The Tour de France begins Saturday

Vino nailed for blood doping.
http://cbs.sportsline.com/cycling/story/10267190

What an idiot. Crap like this makes me really mad at times.

 

Like David Millar, I'm speechless. I think he actually kind of nailed it, saying,

"With a guy of his stature and class, in cycling's current situation, we might as well pack our bags and go home."

It really takes all the fun out of rooting for anyone, because you see them come back and do something spectacular, only to have it be completely tainted. Floyd Landis' miracle comeback has been dragged through the mud for the past year, into this year's tour, and the whole process is starting again. I had a feeling Rasmussen might test positive after his magnificent time trial. The action is still there, and happening. There are people falling off the back of the peloton, sprinting at the end, and making solo breaks up Hors Categorie climbs. But it's not worth investing your fan's heart into anymore.

 

Did Vinokourov know about that before he won yesterday's stage?

 

Exactly Martin. I've watched the Tour for years, but after the Landis debacle last year, I haven't watched this year. Vino confirmed I made the right choice.

 

This is just horrible news.

 

Just thought I'd post a link to reactions throughout the sport. One of the better ones is Cofidis' team manager, Eric Boyer.

"He always told us what a brave guy he is, that he is stronger than the pain, that the French ride behind everyone else because they are lazier. Now we see that he is a big bastard."

But Jonathan Vaughters, one of the good guys in the sport, basically said this is what's going to happen as the sport transforms from dirty to clean. There will be ugly moments, but hopefully in the future, far fewer. To me, this is like the equivalent of a pitcher testing positive after a shutout in the World Series, and I wonder if and when moments like these will happen to baseball or football.
Certainly Palmeiro, but there's still a ton of shadowy behavior with drug testing and baseball...it kind of leaks out. This just dropped like it fell from the Enola Gay.

 

I still love the sport. I just am very dissilusioned by the 'pros' at its top level. Too many years of doping left the top teir tainted.

It'll kill sponsorships at the top, but will also hurt the small local stuff I am involved with. Some businesses just don't want to be involved with a sport that, like it or not, appears to be full of cheaters and frauds.

That said, I'm going to try and put in 30-40 pissed off miles tomorrow and push myself hard. I have a 50-mile road race on Saturday and a few others later in the summer - I suck, but I really enjoy the races. But at times like this, I think just doing to the rec-rider centuries and shoot for personal time marks and records might be the best way for me to enjoy the sport.

 

And here I was going to complain about paying the local bike shop 12 fucking dollars and 84 goddamned cents to adjust my front derailleur. This won't be good for the sport, business or anyone.

You've got the right idea, Ides. Now help me crack 20 mph for the next 112.

 

Yeah, I still love the sport, as a participant and fan of the developmental race levels...like U23 and things like that. I wonder if what Lance did to boost the sport, the sport's ingrained doping will take it right back down.

But for the moment, let's leave that all out. Good luck on your race on Saturday, Idaho.

And for the love of God, let someone take over the Tour lead and pull it into Paris without another bomb dropping.

 

Get your butt out here on August 11. There's a big century ride that is now 111 miles thanks to a course change. This year, they're doing a bragging-rights -- i.e. no prizes, trophies or cash -- team time trial. Teams of 3-6 cyclists take off at 7 a.m. and the clock stops when the last team member cross the line.

It's a nice flat course and I think with five guys in a nice rotation breaking the wind a 20 mph average should be easy. I'm trying to talk my buddy that did CdA with you to being on my club's team. They'll allow tri/aero bars since it's not an official USCF race.

 

I'd be cool with Contador taking over and Rasmussen -- who will soon be implicated in doping, IMO, because of his missed tests -- can fade out tomorrow and in the time trial.

And how stoopid is Vino for using another dude's blood? Doping with your own old blood is dumb, using another man's blood smacks of desperation and total disregard for the sport, his teammates and his competitors -- especially after everyone signed that pre-race pledge. He was just looking for a little personal glory in his last Tour. Jackhole.

 

Awesome quote.

Is there any chance Vino's wreck resulted in him getting a legit blood transfusion which tripped the test?