Major Tour de France Contenders SUSUPENDED/ OUT of the TOUR

[stop the bleeding]

I posted this in the cycling forum as well, but I thought that this was big news. Most people only know of Lance, but Basso, Ullrich, Mancebo, Sevilla and many others are some of the biggest names in cycling. - notice in the timeline from cyclingnews on this subject and it is the biggest doping affair in the history of the sport, no where does Discovery/US Postal or any of it's riders including Lance get caught up in this affair, I could be wrong on this but I don't think so.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/jun06/jun30news3

More riders suspended: Basso and Mancebo out
The various teams taking part in the Tour de France have now suspended all of their riders implicated in the Operacion Puerto affair, including Ivan Basso (CSC), whose nickname was allegedly "Birillo" in Fuentes' files, and Francisco Mancebo (AG2R). Joseba Beloki (Astana-Wurth) is another to be sent home. After Jan Ullrich and Oscar Sevilla were taken out this morning by T-Mobile, the teams are now pulling their other riders out. The pressure from the organisers, the UCI, the sponsors, and the non-affected teams has been intense.

ASO public relations man Bernard Hinault told radio RTL that he expects 15-20 riders to be ejected before the day is out. The UCI will then ask the national cycling federations to start disciplinary proceedings against the riders named in the Spanish network.

Teams spokesman Patrick Lefevere said that there will be no replacements for the riders who have been taken out. "We have unanimously decided to send all the riders who are on the list home, and not to substitute them."


~snip~

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/jun06/jun30news2

At 9:34am on Friday morning, T-Mobile announced that it has suspended Jan Ullrich, Oscar Sevilla and Rudy Pevenage in the wake of the Operacion Puerto affair. The three were implicated in the doping scandal as being clients of Dr Eufemiano Fuentes. None of them will take part in the Tour de France.

As the announcement was made, the three sat in the team bus on their way to what was supposed to be a "meet-and-greet" press conference. They were informed on the way.

Team spokesman Stefan Wagner said that the team had received documents from the ASO which made it "impossible" for the team to further work with the three. Wagner also confirmed that the team would take two of its reserve riders and would ride the Tour: Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) and Stephan Schreck (Ger).

"We have only now gotten the evidence," said Wagner. "As soon as there were suspicions, we asked to see the files. We don't know why we didn't get them until today. The facts in the case contradict Ullrich's claims of innocence so strongly that we had to take this step, in order to follow our goal of a clean sport."

[acmejack]

1. Holy cow, this is big time!

What is there going to be, like three teams competing? This really opens it up for an unknown to win.

[stop the bleeding]

2. no shit - I was just discussing this aspect with a co-worker

I have to goto a party on Saturday for a wedding/July 4th deal and it is being thrown by a cyclist, I can't imagine what the conversations will be like being that it is the first day of the Tour coupled with this scandal, and then to top it off throw a couple of drinks in there and BAM! people will be going off.

I know I am kook/dork but I can hardly concentrate at work right now ;)

[acmejack]

5. I'm here in Austin, I will have to go to the cycle shop today.

People will be going crazy. There are a lot of good young cyclists that are going to get their shot now, this very well may be the most exciting tour in decades! I don't blame you for being stoked, this is big news, indeed!

[LibertyLover]

3. Just this morning

I was reading an article on Basso. It stated that his performances had improved in the Tour over the past couple of years and speculated that he might even win since Lance had retired. It's a shame - but at the same time, I'm glad to see professional cycling trying to clean up its act.

[harpboy_ak]

34. It's wide open for Leipheimer, Landis, or Hincapie

I'll bet on Hincapie, the one of those 3 Lance alumni that stuck with him for the entire 7 years. Levi would be my second pick, but Landis might be hungry enough. What Hincapie has going for him is the entire *** not drug tainted *** Discovery Channel team, managed by Lance's team manager and with Lance's active participation (he's one of the team's owners). It takes a good team to protect the leader and keep him in yellow, and that team has a lot of experience doing it.

I wouldn't go so strongly for George if Basso or Ullrich were still in the race.

I was on the corner where Lance passed Basso in the 2004 Alpe d'Huez hill climb time trial, about 600 meters before the finish. Even if Hincapie wins, he'll have a long way to go to become anything close to Lance.

[0007]

4. This will indeed be interesting to watch and especially

the times of the bicyclists that aren't using a body enhancement.


Hmmmm

[atomic-fly]

6. I'm very sad today...damn it Jan!

[keith the dem]

7. I have been involved with pro cycling for over 20 years...

Pro cycling is so unimaginably difficult. Cyclist will tell you that they need the drugs, not necessarily to do better, but for just plain pain relief. One Pro said that without the EPO, racing was just pain, no fun. What if you had a job that you loved but it gave you painful headaches every day. An aspirin would free you from that pain, but it was illegal to take. Most anybody will seek out a way to alleviate pain.

Make no mistake, I do not condone this drug use. But I have some understanding as to why the riders think they need the drugs. Compare this to steroid use in baseball, where it is purely done just to get more home-runs.

The good news in this is that it opens things up for our American favorites. I'm hoping for eight straight for the USA!!!! (Excuse me for being rah-rah nationalistic.)

[Mika]

10. Then how did the pros do it before drugs?

I see the drug use issue a little differently. They are used as equalizers. The greats need none (or less) and the not so great need more. I ride in a Masters league and EPO and HGF are used even by the amateurs.

Its time to clean up cycling. Make testing retroactive, (rescinding previous medals/titles and banning for positive results).

Lets return cycling to the real riders, and not the doper users and pushers.

[stop the bleeding]

12. I agree

I am a CAT III and have raced several races with Pros, 1's, 2' and Masters and I have seen quite a bit.

Bottom line is nothing can take the place of hours/miles in the saddle, the riders who put in 15-20+++ hours per week are able to race/ride anywhere, any day, against almost anyone without any difficulties, and those who don't put in the time/miles - well they look for others ways to cope with the riggers/pain of the sport.

[Mika]

14. Burnout is always a problem

I've always envied the road riders who can push 30mph on century rides who ride only 3 days a week. Some are just naturals, some of us need to train & train & train &.. It can get tedious. This is one reason why the drugs are used. One needs to take a break every now and then, plus vary the routine. Adrenaline fatigue is common for riders who over train. I've tried to learn how my body's metabolism peaks and dips and use it to my advantage throughout the season. I've also switched to the blood type diet, which has helped tremendously.

-Eat Right 4 Your Type-
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/039914255X/qid=1151065832/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-2945794-5805419?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

[stop the bleeding]

15. very interesting

I have always believed that blood type diets are key to performance and to just good general health for the public thanks for the info.

[keith the dem]

17. Drugs in cycling have been a continuous problem

When Tom Simpson died on the climb to Mt. Ventoux in the 1967 TDF, he had amphetamines running through his system. Because of this cycling was the first sport to do drug testing. It has been a constant struggle between the testers and the tested to detect the drugs.

[alfredo]

18. You might have hit on why Lance was so successful. During his

fight with cancer he learned that he can cope with pain. Chemo compared to a 10k time trial may be no contest. He has alluded to the pain and how it compares.


I did a lot of time trials. On the days I was hurting or didn't feel that good, I did well. Maybe the endorphins were were in my system even before the start. I would ride at a manageable level of pain. I remember the mind game I would play and it was "I feel like shit anyway."

[keith the dem]

20. And Lance only rode to win one event per season

This is why I think Lance was clean,(at least after his cancer.) I don't think any human body is capable of competing successfully in more than one of these major stage races per year without chemical help. The physical and mental strain are too great.
I was very suspicious of Basso, who thought he could dominate the Giro and win the TDF. This was only possible in the old days, prior to effective drug testing.

The other thing with Lance is how driven and focused he was. He is not the kind of guy you would won't to have a beer with, but man was he fun to watch race his bike. Unfortunately, The very quality that made him such a great competitor makes it impossible for him to have an long lasting intimate relationship.

[northzax]

21. and the 20 pounds that Armstrong lost

in Chemo was also a big factor, that weight means a lot on a long climb. Not that he would trade that for not having cancer, I'm sure.

[keith the dem]

26. Not just the weight

If you had met Lance before the cancer, you would have met an absolutely egotistical head case with a very short fuse. I don't want to give particulars, but I was once at the receiving end of that short fuse.
To win a major stage race, you need more than ego. If he had not had the cancer he would have been tremendous at winning big one day races, but not the TDF... Ego goes great for one day but you need more for 21 days. Lance managed to channel that energy and anger to work for others beyond himself, his fellow cancer victims.
I'm a fan because I know no other person who has managed to transfer some loathsome personality traits into such a positive direction.

[northzax]

31. yes, good points

I had the honor to watch a stage of the first tour he won, and your point about the trials of life helping change him from an arrogant stage rider to a leader seems reasonable.

[alfredo]

22. The focus on the tour in a lot of ways was stacking the deck.

That has quite a bit to do with the US sponsors. They know the American audience is event driven. They pay little attention to sports until the big event like the Super Bowl and the World Series. All that mattered to the USPS was the tour, same goes for Discovery. If they win the tour, the rest of the season can be in the dumper. The American public doesn't care.

I am interested in seeing how Hincapie does now that he is out from under Lance. Will he lead? From what I have read, the manager is lowering expectations.

I feel bad for Ullrich, but it is his own damn fault. He's had to play second fiddle to Lance and now he's done for. His career has suffered a fatal blow. He'll be too old to win.
He's the Giancarlo Polidori of our times, the eternal second. Of course PoPo did race his final tour at the age of 40. (I think)

[LostinVA]

24. I agree with this n/t

[Mika]

8. Where is the cycling forum on DU?

Can you post a link to the cycling forum thread you mentioned?

Thanks.

[stop the bleeding]

9. here you go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=324

also this is a helpful DU page, you can access alot from here.. :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/

[Mika]

11. Thanks.

Cool. :thumbsup:

[Ezlivin]

13. Now we can watch Landis, Leipheimer and Julich!

I'm sad to see the ol' Diesel get snared in this. With Lance gone it could have been a battle between Ullrich and Basso.

Now we'll get to see what the Americans have in store!

[alfredo]

16. Let's see what Hincapie can do.

He was one of the keys to Lance's success. It would be nice to see him wear yellow in Paris. He is getting rather long of tooth (33) so this might be his last chance.

[LostinVA]

25. I agree!

[alfredo]

27. You know there isn't much climbing until

stage 15 though on stage 11 they will have Col du Tourmalet. in the Pyrenees. There will be sufficient time to rest up for the Alps.

I want more mountain stages.

The events of the day just might make a US rider a contender.

[Up2Late]

19. I bet this is why the European Press has been pushing so hard too...

...convince folks that Lance cheated.

Can you say Distraction? How about mis-direction?

[LostinVA]

23. Gosh, some posters was one here praising Ullrich the other day

in regards to the new "allegations" against Armstrong... about how pure he was, and a real cyclist. Isn't this the second time this has happened to him?

[USA_1]

28. Hope This Is Not A Dumb Question ...

... but I wonder if perhaps the UCI will now lower the performance standards in its Men's Elites events?

The Women's events don't go half as far as do the Men's Elites and it is no wonder why there is no doping scandal in them. It's time for a change as the standards, I feel, are too high at the moment and that this is why certain racers have sought an edge through doping. Let's have shorter races, lower inclines in climbing, more rest days, and fewer fan obstructions.

[WestMichRad]

30. Not a dumb question at all...

...but the UCI is part of the problem here. The races they set up are incredibly difficult, and it must be extremely hard on the riders to have to recover from one very long stage overnight, and then race in another marathon the very next day, and the next, and the next. The guys will often have to spend 6+ hours per day in the saddle for several days in a row. And the overall average speed of these races seems to keep inching up, so the riders aren't slacking off. It just isn't reasonable to expect that they will not look for ways to find an edge to help them in the recovery, at the very least.

Mind you, I'm not saying that the riders who cheat are okay with me, not at all. But the UCI needs to be more reasonable, or provide some allowances to help riders recover from what the race organizers are putting them through.

What did they do "before drugs"? What makes you think there was a "before drugs" period? Competitors have been looking for ways to gain an edge, like probably forever. It's just in the recent past that analytical chemistry techniques developed enough to be able to measure the use of enhancement substances.

It's a shame that this year's Tour is marred by this scandal, but I suppose it had to hit the fan sooner or later. Sure takes the luster off the greatest sporting event in the world.

Go Levi!!

[Critters2]

29. Interesting, but

Lance is riding RAGBRAI this year!!

[Biernuts]

32. That's one big party. My sister has a gas operated blender for

making drinks on RAGBRAI - she and her husband both ride in it. The blender is a converted weed-eater and works great!

[Critters2]

33. The most fun I've ever had

was riding RAGBRAI

I won't be there this year....but Lance will be !! How cool is that?!