Richard Virenque Retires
09-28-04, 01:04 PM
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In the ENDURANCE SPORTS NEWS
By James Raia
E-mail: James@ByJamesRaia.com
Web site: www.ByJamesRaia.com
Richard Virenque, King of the Polka Dots, Retires
Frenchman Richard Virenque, who claimed the polka dot jersey that represents the best Tour de France climber a record seven times, will retire at the end of the season.
Virenque, who turned professional in 1991, will leave cycling as one of France's most popular cyclists and among the sport's most controversial riders.
"I have been riding for 20 years and I didn't want to do it for a year too many," Virenque recently told Agence France Presse.
Virenque followed a third place in the 1996 Tour de France with second place overall finish in 1997. But a year later, his Festina squad was ejected from the race after customs officers found banned drugs in a team car.
Virenque was cleared of charges that he helped supply drugs to his teammates. However, he caused a furor with his testimony which claimed there was systematic drug use in cycling.
His admission of doping led to a ban that kept him out of the 2001 Tour, and he said he thought his career was over. But he resurrected it, and the French public still adamantly rooted for him. They painted his name, red polka dots and slogans like "Allez, Allez, Richard" all along the mountaintops of France.
Virenque won the Tour de France stage up the Mont Ventoux in his comeback year to the event in 2002 and then the stage Morzine in the Alps in 2003.
Last July, in another of his trademark solo breakaway rides, Virenque claimed the last stage in the Tour de France that on Bastille Day, the July 14 national French holiday.
With his 2004 stage win, Virenque went on to claim his record seventh polka-dot jersey, breaking the six best climber titles earned by Spanish rider Federico Bahamontes and Belgian Lucien Van Impe.
Virenque, a native of Casablanca, Morocco, will turn age 35 on Nov. 19.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
I guess that's it for him, then. He had a good run (albeit controversial in parts)...
Koffee
By James Raia
E-mail: James@ByJamesRaia.com
Web site: www.ByJamesRaia.com
Richard Virenque, King of the Polka Dots, Retires
Frenchman Richard Virenque, who claimed the polka dot jersey that represents the best Tour de France climber a record seven times, will retire at the end of the season.
Virenque, who turned professional in 1991, will leave cycling as one of France's most popular cyclists and among the sport's most controversial riders.
"I have been riding for 20 years and I didn't want to do it for a year too many," Virenque recently told Agence France Presse.
Virenque followed a third place in the 1996 Tour de France with second place overall finish in 1997. But a year later, his Festina squad was ejected from the race after customs officers found banned drugs in a team car.
Virenque was cleared of charges that he helped supply drugs to his teammates. However, he caused a furor with his testimony which claimed there was systematic drug use in cycling.
His admission of doping led to a ban that kept him out of the 2001 Tour, and he said he thought his career was over. But he resurrected it, and the French public still adamantly rooted for him. They painted his name, red polka dots and slogans like "Allez, Allez, Richard" all along the mountaintops of France.
Virenque won the Tour de France stage up the Mont Ventoux in his comeback year to the event in 2002 and then the stage Morzine in the Alps in 2003.
Last July, in another of his trademark solo breakaway rides, Virenque claimed the last stage in the Tour de France that on Bastille Day, the July 14 national French holiday.
With his 2004 stage win, Virenque went on to claim his record seventh polka-dot jersey, breaking the six best climber titles earned by Spanish rider Federico Bahamontes and Belgian Lucien Van Impe.
Virenque, a native of Casablanca, Morocco, will turn age 35 on Nov. 19.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
I guess that's it for him, then. He had a good run (albeit controversial in parts)...
Koffee
09-28-04, 01:30 PM
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Most riders tend to celebrate as they cross the line in first place, but seeing him flash that finger as if to say, "I'm number one" caused me to wince.
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09-28-04, 01:33 PM
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I felt the same about Virenque. Not a fan.
I really enjoed reading about Bahamontes and seeing the photos in Winning magazine of van Impe climbing and even winning the Tour in 1976. Truly inspiring.
The eagle still flies.
I really enjoed reading about Bahamontes and seeing the photos in Winning magazine of van Impe climbing and even winning the Tour in 1976. Truly inspiring.
The eagle still flies.
09-28-04, 02:14 PM
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As is the general consensus so far, I'm not much a fan either. But much respect to a man who gets caught doping, does his time, and comes back to do so well. Most in that position probably would have looked for a new gig.
09-28-04, 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by brent_dube
Finally, I don't have to watch Dick steal any more stages.
Glad the guy who almost killed the Tour de France is done...
Glad the guy who almost killed the Tour de France is done...
Excuse me but Virenque wasn't the only rider to be associated with doping. And you're saying that he and he alone almost killed the Tour? Get real!
09-28-04, 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by ctyler
Excuse me but Virenque wasn't the only rider to be associated with doping. And you're saying that he and he alone almost killed the Tour? Get real!
09-28-04, 05:46 PM
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Most other teams were doping that year as well. They just didn't get caught.
09-28-04, 05:56 PM
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.......hmmm the hypocracy of some in this thread is staggering!.....stick it to Richard & find excuses for Tyler?....hope y'all will be slagging him as well!...by the way, I'm happy to see the back of the smug little prick as well,
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09-28-04, 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Devil
A lot of the people that posted about Virenque in this thread also believe that Tyler is guilty.
No issue with that......but it would seem that there has been more venom saved up for Virenque for something that happened 6 years ago....all the tyler stuff comes off like ....."well I know he's probably guilty...but...gee golly willikers...they all do it...the pressures of being a pro...blah blah blah"...seems virenque isn't entitled to the same consideration.....but then again, I suppose he's not american or had his dog die recently
hitchy
09-28-04, 06:22 PM
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You're right about that, Hitchy. I think the main reason for the different response to the two cyclists is because of the HUGE Festina scandal that surrounded Virenque back in '98 - it's not just that he doped, but he (and his teammates) did some serious damage to the cycling world. Tyler hasn't damaged cycling to that level (yet, we'll see).
09-28-04, 06:25 PM
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Originally Posted by brent_dube
Finally, I don't have to watch Dick steal any more stages.
Glad the guy who almost killed the Tour de France is done...
Glad the guy who almost killed the Tour de France is done...
WTF???? this is a road racing forum...are you lost?
"Steal" stages? From who?
"Killed the Tour?" How? By winning 7 maillot pois rouge? Launching massive breakaways that people love? Almost singlehandedly (along with Jalabert) saving the profile of French cycling in the 90s??
Virenque is one of the most attacking, courageous, winningest riders ever.
09-28-04, 06:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Hornbiker
As is the general consensus so far, I'm not much a fan either. But much respect to a man who gets caught doping, does his time, and comes back to do so well. Most in that position probably would have looked for a new gig.
bump to this!!
09-28-04, 07:06 PM
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I agree with Ed. It's not like Virenque is the only one who doped, he did his suspension and came back. SO did lots of others like Dario Frigo and Garzelli and Zulle. I have to admit that I kind of liked Virenque , since I don't expect sports heroes to live like priests. He was a great climber, no matter what, and he made the mountain stages interesting. In 2002 the Tour was not all that exciting, no Jan, a lot of big names weren't there. But one of the best stages was the Ventoux. It was so obvious Virenque was going to KILL himself to win and he suffered all the way up- it was one of the best mountain stages I'd seen in years. I was really glad he won instead of Armstrong.
The fans in france loved him no matter what, sort of like the way italian fans were with Pantani. No matter what he did, they just loved him and idolized him.
The fans in france loved him no matter what, sort of like the way italian fans were with Pantani. No matter what he did, they just loved him and idolized him.
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09-28-04, 07:11 PM
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Exactly!!! Remember all the great things (and there were plenty) he did in his 15 year pro career.
[Ed hugs wabbit and wipes tears from eyes]
[Ed hugs wabbit and wipes tears from eyes]
09-28-04, 08:27 PM
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I think Axel is still giving a description to the French Gendarmes of the thief who stole his stage on Bastille Day this year. 
Virenque simply rode away from Axel and there are no if, ands, or buts about that.
Virenque was a great rider, an excellent climber, and a flawed man. Well, at least I have one thing in common with him.
I congratulate him on his return to cycling after his suspension; to return to the level he did took courage and determination. And I wish him well. Great ride at Paris-Tours Richard.
Virenque simply rode away from Axel and there are no if, ands, or buts about that.Virenque was a great rider, an excellent climber, and a flawed man. Well, at least I have one thing in common with him.
I congratulate him on his return to cycling after his suspension; to return to the level he did took courage and determination. And I wish him well. Great ride at Paris-Tours Richard.
Last edited by don d.; 09-28-04 at 08:33 PM.