merlinextraligh

Nature of endurance sports makes it overwheliming tempting. Even a small advantage in aerobic capicity is the difference between winningand losing. In sports more depenpendent on hand eye coordination (ie baseball, ) extra strentgh is an advantage but not one that cna't be overcome with talent. but in cycling, long distance running, or cross country skiing, no matter howgood you are, you going tolose if everyone els eis juicing and you're not.

Dolomiti

Hard to believe? That is how doping in the pro peloton is. It's quite open. This is all well known and was publically talked about in 1998 for example, when different teams would even share doping supplies (like when you need a cup of sugar, go to the next door neighbor and ask).

sohi

ok, B sample positive. So no suprises here. what now?

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/05/sp...rtner=homepage

rgerve

Lance doped too.

Karlotta

Which now has very little value, marketing-wise for Hamilton, though I see it's the only thing still plastered across his web site banner.

Karlotta

This is correct

But this is not. The dopers do. Until we test them and catch them. Then we know the facts.

If everyone is doping there, they are doping here too. They've figured out how not to get caught. Wherever they are racing


So even if he doped, he won? I guess if you mean he won by cheating...

Trevor98

In ten years, its the record in the books that matters.

shakeNbake

Great! Phonak dropped him.

Because we all know Phonak is THE cleanest team in the peloton.

Allen H

Their sponsorship ends this year anyway. Why try to take the high moral ground now when you've had 9 riders busted before, and you're not even coming back?

Karlotta

Marketing = how much can I cash in on this gold medal. In TH's case, not so much...

Also, in ten years, I guarantee you that folks will still remember TH as the guy who doped blood and got to keep his medal on a mistake by the lab.

KoM Wannabe

What about Indurain? We know about Virenque. Are we to believe that it's only one rider doping? Nobody here seems to believe that.

Why are there no reports on Perriero's tests? All the podium finishers are tested, so let's hear it.

KoM Wannabe

Kinda like OJ Simpson. Yeah, he was found "not guilty" nudge, nudge, wink wink.

I have a former coworker, a huge baseball fan who enjoys doing his own sophisticated analysis of the game. Statistically, Barry Bonds is the best offensive player in several decades. But what about the doping? He figures let them all take anything they want instead of the seemingly piece-meal policing of sports. That way, the playing field, although doped, is now level again.

fifty5

Looks like the TDF win of roid Floyd is void.

JuanIsTheMan

eqerve. Show me a positive Lance Amstrong test.

Tom Pedale

It's too bad you have to stoop so low as to use an epithet such as "frogs" in your post.
I cringe every time I read a post that uses these types of insulting terms to describe an entire nation.

As a suggestion, if you want readers to take your posts seriously, try writing them without using such language.

JuanIsTheMan

Sorry, People are pissing me off today.

Tom Pedale

Thanks...it is a tough day for me as well. A lot of us who really love cycling are seeing our sport showcased in a very negative way. It took years for Americans to even notice the sport of cycling and now that progress will most likely suffer a serious setback. I believe that many European cyclists are not happy about this either. While there are some that will rejoice because Landis will probably be stripped of his title, the majority of Euros, I believe see the bigger picture and are sad because the sport of cycling will suffer which will affect all cyclists, no matter where they call home.

Trevor98

In ten years (not two) the name in the books remains. For example, in this years TdF guide, Marco Pantani is listed as the winner of the 1998 TdF. There is not a caveat that the '98 TdF was plagued with drug busts and protests. Neither is Pantani's later doping bust mentioned nor his drug induced death (no space for specifics). While many current cycling fans will certainly remember this years TdF, or even TH's bust in ten years, newer fans and the mass public won't. Most people now don't know about the details of TH's gold medal and can only refer to the record books (which don't mention the circumstances).

My point is, the impact of such a change on the winner is tremendous to the athletes but not really important in the long run.

Karlotta

If you think that sponsors and companies will be running to TH with endorsements, I disagree. That was my point,. While the record will always state he won, I disagree that folks won't remember the doping, simply because the medal wasn't stripped.

Trevor98

Most people don't remember anything about the case now, most people are not cycling fans. I don't think that sponsors will flock to TH and as state the impacts to the individual are great but to the sport they are not.

Skyline_Dougie

To each his own... being French and called a frog is a compliment. The French I know are a stuck-up lot to be sure.

earth dweller

not it's not, being called a frog is a derogatory term.

I would suggest you start hanging out with different people. Good thing that not all americans are judged by your comment isn't it?

Tom Pedale

Oh well, I might as well confess..I lived in France for 3 1/2 years, worked with some french nationals in Niger, West Africa while I was in the Peace Corps and when I was in the cycling industry, worked with and met people from France who were in the cycling industry. I was lucky enough to have dinner with Bernard Hinault, this shortly after he completed his fifth tour victory and found him to be humble, modest and very accomodating to those seeking a word or an autograph.

Based on my experience, regardless of nationality, there are the oddlot stuck up personalities in every country. To say that the French differ from the norm I think is inaccurate. The stereotypes that float around about various racial and ethnic groups are almost always inaccurate. Or at least, that's what I've learned from my experiences.

superslomo

I know this has been said before, and I know I'm not the only one feeling like it, but I feel cheated as a fan.

Watching the tour, and that stage win was a really tremendous thing, and I pulled for the guy, and was drawn in by his story as were so many people, and the incredible comeback in the race was (or might have been) a moment for the ages not just for cycling but across the lines of different sports.

But now...

It's hard to realize that it was just a big joke. I feel like a complete sucker... even if "everyone" was doing it, it's still hard to have someone you pulled for get caught.

I'm going to keep on riding, and getting joy from it, but I don't know if I'm watching the tour next year. Anyone else?

Skyline_Dougie

Earth Dweller, you have no basis for making a suggestion about my social activities (who I hang with) - I merely made a statement based on my own personal experiences - I did not judge anyone or any group of people. I don't really follow your second sentence. Also, Americans should be capitalized, I referred to the French more respectfully than you did your fellow (I assume) Americans.