I looked at the statistics over the riders who have been the leader at the summit (it hasn't been the finish line every time) on Col du Galibier since 2000 and I found something interesting. Here's the list:
2008: Stefan Schumacher (CERA in 2008)
2007: Mauricio Soler (For some reasons ASO pulled their disclosure back - but he did deliver a positive doping test in 2007)
2006: Michael Rasmussen (served a two-year ban in 2007)
2005: Alexandre Vinokourov (blood doping in 2007)
2003: Stefano Garzelli (two-year doping ban in 2002)
2002: Santiago Botero (Operación Puerto and was taken out of TDF in 2006 because of that)
2000: Pascal Hervé (EPO in 2001)
1999: José-Luis Arrieta
1998: Marco Pantani (Mr. 60%)
1993: Tony Rominger (accused of doping by David Millar)
You probably already know where I am going. But the previous 7 riders who have finished first on Galibier have been doped riders. I don't know if this is only a coincidence - but it shows very clearly that is almost impossible to be clean and win the 18. stage at the same time. What do you guys think of this.. Is is possible to finish first on Galibier without being doped?
2008: Stefan Schumacher (CERA in 2008)
2007: Mauricio Soler (For some reasons ASO pulled their disclosure back - but he did deliver a positive doping test in 2007)
2006: Michael Rasmussen (served a two-year ban in 2007)
2005: Alexandre Vinokourov (blood doping in 2007)
2003: Stefano Garzelli (two-year doping ban in 2002)
2002: Santiago Botero (Operación Puerto and was taken out of TDF in 2006 because of that)
2000: Pascal Hervé (EPO in 2001)
1999: José-Luis Arrieta
1998: Marco Pantani (Mr. 60%)
1993: Tony Rominger (accused of doping by David Millar)
You probably already know where I am going. But the previous 7 riders who have finished first on Galibier have been doped riders. I don't know if this is only a coincidence - but it shows very clearly that is almost impossible to be clean and win the 18. stage at the same time. What do you guys think of this.. Is is possible to finish first on Galibier without being doped?