lotek 

you're correct, it has become a witch hunt.
But (and I hate that I'm saying this), the end justifies the means.
And to a large part the riders themselves, and the sponsors and
yes we fans, have forced the issue.
We demand a rider to perform at an inhuman rate for 3 weeks, and then
scream to the heavens when he is found to have doped. The sponsors
want results. . . as long as that is going to go on the situation won't change.
Cycling has to prove that it is cleaning it's house otherwise the money (and thats
the real issue) from sponsors will dry up.

Marty

ZXiMan

I'll tell you why...

Why should we get excited and root for our favorite riders year after year, when they all seem to turn out to be cheaters and the results are overturned on a daily basis during the event? Why continue to look forward to watching the TDF only to be heart broken year after year? All my past favorite riders have been banned from the sport, caught doping or retired under the suspicion of doping!!!

I mean, why even bother? The Tour De France is no longer a competition... it's a soap opera.

At the moment? You mean since the 1998 "Festina Affair" right? It's been 9 years of B.S. Nothing has really changed except for the fact that riders have found better ways to cheat and not get caught.

I still contend that they all cheat.

But then again... people still watch professional wrestling even though it is 99% fake and everyone is doped to the hilt.

Professional cycling is irrelavent....

The winners are the ones who are smart enough not to get caught!!!

I think they should all be subjected to DNA tests and banned for LIFE if caught cheating. I bet if that were implemented, lots of "current" pros would RETIRE...

godspiral

Is there more info from Cassini? Did he see a thin guy with goatee going fast on a good bike?

Whenever someone passes me on a hill next time, I'll be sure and think WTF is Rasmussen doing training in my town.

bormoglot

So now he faces divorce as well...

FIVE ONE SIX

i agree, and next year i think that they should have Simon Cowell in the booth with Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. i can picture it now, Phil Liggett says that Bonnen looks like he's full of anger as he sprints for the line, and Simon Cowell looks at him and says that sprint has no place at this years tour, it's eating an onion with mayonnaise...

ZXiMan

hahahaha...

RockyMtnMerlin

webist

I don't think they are paying any attention to me.

^*^BATMAN^*^

Oh how ironic............

knucks

personally, I think it's bullsh~t. He didn't dope, he failed to mention his whereabouts BEFORE the freaking tour.

Hambone

I was laughing about this with a ride buddy... Can you imagine he was getting a little somethin' somethin' from a cycling fan in Italy and totally just got outed. In front of the world.

va_cyclist

Actually I've been following the Tour since I was about 8 years old, but I'm just tired of rooting for people who pull out or get tossed or get their titles revoked after doping allegations. But hey, if you want to be a doper apologist, that's your prerogative. I'll stick to drug-free sports like baseball and football.

JessKN

I don't know if Rasmussen is doped or not, but at the moment I really do not care...

THe fact is that he was removed from the race because some people found him rather suspiciousor did not like the fact that he actually had a chance to win this race.

You can't call him a liar because of two missed tests within 18 months. There is a reason for the limit to be three tests = 1 positive. And for the information to even get out, riders warnings etc. are classified and should not be leaked to the press or anyone like that. So every rider in the TDF or any other pro race might have one or two warnings.

And why do Rasmussen train in Mexico? Well his wife is mexican, no wonder it is a easy way for both him and his wife to make a "little trip" out of it or what-ever.
He might have been in Italy, but where is the proof? Some say: Well Rabobank says... And why might they lie? Well why would Rasmussen... If people thinks he has all these big plans with doping and covering it up with lie etc. etc. Why don't people ever look at any other in a critical way?

Rasmussen has also hired some big shot lawyer to clear his name and who knows, might get some financial "pay-back"!
I find the Rabobank team-management to be rather pathetic, they have nothing real big on Rasmussen and still the choose to do as ASO and other high ranked "whiners" wants them to be, they take him out of the race. They have been criticize by both Miguel Indurain and Tim Krabbé, because a big team like Rabobank should honestly have some balls and faith in their riders but not in this case it seems. Rabobank doesn't care, they just want to take the easy way by sacking Rasmussen and letting people know that they take no responsibility. Weak I say.
Atleast let a rider finish if the is no real proof on anything, instead of doing as all the "small-balls" french would want you to do, sack a guy who is better than a french rider, actually the best.

But no wonder that Rasmussen is the best in the mountains, look at him! 56 kg is not much to carry around and it is the only thing he is good at, he cannot make any real good time trial. Only ride uphill.
What about Levi, Cadel and Alberto, they could all follow him must of the way in the mountains but also make a way better time-trial, beacuse they train that too. Not just the mountain rides. Why is it that people think it is way too good to be true from Rasmussens side? Mountains is the only bloody thing he is good at, give the man a break. Or atleast prove him guilty before ruining the biggest moment in his career.

P.s. Yes I am Danish, yes I really hoped that Rasmussen could make it. But still, I am sick and tired of the whole cycling world, they are all acting like kids, pointing fingers, telling lies and whining when not winning. And I am talking about every bloody person within the community, everyone.

orcanova

Fixed it for 'ya....



Which is exactly why he was kicked off the team.