Comments on: Pro Tour Team Anti-Doping

By: Powershouse

Powershouse — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:46:57 +0000

I’m guessing Bruyneel was lumped in with the old school DSs who encouraged and/or turned a blind eye to various forms of doping. Which raises the question, who are the new-school DSs that are prepared to be vigilant against doping and dopers?

I also have a pet theory that the testosterone hits that have tripped up a number of riders are not the doping agent, but rather a by product of a doping agent or process that is not widely known or specifically tested for yet. In other words, the riders aren’t taking testosterone, which doctors I’ve talked to agree would be of little benefit for riders in the middle of a tour, but are taking something else that the current testing protocols don’t measure directly.

By: (dis)

(dis) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:02:15 +0000

oops, i meant “personal feelings”.

…but that just means i am currently leading the SCTY competition!

By: (dis)

(dis) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:01:15 +0000

i’m going to follow this formula for the local teams!

results soon!

(but i am allowing points to be affected by hearsay, person feelings, grudes, and upgrade points).

By: Smithers

Smithers — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 21:41:58 +0000

Yes, I am sympathetic with riders who are drawn into the world of doping. I am not at all sympathetic to team managers, doctors and staff who “help” these riders with their doping programs.

And I have nothing but antipathy to those riders who get busted for doping and claim total and complete innocence and blame their positive test on some sort of wild grand conspiracy.

David Millar – sympathetic figure and now an anti-doping advocate

Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton – piece of dung

By: a. kruse

a. kruse — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 21:13:12 +0000

I would rather see clean and sucky teams in the Pro Tour than dirty fast teams.

That’s interesting. Previously, I’ve understood your stance to be moderately dope-sympathizer – or at least you apparently feel you can identify with the pressures that the pros feel w.r.t. results and the ‘need’ to dope.

The only thing I’ve really seen you speak out against, is things like ibelievetyler and the ‘Floyd Fairness Fund’.

Obviously you’re entitled to think what you want, and change such at any time, I’m just amused by your opine…

By: davidh

davidh — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:12:23 +0000

Good point that the Frenchie teams are pretty reputable, and sometimes they do win (eg FdJ and Credit Agricole in this Tour). But a top drawer American team with a clean rep will have more resonance here in the States. I certainly couldn’t direct my kids toward Discovery with a very clear conscience.

By: Smithers

Smithers — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:49:25 +0000

particularly when each and every one of them suck

I would rather see clean and sucky teams in the Pro Tour than dirty fast teams.

How many stage wins did Gerolsteiner get in the Tour this year?

By: Smithers

Smithers — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:44:41 +0000

Yea, I think I did.

With one exception, the Cofidis team that ended up pulling out of the Tour after one of their riders got busted, all the French Pro Tour teams are grouped at the top.

By: Tuffy

Tuffy — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:20:41 +0000

No, you didn’t.

In the mean time, if you want to feel good about supporting a Pro Tour cycling team, cheer for a French squad.

By: a. kruse

a. kruse — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:13:25 +0000

bigger question:

Why are there two additional PT teams from France vs. any other country? (particularly when each and every one of them suck)

By: Smithers

Smithers — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:34:09 +0000

I already made that caveat.

By: Tuffy

Tuffy — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:27:38 +0000

…except Cofidis.