I miss Tyler Hamilton
 

Tyler was my favorite guy in the tour. I first "tuned in" when I found out he was an ex-USA world class skier, was from a town several miles from me in Massachusetts, and skied for a high school squad in my league.

After watching his big fall and subsequent amazing finish through the pain, I was hooked on the guy.

I rooted for him during the Olympics, where he won gold.

I was saddened to hear about the doping "allegations" and I really miss watching him in the tour. He was a real threat to the yellow, and loved watching him in command of his own team. I always find myself rooting for the "not so under, underdogs" like Vino and Tyler and would have loved to watch Tyler take a stab at wearing yellow in Paris.

**END OF RANT**

i would have loved to see a CLEAN tyler hamilton mix it in the tour this year. but since he has been convicted (the fact that his legal team has made unsuccesful apeals doesn't mean it was just simple allegations. HE IS GUILTY) of doping he can watchc it on tv and wring his hands over how dumb he was for all i care.

I miss him too. I still can't believe he is guilty but I am an optimist!

same.im still a big fan of him.

Had he not doped, I wonder what horrific injury/bad luck he'd have been subjected to had he been able to participate. Being the kind of guy who can't ride a GT normally, that is.

i think that tyler had learned a lot by watching how lance managed to stay out of trouble and really appreciated how postal would fight to keep lance at the front. anyway tyler also has a foundation and he's doing tons of good work.

INNOCENT.

It was his vanishing twin.

but when he's eligible again, will any team take him?

He tarnished himself. He tarnished the sport. He took performance inhancing drugs. He sucks because of it.

I really liked him. Now I dont.

No. A new rule last November prevents Pro Tour teams from signing anyone who tested postive for any doping offense in the last 4 years.

Besides, He'll be too old and too much of a UCI liability even if there wasn't such a new rule.

There are reports that Tyler and Millar bowl together twice a week.

Why is it that everyone defends Tyler who tested positive for doping and says there must be some mistake but then attacks Lance saying he must be doping even though he has never tested positive?

Because Lance is an only child.

Just kidding.

Thank you. Well said.

Tyler went from being a pretty good rider to being a spectacular rider during the last two seasons before his final, and fatal, drug test. Do I think he was doping during those two years? Yup.

But, if it is possible to admire a cheater, a guy who was "stealing " races from the guys who race clean, and follow the rules, Hamilton is the cheater whose courage and toughness was amazing.

Riding through the Tour de France with a broken collarbone, and even winning a stage can not be explained by any known drug. That feat required a courage that is almost unknown in the current Peloton (where it has become acceptable to quit the Tour with "a boo boo on my finger"). Tyler rode better with a broken collarbone than many of the "favorites", who were suffering from nothing more than sniffles.

So, he was a cheat, a thug, and a hoodlum. But, he was also a tough and courageous fighter in an era where toughness and courage are out of style. If he entered the Tour, he was determined to finish. He was not going to quit, unless strapped to a stretcher, on to way to a hospital. He understood, if you enter the Tour, the POINT is to ride all the way to Paris, regardless of illness, injuries, pain, or suffering.

Given his toughness, (and hardheadedness), and a small army of lawyers, he will seek a way to ride in the Tour de France in 2006 or 2007. Of course, he is too old to be a contender, and probably should not bother trying. But,Tyler is not the typical "modern" Tour rider. "Quit" is not a word he understands.

Are you sure "cheater" is just "english" for ""Not tough enough to be a real GC contender in the Tour de France"? I think that your "bias" clearly shines "through" with this so-called "post".

Come on. Tyler doped so he'd get banned from cycling. He knew that he was "not tough enough to be a real GC contender in the Tour de France" and had to find a way out.

He just "hid" behind the peloton all day anyway.

About the "vanishing twin" idea. Yes, this is a theoretical possiblity for the mixed blood that led to the TH banning. There are lots of legitimate explanations for why mixed blood could appear to look like blood doping. And back in April, I though Hamilton was being given a raw deal, and that he would soon be exonerated, BUT, there is a reliable way to test for this concept that Hamilton could be a genetic chimera (rare, but does happen).

Hamilton will not consent to have these tests done. If he is a genetic chimera, he could prove it, but he won't.

And now, his blog is just questioning everything else about the WADA not related to his case, arguing that if they made a past mistake, they did the same to him. This is cheap lawyer talk and diversion. I supported this guy, but I can't say I respect him any more. He's arguing like a guilty person now.

just like two peas in a pod! :)

<< Given his toughness, (and hardheadedness), he will find a way to ride in the Tour de France in 2006 or 2007. Of course, he is too old to be a contender, and probably should not bother trying. But,Tyler is not the typical "modern" Tour rider. "Quit" is not a word he understands. >>

No he won't ride the tour in 2006 or 2007 as he will not be UCI eligible.

The fact that his teamate was the only other athlete to have a positive test, out of hundreds of athletes, is quite a coincidence ;) especially considering the other doping issues that occured at Phonak

his ban ends on April 17, 2007. Technically he could ride in the '07 tour, but the odds are so stacked up against him finding a team, training races, etc. that's it's pretty much a lost bet.

I am not convinced that they knew enough about that test and it's false positives and negatives. I think they should use the test collect data for a couple of years before they use it to eliminate people. I would like to think he wasn't doing transfusions, but the twin thing soulds way out, but then maybe the test isn't as good as they say. The only folks evaluating the test are the developers - no ax to grind there.

Joe

WADA takes testing very seriously, they know that they are affecting the professional career of an athlete, and it takes a lot to get a positive. No one wants to make a mistake with someone's life, but the data was solid, confirmed by world experts and scientists. Housman's idea of vanishing twin is just an idea.

Hamilton tested +ve on two events, over quite a period of time. If Hamilton is a chimera, he will always test positive for mixed blood. If he doesn't in 2007, he'll be a liar.

Didnt he test positive at the olympics but the other sample was destroyed or something so they couldnt confirm the positive test. Then shortly there after he tests positive again, and this time the other sample is still intact.

Hes a doper and the sport has no room for it or him. End of story.