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Doping fatigue, bravo Lance, bravo Tyler and bravo Mr. Expainer

Published: Oct. 20, 2008

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Go O'Grady
Editor,

Brave On, Stuart O'Grady!! What a cyclist. Bravo on the TT in the Sun Tour, Australia.
Nolan Winkler
Hillsboro, New Mexico

Go Lance

Go Lance! Man, you are under some serious scrutiny. I feel bad for you. I don't believe that you deserve it but you must have known it would be like this.

If anyone can shine and even excel in the face of all of this negativity it's you. Here's some more unsolicited advise for you: SCREW FRANCE! You've got that one tied up.

Astana can be a two-headed monster next year. Let Alberto and Levi come back and show them what they missed in '08. Here's an opportunity for you to go out there and spread your message all over the world. Literally. And while you are at it you can expose the world to the other great races
out there and fill out your palmares too!

Get Amstel Gold, the Giro, the Vuelta. Spread it out over the season. Be the grand patron of the
peloton that you seem reluctant to be. Nobody should question Lance's love of the sport either.

See the video of him riding a fixed gear through the streets of Austin with a gang of bike messengers. Also see the giant and ultra cool Mellow Johnny's that he just opened in Austin. The guy is a cyclist at his core. If you missed my point: I'm for him!
Bill Romano,
Dobbs Ferry, New York

Lifetime Ban
Editor,

I would like to know how many of us cycling fans are currently sitting back feeling satisfied that more drug cheats are exposed.

Don't get me wrong - I am exceedingly happy that these men who are going out of their way to cheat and rort the system are being caught (especially Mr 'mouth' Ricco - karma is a wonderful thing). But I am not satisfied.

I am not satisfied because there are still these morons who are cheating and doing so in a very deliberate and structured manner, micro-dosing and taking new drugs such as CERA with the belief that they can evade current testing standards. In addition to this we have the added bonus of known cheats trying to return to racing (yes Mr Vinokourov — you are one).

Well, I am fairly sure that I am not alone in saying that enough is enough.

Existing deterrents are not stopping the cheats. And let us call them that — cheats, because that is all that they are. Not cyclists, not racers, not professionals and most of all not sportsmen. Just plain,
simple, low life, lying cheats.

So all you rule makers at the UCI — make sure that they never, ever return to sully our sport. If it is not accidental (and let's be realistic — how do you accidentally test positive to CERA in your blood)
or if they do not offer information that leads to other cheats, suppliers et al, then they get a life ban.

You have offered them one deterrent that gave them a way back — the two-year ban and it hasn't worked. You gave them another option, the years salary penalty and that has not worked. You have introduced biological passports that are helping to catch them but in the end they still have a way back.

So stop offering. Our sport does not need them, it will flourish without them and will die if these cheats still a part of the system.

Ban them for life.
Peter Schmidt
Melbourne, Australia

No big surprise
Editor,

I thought Schumacher's miraculous transformation into a TT god was unbelievable at the time.

The guy (who bears an uncanny resemblance to Dr. Evil) has never been better than average at the TT. And now he smokes Fabian Cancellera? Even an average, recreational athlete knows that, physiologically speaking, you pretty much got what you got.

If he had a knack for TTing, it would have shown up before now in his career. It's a shame that the tests take three months, but Dr. Evil's positive just confirms what was obvious to people watching: with most racers riding clean, dopers stick out like a curly hair through lycra.
Daffyd Roderick,
Toronto, Ontario

In defense of Hamilton
Editor,

I am proud to say “Congratulations” to Tyler Hamilton on his well deserved U.S. Cycling Pro Road Race Championship.

However, individuals continue to voice their negative opinions about Tyler Hamilton and his championship. No matter how you look at this incredible achievement, Tyler’s comeback can only be called phenomenal.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions. That’s one great thing about living in the United States. The other is that individuals such as Tyler are given a second chance. Tyler could have taken the easy way out and retired, but he chose the Hors Category Alpe D’Huez route to seek his personal redemption in cycling.

For two years Tyler Hamilton rode his ass off climbing every mountain pass in Colorado with the hope of returning to the sport he has dedicated his life to. Cycling. The one sport we can honestly look at and feel proud of for taking the extreme measures to eliminate doping. Cycling is the only professional sport to institute and impose a mandatory athlete’s suspension of this magnitude. Baseball … Football … Please. Don’t even go there.

Michael Ball launched Rock Racing in 2008 amidst rider doping allegations and controversies surrounding his rider selections. Rock Racing partnered with Scott Analytics, Inc. to ensure the integrity of their team and reinforce their anti-doping position. Each Rock Racing rider participates in their Athlete Passport Program which consists of twelve blood and four urine sample tests per year, and additional drug testing is conducted by the UCI and USA Cycling at their respective events.

Knowing all of this, Michael still had the balls to sign Tyler Hamilton and give him a second chance with Rock Racing.

In April I watched Tyler as he was mobbed by hundreds of fans seeking his autograph or to have a picture taken with him at the Tour of Georgia. This was a daily occurrence. Apparently the cycling fans in Georgia had given him a second chance.

In July, Tyler won the Tour of Qinghai Lake in China. Twelve days later I watched Tyler compete at the Tour of Elk Grove in Illinois, and judging from the amount of applause Tyler received when he was introduced I would say he was overwhelmingly the fans' favorite.

On August 30 Tyler was outnumbered four to one by the Garmin/Chipotle Argyle Army, but through sheer determination he held his ground. On the podium, Tyler removed the 800 pound gorilla that he had been carrying on his back for three years and replaced it with the highly coveted stars and stripes national championship jersey.

Congratulations Tyler! You deserve it!

Tyler’s reemergence as one of America’s elite cyclists was not the byproduct of blood doping or performance enhancing drugs but the result of spending countless hours in the saddle.

Once again, “Congratulations” Tyler! I can’t wait to see you ride next year. Rock On!
Lonnie Tucker,
Saint Charles, Missouri

Doping fatigue
Editor,

First of all, I am exhausted of hearing about the doping. I thought there was some sort of code that said the media could not have the names of people accused until a certain time. Obviously, that has been thrown out the window! It seems like all we hear about in the off-season is doping, Puerto, and other crap. More mountain biking and cyclocross please … actual racing.

As for Armstrong, at least the sport will be getting some renewed attention. Cancer awareness will be raised throughout the world. This is simply my thought, but I think the ASO, Mr. Pound, and the current UCI administration are just jealous that someone has such complete focus. Whether or not 1999 samples are positive, it is 2008 and let’s move forward and get off his back. (Even though I would like to see an eighth tour, working for Levi or Contador would be quite honorable.)

Finally, let’s hear it for Levi. How about the most selfless and egoless rider in the peloton. He is a work horse and is simply happy to be racing. Do you ever hear that guy complain? He didn’t defend his USA Championship jersey so that his teammate might have the fastest triple crown ever.
W. Andrew Corbin,
High Point, North Carolina

Bravo, Mr. Explainer Guy
re: The Explainer

Editor,

Brilliant and thank you from the masses. This is a welcome addition to VeloNews.
Steve Rempel
Los Altos, California

Editor's Note: Look for the Explainer each Wednesday. And if you have a question related to the sport of cycling that our editors might be able to answer, feel free to send your query to WebLetters@CompetitorGroup.com and we'll take a stab at answering. Not all letters will be published and some questions may be combined with those of other readers. Please include your full name and hometown.