posted Jul 5, 2008

It is impossible to say for absolute certain if X Rider is absolutely clean but call me ignorant if you will, but I do honestly believe that there are far more clean riders than doped riders. It would take forever to make a complete list.

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posted Jul 5, 2008

cycling has taken one of the toughest stances of all sports following drugs scandals - op puerto implicated cyclists and other sports - cycling suspended any one with a link to the clinic involved but a large number of othersremained competing - cycling had the guts to suspend or strip titles from past winners - other sports have taken no action.

More clean riders than cheats left - testing will help - punitive action following positive tests will also help - GK etc - maybe look at your own sport and ask the same........

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posted Jul 5, 2008

This is my least favorite time on 606. As TdF roll on we get all these idiots here commenting about something they have no F&$^ clue about. Go back to your CLEAN football or whatever your sport, we have no interest in your nonsense.

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posted Jul 5, 2008

Nuvolari1 -

It may have escaped your notice, but I made no comment whatsoever, but merely admitted my ignorance and asked politely for information.

Your rudeness is duly noted - you seem abnormally highly strung.

However I don't wish to be overly harsh, as you perhaps suffer from "mood swings, depression, and aggressive behavior"

Are you a "cyclist" yourself by any chance?

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posted Jul 6, 2008

TDF is taking the toughest stance off all and I applaud them.If a football player takes a dive or feigns an injury to put pressure on a referee is that considered gamesmanship?is he clean?
Cycling is making great steps forward unlike other sports

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posted Jul 6, 2008

Are you a "cyclist"
-------------------------------

** Yes.

They slog through wood and dale in the dreariest weather in the world wearing yellow jersies and rainbow tights. They've won more TDFs than anyone in history.

The short answer to your question is NO. There is no honour left in cycleville or, indeed, in all of athletics as PEDs have tainted everyone, even the mechanics one supposes.........

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posted Jul 7, 2008

the funniest thing i find about this post is someone innocently asks who he should take an interest in the TdF and all he gets back is abuse and ...

"GK etc - maybe look at your own sport and ask the same........"

was i reading the same post? GK I wasn't aware that you had mentioned any other sport?

GK, I think everyone is hoping that the riders will all be clean this year especially after last year's debacle. However, no guarantees. I would suggest just watching le Tour and marvel at the fact that these guys can cycle all day every day for 3 weeks and still manage to climb the Alps while travelling at speeds a car would battle doing ...

and no i don't mean anything by that comment other than what it says!

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posted Jul 8, 2008

The 'heros' of the sport have battled it out at the TdF for over a century. Those interested in the history of the event can read many dark accounts of the lengths riders went to to overcome the pain from many days in the saddle over exhausting terrain.

But it wasn't until the drug-related death of our own 'hero' Tom Simpson in the 1967 TdF that the sport's governing body did anything about what had been business as usual. Even then, the practice of drug abuse was destined to continue for another 40 years. Paul Kimmage's insider view 'Rough Ride' was repeatedly slammed by top riders, including some of our Irish cycling heros, as being a fanciful and inaccurate sour grapes.

So I now approach each TdF, indeed each of the major tours, with the same anticipation and excitment as I did as a schoolboy, but also with fear and expectation of another drug scandal. Still admiring the result of years of dedication and commitment, because they all have that, cheat or clean.

Knowing that until drug cheats are banned from any involvement (e.g. Riis and T-Mobile, Sinkewitz, Ullrich and Zabel) with the sport for life - we will continue to have our enjoyment tempered by disappointment.

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posted Jul 9, 2008

you are right about the old boys such as riis but no use being selective- this is not just telekom, cofidis, once, ferarri, festina, puerto, rasmussen, astana or a few belgians -

as well as riis ullrich was up against various peers over the years such as zulle, botero, pantani, dufaux, basso, aitor gonzaqles, mayo, virenque, simoni, rumsas, garzelli, frigo, vino, hamilton, and postal (with their staff of landis, heras, hamilton, boonen etc.) where frankie andreu is on public record saying he felt he had to take EPO to get in the tour team in 99, which, incidentally was the year armstrong tested positive for cortisoids on 4th july.
anyone who comes on here citing a few 'suspect' europeans and imagines landis, hamilton and heras, to name a few, started the dopage after leaving postal insults our intelligence.

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