- Mar 11, 2010
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Interview with anti-doping scientist Carsten Lundby, Proffessor, Institute of Physiology, Zürich
TV-interview conducted by Stéphanie Surrugue at La Planche des Belles Filles, 14th of July, 2014. Transcript from TV2, translated from Danish, slightly abridged.
Q: This spring, we saw teams like Astana, Tinkoff-Saxo, Cannondale, and Sky doing altitude training at the Teide volcan on Tenerife. Why are they all going there in the spring?
A: They're probably assuming it's beneficial for their form. But the scientific evidence isn't very strong. I'd say, it's unlikely that such altitude training will improve their performances at sea level. There could be a positive effect though, if you're going to perform at altitude, for instance where we are now.
Q: Why would teams working at this proffessional level go there if there isn't any effect besides placebo... and possibly the effect of being at a nice vacation resort?
A: We can't exclude the importance of the good climate, good cycling facilities, nice roads, and so on. But, like Froome says, it's difficult to test riders when they're a long way from home. It's very expensive etc. Possibly, the riders prefers [Tenerife] to avoid visits from anti-doping authorities.
Q: That's what Chris Froome mentioned in a couple of tweets at the end of May, early June. We have a couple of his tweets here. He noticed that three Tour favourites, Nibali, Contador, and Froome, were doing altitude training without any visits from anti-doping authorities. How does it affect the Biopassport, doing altitude training without being tested there?
A: Altitude training affects the biopassport because some of the important blood values rise while you're at altitude. Just like when someone is using EPO, for instance. But UCI acknowledes that it's difficult to discern the two, so therefore they mostly ignore the results. That's another reason for not testing at Tenerife: They know they'll have to discard the tests anyway.
Q: Cycling is cleaner, says everyone. Now, going into the rest day... if we go back to the 90's, then a lot of riders were busy handling blood bags. Do you think cycling is cleaner, like riders and sports directors are saying?
A: I'm sure the anti-doping work has limited the use of EPO, but the performances of the riders hasn't diminished. It's a bit strange that today's riders are producing the same amount of watts as Lance Armstrong. And we know that blood doping or EPO increases the performances significantly.
Q: Chris Froome, for instance, has been asked this question. He mentions improved training...
A (Interrupting): Nonsense! There's no gain there. I don't buy it.
Q: So it's not the training, and it's not the nutrition?
A: And it's not the bikes, no! They're still producing as many watts as always.
Q: And you have no scientific evidence why they're producing as many watts as Armstrong? But you're suspecting something?
A: I can't say. I think it seems strange. That's what I can say.
Q: And you're studying it?
A: Yes.
Q: You're doing that with Team Danmark at the University of Zürich. We're following your work and looking forward to hear more from you as your work progresses. You're questioning what everyone else is claiming: That the Tour has become cleaner. We'll see. Thanks for joining us.
A: My pleasure.
TV-interview conducted by Stéphanie Surrugue at La Planche des Belles Filles, 14th of July, 2014. Transcript from TV2, translated from Danish, slightly abridged.
Q: This spring, we saw teams like Astana, Tinkoff-Saxo, Cannondale, and Sky doing altitude training at the Teide volcan on Tenerife. Why are they all going there in the spring?
A: They're probably assuming it's beneficial for their form. But the scientific evidence isn't very strong. I'd say, it's unlikely that such altitude training will improve their performances at sea level. There could be a positive effect though, if you're going to perform at altitude, for instance where we are now.
Q: Why would teams working at this proffessional level go there if there isn't any effect besides placebo... and possibly the effect of being at a nice vacation resort?
A: We can't exclude the importance of the good climate, good cycling facilities, nice roads, and so on. But, like Froome says, it's difficult to test riders when they're a long way from home. It's very expensive etc. Possibly, the riders prefers [Tenerife] to avoid visits from anti-doping authorities.
Q: That's what Chris Froome mentioned in a couple of tweets at the end of May, early June. We have a couple of his tweets here. He noticed that three Tour favourites, Nibali, Contador, and Froome, were doing altitude training without any visits from anti-doping authorities. How does it affect the Biopassport, doing altitude training without being tested there?
A: Altitude training affects the biopassport because some of the important blood values rise while you're at altitude. Just like when someone is using EPO, for instance. But UCI acknowledes that it's difficult to discern the two, so therefore they mostly ignore the results. That's another reason for not testing at Tenerife: They know they'll have to discard the tests anyway.
Q: Cycling is cleaner, says everyone. Now, going into the rest day... if we go back to the 90's, then a lot of riders were busy handling blood bags. Do you think cycling is cleaner, like riders and sports directors are saying?
A: I'm sure the anti-doping work has limited the use of EPO, but the performances of the riders hasn't diminished. It's a bit strange that today's riders are producing the same amount of watts as Lance Armstrong. And we know that blood doping or EPO increases the performances significantly.
Q: Chris Froome, for instance, has been asked this question. He mentions improved training...
A (Interrupting): Nonsense! There's no gain there. I don't buy it.
Q: So it's not the training, and it's not the nutrition?
A: And it's not the bikes, no! They're still producing as many watts as always.
Q: And you have no scientific evidence why they're producing as many watts as Armstrong? But you're suspecting something?
A: I can't say. I think it seems strange. That's what I can say.
Q: And you're studying it?
A: Yes.
Q: You're doing that with Team Danmark at the University of Zürich. We're following your work and looking forward to hear more from you as your work progresses. You're questioning what everyone else is claiming: That the Tour has become cleaner. We'll see. Thanks for joining us.
A: My pleasure.
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