that the training/nutrition/res/tetc. variables have been massaged to the point where there's no more performance to be squeezed out of riders, no matter how sophisticated the doping program.

I do agree that it's more fun to be cynical about the state of pro racing, though. Enjoy.