Halebopp

I don't mean to imply that everyone else isn't doped as well, but just saw this

https://velonews.competitor.com/2011/...-riders_160137

It seems like half the doping news relates to Spanish teams/riders/doctors.

plx

only 2 or 3 guys dope nowadays

Sea Green Sky

No. It's fairly well distributed among the various cycling countries.

baribari

That's not what I'd call even.

The vast majority are Spaniards and Italians, with a sprinkling of other nationalities, especially Kazakhs.

knowledgdropper

Then there's this. Interesting that an anonymous pro cyclist tipped off authorities. Interesting timing, too.

merlinextraligh

The historically lax laws regarding PED's in Spain, combined with the apparent lack of concern by Spanish law enforcement, and the Spanish cycling federation makes to make it easier to dope in Spain.

There was definitely an undercurrent of that iin some of the comments by other riders to the Contador off the hook news.

And why do you think all those American pros chose Girona to live in?

jarhead#42

You would then have to think that Spain would be dominant if true every year.I remember Lance,almost a decade,AC,and a few others.Just something to consider I guess.I am sure every year there are cheats.That is the world we live in.Not just a Spain I feel so in all fairness to the Spain riders who are clean.This would be less then empathetic for all the hard work they do as clean riders.

Shimagnolo

Not all of them;
Just the professional ones.

ultraman6970

Part spaniard here ok? will sound rude but it is a thing of educational background, lets call it... "the place where u came from", and mixed with stubbornness. Cycling in many countries is practiced by poor people, maybe many remember guido bontempi, great sprinter but hated in the peloton somehow because his background was accommodated for say the least. So the guys are used to dope or they wont be able to highlight themselves to be able to "make it into pro".

Is a tough world after all and if you do not get some help no way you will make it, so in their mentality is right to put some juice IN for that purpose. In the case of the doctor who got fired doesn't surprise me at all, thats their way of doing things, "u dont like it... i can get somebody else to do it, that's the door". So it is not just something u see in cycling but when looking for a job position or u have to know somebody or suck sombody's pp's to get a job. So it really does not surprise me at all the situation with the doctor.

2ndGen

Since the 90's, (4) Spaniards have won 1/2 of the TDF's.
2 Americans, 1 German, 1 Italian divvy up the rest of the wins.
Since Lance, all wins have been by Spaniards with 1 including Lance (when he came back).

(Disclaimer: I am Spanish. )

Halebopp

I didn't mean my first post to sound insensitive, it just seems that every other doping story these days involves spain.

Obviously, cyclists from all countries dope and the cynic in my says that 90% of pro riders are doped. So I don't mean to imply that others nationalities are clean.

Italy, too. Spainiards and Italians are taking the doping news right now. I haven't heard as much about French (and other european) riders in the doping news (recently)

2ndGen

I don't think it's insensitive at all.
Since many Spaniards are winning and are very competitive, it's not odd that the focus would be on them.
If Israelis or Swedes were winning a ton, then the focus would especially be upon them.

Nobody cares about the dopers that lose...just those that win.

It seems that in cycling, winning countries have streaks (Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, America, etc...).
With those streaks, whatever is popular (or unpopular) at the time will be attached to those who the focus is on.