The day before the Tour de France starts, the top contenders were ejected from the race after “overwhelming evidence” showed that they were doping. Three of the top 5 from last year are included. The most shocking ejections are Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso, one of which was practically guaranteed to win this year. Basso and Ullrich deny the charges, which is probably expected.
And poor Vinokourov… he left T-Mobile last year because Jan was the captain and now his new team is all but gone from the race and he wasn’t even implicated. If only had had stayed on T-Mobile, he’d be the team leader on probably the winner. He can’t possibly win now. Update: He can’t win now because his whole team has been pulled.
On the bright side, this is going to make it much easier on Americans Hincapie, Leipheimer and Landis to get on the podium, if not win it!
It’s great that the UCI is hard-line about anti-doping. If only other sports were as strict.
-
Archives
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- November 2006
- October 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- January 2004
- December 2003
- November 2003
- October 2003
- September 2003
- August 2003
- July 2003
- June 2003
- May 2003
- April 2003
- March 2003
- February 2003
- January 2003
- December 2002
- November 2002
- October 2002
- September 2002
- August 2002
- July 2002
- June 2002
- May 2002
- April 2002
- March 2002
- February 2002
- January 2002
- December 2001
- November 2001
- October 2001
- September 2001
- August 2001
- June 2001
- May 2001
- April 2001
- March 2001
- February 2001
- January 2001
- December 2000
7 Comments
I am on such a downer about this, was so so so excited about Ullrich vs. Basso – the immoveable object vs. the unstoppable force! Have been supporting Ullrich for years, i am so sad he is not in it anymore and hope he is not guilty – have been unable to find out the real deal – whether he is guilty or has been chucked out because of suspicion.
That said, no offence but I will be backing a European rider (I am not sure who yet), but I am European, so no anti-US sentiment from me – I hope that is clear!
No idea who I am going for now….Klodi?
Valverde is probably your best bet.
I was actually pulling for Ullrich this year, he’s the sentimental favorite for me since he’s always #2 and deserves another victory. I have to think he’s innocent, the evidence seems vague concerning him.
Basso seems more likely to be guilty, which is probably the end of his career. And it throws his Giro victory into question too.
Who wants to win the tour only to have an asterisk next to your name that all the real guys are out due to a witch hunt. The Tour de France is killing itself, the pressured the Spaniards into getting info before the tour. It is all such speculation. Test them… if they pass the tests fine, if not then toss them out. This digging into every nook and cranny is what is killing the sport. All these guys are potenitially being libeled. But then the French papers don’t worry about that. Zero tolerance is stupid. Test positive you’re out, know someone of questionable charcter who might make it look like your doping… you’re still out.
It sounds like it’s more than speculation, and it’s not the French press that started this (this time, at least). And the problem is that they’d pass the tests, it’s not illegal to have your own blood in your body, but it’s illegal to take it out and put it back in months later right before the race.
I don’t think this is killing the sport, killing careers, yes, but not the sport. Look at baseball in the US, it’s a joke that obvious cheaters are allowed to continue, get in the Hall of Fame and record books, etc. That kills the sport, IMO, and baseball’s been in decline for years because of this (the latest World Series was the lowest TV ratings in 30 years, apparently).
Cycling will survive and be stronger after all of this. The 7 years since 1998′s mess proved that.
The problem with this mess is that the top riders were on the list & are therefore suspected. Take note – they are not yet proven guilty!! If you’re following the careers of the consistently strong contenders thru the years, you can not say that they use performance-enhancing drugs or whatever. Ullrich , from the words of Lance himself, is the most talented rider in the peloton. You don’t need to take drugs if you’re already the most talented rider. Same with Basso. Since joining the Tour has always been in the top 10.
The problem with pro cycling now is if you look too strong they automatically charge you as cheat!
Norman
Yes, the sport is being killed. Baseball is dying from the opposite end of the problem, ignore the drugs. Cycling is assuming guilt. Neither approach is correct. I was looking forward to two talented riders going for it. No matter what the outcome the winner can only say they won the race, not that they were the best of the group. Its a bit like the entire starting line up of a Superbowl Team being unable to show up for the game. If you beat the ailing team, you can’t really feel that great, after all you didn’t beat the best team, you beat an ailing team. If they are guilty, prove it. But I am not going to make that assumption. I have been proud of the UCI for trying to clean up the sport, but this is getting rediculous.
It is a shame this whole thing. I was really looking forward to this years tour. I have to agree that this will not kill the sport. It is amazing what people will do to their bodies in order to achieve what they think is a competative edge.
sigh..