airstream
BANNED
- Mar 29, 2011
- 5,122
- 0
- 0
86TDFWinner said:I wouldn't go so far as to say everyone in 08 doped w/o proof. I would say however, that if Cadel did indeed dope in 08 as you claim, then how do we know he's clean now? If he did dope, then shouldn't he be held to the same standards as everyone else & have his tdf title stripped if thats the case?
No doubt. I've just forgotten to add '2008 included'. At least one would like to hope that since 2009 doping among elite GT riders became selective. Before it was mass.
I just don't see how absolutely clean rider can beat a doper whereas their level is just comparable. Doping gives too much. So everyone must bluff in order not to turn up behind. Obviously, some riders clearly tried to ride clean. Say, Kohl in the 2007 Tour. It is well-known people like to attribute all his merits to doping, but Kohl never was weak and clearly had enough class to finish in top 10-15 in a level playing field. However, he horribly failed. IMO Alex Valverde rode that Tour without heavy doping as well. Cunego in the 2008 Tour is one more example. Everyone realizes its negligibility without PEDs and inevitably goes back to doping practice. It is a vicious circle — no way out.
Surely we have no direct proof. But in this situations it is ok to believe numbers. 41 '40 at a 105 k stage on Alpe-d'Huez is a very good sign.