God dammit Euskatel

[gregod]

...


http://www.diariovasco.com/20090910/deportes/ciclismo/dano-hecho-familia-irreparable-20090910.html

...I love their support for their rider and their courage.

+1

Me too. I don't know why, but it bothers me when a team immediately vilifies their own rider. It seems a little disloyal. I understand all of the counter arguments to this, but that is my feeling.

Also, thanks for the translation.

 

[Epicycle]

I'm pretty sure the Euskaltel management would not be sure if he is innocent but they would definitely know if he is guilty.

 

[gregod]

I'm pretty sure the Euskaltel management would not be sure if he is innocent but they would definitely know if he is guilty.

I think you are right. In spite of Iban Mayo, et al, Euskaltel always gave me the impression that they were a relatively clean team. They suck at sprints and time trials and don't win the big races too often. Who knows?

 

[Epicycle]

I think you are right. In spite of Iban Mayo, Euskaltel always gave me the impression that they were a relatively clean team. They suck at sprints and time trials and don't win the big races too often. Who knows?

How many doping incidents have Euskaltel had in the last 5 years? Astarloza, Landaluze twice, Pena, Gorka Gonzalez. Were there more? They had to get rid of a doctor because he got revealed as a doping source. Mayo had a few run ins before he tested positive at Saunier Duval.

 

[cromagnon]

Why was he allowed to ride the Tour if he failed a test, bad admin or highly suspicious?

Who came second that day?

 

[Kerbdog]

Why was he allowed to ride the Tour if he failed a test, bad admin or highly suspicious?

Who came second that day?

I think Sandy Casar came second. The test result didnt come out till after the Tour so it either as i said didnt arrive till the Tour was finito. Or as the UCI haters will shove down your throat claim that they knew about it all along & hid it till after the Tour. We wont know either way.

 

[Dude17]

I think Sandy Casar came second. The test result didnt come out till after the Tour so it either as i said didnt arrive till the Tour was finito. Or as the UCI haters will shove down your throat claim that they knew about it all along & hid it till after the Tour. We wont know either way.

All the stuff I've read says basically, the labs are several months behind on testing samples as they aren't just testing for cycling.

 

[pedaling squares]

eh?


ignore this

Sorry, I should learn to read!

In that case, I don't like the team's actions. Both samples failed to make grade, ditch the contract and send a message that you don't support doping.

 

[Jonathan]

Sorry, I should learn to read!

In that case, I don't like the team's actions. Both samples failed to make grade, ditch the contract and send a message that you don't support doping.

But should they send such a message when, in fact, they do support doping?

 

[Señor_Contador]

Samuel Sánchez is racing with Euskaltel because in his youth he rode in the Basque country. Somehow he came into contact with Maradiga (manager of Euskaltel) and that was the beginning of a long relationship and so he ended up as an Euskaltelrider. The fact that he can earn twice as much money elsewhere but still stays with Euskaltel because of the special relationship between him and the team says enough. There is only one team for which he will leave Euskaltel I think, and that is for the new team of Alonso (if that will ever be reality) because he is a friend of Alonso.
This is, as you see, for sure an exception and generally only Basque riders are allowed in Euskaltel and that policy will never change.

You said: Only Basques were, are and will ever be allowed on the team so I don't have a clue why you said this. I was merely trying to point out to you that, for whatever reason, Euskaltel-Euskadi does have non-Basque rider(s). You can call them "exceptions" if that tickles your pickle.

That's all.

 

[the truth.]

Euskaltel-Euskadi is in danger. Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes’ doping ring destroyed two other two Spanish-based (Liberty Seguros and Kelme) in 2006. So you would think the team management would have fired him on the spot and apologised for bringing cycle sport into disrepute. Nope! Team officials are sticking by Astarloza’s declarations of innocence and are waiting for the results of the follow-up B-samples before action is taken. Mikel Astarloza is still on the pay roll. It is this singular action that will remove the funding from cycling. The sport will been seen as a dangerous investment. Cycling slowly killing itself if nothing is done to promote clean sport and get rid of the dopers.
The actual pro-tour team is a management company and riders. Euskaltel-Euskadi are the sponsors who back the management and have nothing to do with the running and decisions within the team. The Euskaltel funded management are unrepentant supporters of doping in cycling. The Euskaltel-Euskadi communication company, who pay the wages, will eventually get fed up with the disparaging headlines and pull out. Mikel Astarloza and Iñigo Landaluze will be to blame.

 

[blackcat]

but are they unique? I do not think they are unique. The Spaniards and Kazakhs make for easy scapegoats. And now Katusha. They do not have the political power to suppress it. They get hit.

This is not denying the culture, but I do not think it is so egregious, just the degree and extent is a little amplified. You cant pick off a Kazakh or a Katusha rider, and let the status quo stand.

I was told that Rasmussen was gonna be pulled down, about 10 days before the 2007 Tour. How the heck is that? Why the co-ordinated witch hunt by the media and the UCI/ASO. Rasmussen deserved to win if they are playing by those rules. I want the doping out, but do not want to see one or two riders pulled down, for the sake of the status of the UCI and peloton to ignore the problem. There cannot be teams professing to be clean, and saying we can achieve these results, when the same culture is still endemic. There needs to be honesty and transparency, and a truth and reconciliation. The sport would be richer for it.

 

[pedaling squares]

But should they send such a message when, in fact, they do support doping?

And therein lies the rub. The teams may play a supportive or even active role in the doping, knowing that any punishment is likely to be borne by the rider alone. Exception being Astana's TDF exclusion following numerous scandals. I guess my response was based on what I would like to see happen, based of course on an unrealistic perfect world scenario.

 

[Arnout]

Euskaltel-Euskadi is in danger. Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes’ doping ring destroyed two other two Spanish-based (Liberty Seguros and Kelme) in 2006. So you would think the team management would have fired him on the spot and apologised for bringing cycle sport into disrepute. Nope! Team officials are sticking by Astarloza’s declarations of innocence and are waiting for the results of the follow-up B-samples before action is taken. Mikel Astarloza is still on the pay roll. It is this singular action that will remove the funding from cycling. The sport will been seen as a dangerous investment. Cycling slowly killing itself if nothing is done to promote clean sport and get rid of the dopers.
The actual pro-tour team is a management company and riders. Euskaltel-Euskadi are the sponsors who back the management and have nothing to do with the running and decisions within the team. The Euskaltel funded management are unrepentant supporters of doping in cycling. The Euskaltel-Euskadi communication company, who pay the wages, will eventually get fed up with the disparaging headlines and pull out. Mikel Astarloza and Iñigo Landaluze will be to blame.

The sponsors fully agree with how the team supports Astarloza, that won't be the problem. I see a bigger problem in not getting invited for races next year.

And what you're saying is that Euskaltel is backing doped riders. In your opinion they do, but in their opinion Astarloza didn't dope so they have the right to defend him. And I like that, whether or not he actually used doping. I mean, they have an opinion on it and what they do is the best you can do in your life. Follow that opinion and do not think about consequences, about being politically correct and about acting hypocritical to survive. I like the way they are treating Astarloza as a human even after his positive tests and how they don't let him fall like a stone after a test. I think that is a more normal reaction than most of the other teams are behaving after a positive test, by saying "we don't know anything of it, go out you stupid cyclist!"

Some more point concerning "the system".
- I wonder why a test before the Tour is only being processed in the lab after the Tour. I don't think that is the best way to prevent doped riders from riding the Tour.
- The second positive test leaked into the media days before Astarloza came to know officially of it. That's a total lack of respect towards the rider.
- Astarloza was tested four times during the Tour. All the tests were negative.

 

[Jonathan]

I like the way they are treating Astarloza as a human even after his positive tests and how they don't let him fall like a stone after a test. I think that is a more normal reaction than most of the other teams are behaving after a positive test, by saying "we don't know anything of it, go out you stupid cyclist!"

Another typical reaction we've seen from teams is to hide behind the regulations, something like "We don't know if he doped or not but we signed a charter forcing us to suspend him, so that's what we have to do!", usually followed by some statement that they are really, really against doping. In fact, few teams truly express disappointment when the realization comes that they were working together with someone who was breaking the rules.

 

[Johnny Colnago]

To the OP, we Basque stick together.
DEAL WITH IT!

 

[Señor_Contador]

The guy got busted. Period.

He should leave the sport.

No press conference, nothing.

Leave please.

Quietly.

 

[krebs303]

He didn't dope he was training

Astarloza blames positive on training session

According to Deia, that defence is being organised by ex-pro and now lawyer José Rodríguez, who believes that Astarloza's problems stem from a session on his home trainer in a hyperbaric tent immediately prior to undergoing a random test on June 26. Hyperbaric tents are designed to replicate the effects of riding at altitude, thereby stimulating the natural production of red blood cells and boosting the haematocrit level.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astarloza-blames-positive-on-training-session-horrillo-back-on-bike

But does it produce EPO?

 

[Señor_Contador]

He didn't dope he was training

Astarloza blames positive on training session

According to Deia, that defence is being organised by ex-pro and now lawyer José Rodríguez, who believes that Astarloza's problems stem from a session on his home trainer in a hyperbaric tent immediately prior to undergoing a random test on June 26. Hyperbaric tents are designed to replicate the effects of riding at altitude, thereby stimulating the natural production of red blood cells and boosting the haematocrit level.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astarloza-blames-positive-on-training-session-horrillo-back-on-bike

But does it produce EPO?

Nope.

Guy needs a better lawyer 'cause that ain't gonna fly with the judge.

 

[issoisso]

Ranks right up there with Rumsas' "The EPO is for my mother in law. She's too hairy" defence.

Ridiculous. What he says has NOTHING to do with exogenous EPO being found in his blood and urine. Basically he's arguing the chewbacca defense.

 

[Anonymous]

Ranks right up there with Rumsas' "The EPO is for my mother in law. She's too hairy" defence.

Ridiculous. What he says has NOTHING to do with exogenous EPO being found in his blood and urine. Basically he's arguing the chewbacca defense.

.."If Chewbacca lives on Endor, you must acquit!"

 

[Escarabajo]

....
- Astarloza was tested four times during the Tour. All the tests were negative.

That bears no relation with his positive test. EPO traces could be gone by then.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Did anyone here see his press conference? That was the most absurd event I've ever seen in my life. It started with him telling everyone that he had never seen EPO or even heard about it in his life and yada, yada, yada.

At the end, in a very bizarre manner, the event turned into one of the most pathetic pseudo-communist/nationalist episodes I've ever seen in my life. Fists up in the air and all.

I mean, the reason Astarloza is enraged with the entire situation has as much to do with the positive result as the fact that the tests were done in a Madrid laboratory. So, in the end, the press conference turned out to be a carefully planned public display of disgust for performance enhancing drugs and, being that he is Basque, to announce that he was being "set up" by someone and that he was going to spend the last ounce of pride in his body trying to find that person, or persons, that set him up.

Needless to say that Euskaltel-Euskadi is a team created for and by Basques. Due to lack of good results they eventually had to "lower the bar" and bring in talent from the rest of Spain. But this is obviously not working, so I presume they went the usual, easy, route of doping.

Astraloza is quite the comedian. Euskatel are a farce and we are meant to believe his cow shyte. I think i can say i've heard it all!