New Lance positives in 2004 and 2005

[DirtyWorks]

If I were the Cycling outlets, this would be my top story. UCI threatens media! UCI warns of consequences! etc.

That should make a lot of people notice how low the UCI has sunk.

An outlet like CN has to walk a fine line. Most outlets whose business is competitive cycling media have to do the same. If they don't, then the UCI pulls their World Championships press credentials or something like it depending on the time of year.

 

[MarkvW]

If I were the Cycling outlets, this would be my top story. UCI threatens media! UCI warns of consequences! etc.

That should make a lot of people notice how low the UCI has sunk.

If such a story is true, you can be sure there will be reports of it (beyond the one nyvelocity report). Good stories still take time to write.

 

[lean mean &green]

Blood samples for longitudinal scores vs. urine samples for presence tests. Correct?

To improve my own knowledge, are blood samples stored as a general policy excluding Wonderboy for eight years or is that just urine samples?

I doubt blood samples are often stored for long periods of time as policy because the logistics and the expense is high. Urine samples are much easier to store and retro test. EPO is a urine test so it makes sense that some posters are latching onto that idea. The CN article I read, implies that tests were done on blood samples so who knows if that's accurate or a proper translation?

 

[MarkvW]

I doubt blood samples are often stored for long periods of time as policy because the logistics and the expense is high. Urine samples are much easier to store and retro test. EPO is a urine test so it makes sense that some posters are latching onto that idea. The CN article I read, implies that tests were done on blood samples so who knows if that's accurate or a proper translation?

Velonation was much more cautious with this story. They only reported "samples," not "blood samples."

 

[Cavalier]

UCI threatening lawsuits about cover-up stories? Funny that, I'm meeting with someone next week to discuss that very thing, and it's pretty much exactly that I'll be publishing. Bit bizarre. I'll look forward to Fat Pat's correspondence, Landis-style.

 

[Racelap]

it could be cera in 2003 i think or it could be some of its heralds used in the peloton. because only very very little scraps of information always reach us whereas cera modifications could appear every year since say 2005 at least. that is very agile market. sadly, as always cheat's technology is way ahead of prosecutor's one. it's vicious circle and, to my great regret, the reason why doping is invincible.

hehe, indeed that was a famous story about the stage via Col de Schluht. i find this a miracle that Lance himself wasn't dropped on that day!

What about Aranesp? It's worth pointing out that the company that makes Aranesp is also the flagship sponsor of the Tour of California.

 

[Velodude]

What about Aranesp? It's worth pointing out that the company that makes Aranesp is also the flagship sponsor of the Tour of California.

From memory, there was a legal skirmish in the US several years ago where Amgen took action to block the FDA approval and sale of the Swiss Roche product Mircera (CERA) in US for patent infringements as it was near the same as their product, Aransep.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

The more I think about this, the more I believe it is reports like this latest one out of France with USADA having positive test that is going to ultimately be the bane of Armstrong and his downfall. It's going to slowly slice away at him, and because he chose not to go to arbitration, he'll have no recourse other than to make the same "witch hunt" statement over and over. USADA will be able to release almost whatever they want, and effectively label him a drug user, a liar and cheater at every step.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think it will be this big celebration by all us "haters". That day won't exist. And as long as he denies it there will always be about 10% of the people who believe him, some quite vocally. But even after the evidence is all released the saga won't be over. That is the story angle that will slowly be combed over, re-reported, re-referenced, over and over. Reports, articles, interviews, books, lawsuits, etc. And he's not going to be able to constantly escape it. It will be a death by a thousand cuts.

 

[BroDeal]

The more I think about this, the more I believe it is reports like this latest one out of France with USADA having positive test that is going to ultimately be the bane of Armstrong and his downfall. It's going to slowly slice away at him, and because he chose not to go to arbitration, he'll have no recourse other than to make the same "witch hunt" statement over and over. USADA will be able to release almost whatever they want, and effectively label him a drug user, a liar and cheater at every step.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think it will be this big celebration by all us "haters". That day won't exist. And as long as he denies it there will always be about 10% of the people who believe him, some quite vocally. But even after the evidence is all released the saga won't be over. That is the story angle that will slowly be combed over, re-reported, re-referenced, over and over. Reports, articles, interviews, books, lawsuits, etc. And he's not going to be able to constantly escape it. It will be a death by a thousand cuts.

That is the irony with Armstrong saying he is tired of this and quitting. His ego prevents him from giving any ground, even an Ullrich-like "one plus one" statement, so it will always be a story. As long as he denies, it will follow him. As the years go by, he will lose more and more supporters. He will look less and less credible. At some point he will become a popular joke, like O.J. searching for the real killers while golfing.

 

[Oldman]

That is the irony with Armstrong saying he is tired of this and quitting. His ego prevents him from giving any ground, even an Ullrich-like "one plus one" statement, so it will always be a story. As long as he denies, it will follow him. As the years go by, he will lose more and more supporters. He will look less and less credible. At some point he will become a popular joke, like O.J. searching for the real killers while golfing.

How well does Lance golf? He can't participate in any other sanctioned sport...not even bowling.

 

[MarkvW]

Lance will have a harder and harder time getting pet reporters to pitch his narrative. Even Sally Jenkins will have her "aha moment story," when she tells how she "was . . . so deceived . . . for so long." In not so much time, Lance will only allow interviews by Livestrong employees and house pets such as Phil Liggett.

And every day during Lance's slow media crucifixion, Lance will ask "When will this agony end?" And sooner or later it will come to him. Gradually, at first, but with increasing emotional power: "The Truth Will Set You Free." Then Lance will know what he has to do . . ..

And make no mistake about it. Lance's inexorable passage to the Truth will not be impelled by reason or faith or any ethical imperative. Lance is probably a sociopath, so those things won't work on him anyway. What will work on Lance is the most compelling force known to man: The hackneyed sports story of Rise, Fall, and Redemption. Lance cannot avoid redemption. It is his destiny.

Make no mistake. Redemption is inevitable. Oprah is inevitable.

 

[yakhillclimb]

The more I think about this, the more I believe it is reports like this latest one out of France with USADA having positive test that is going to ultimately be the bane of Armstrong and his downfall. It's going to slowly slice away at him, and because he chose not to go to arbitration, he'll have no recourse other than to make the same "witch hunt" statement over and over. USADA will be able to release almost whatever they want, and effectively label him a drug user, a liar and cheater at every step.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think it will be this big celebration by all us "haters". That day won't exist. And as long as he denies it there will always be about 10% of the people who believe him, some quite vocally. But even after the evidence is all released the saga won't be over. That is the story angle that will slowly be combed over, re-reported, re-referenced, over and over. Reports, articles, interviews, books, lawsuits, etc. And he's not going to be able to constantly escape it. It will be a death by a thousand cuts.

Well said. +1

 

[sittingbison]

...Gradually, at first, but with increasing emotional power: "The Truth Will Set You Free." Then Lance will know what he has to do . . .....What will work on Lance is the most compelling force known to man: The hackneyed sports story of Rise, Fall, and Redemption. Lance cannot avoid redemption. It is his destiny. Make no mistake. Redemption is inevitable. Oprah is inevitable.

sorry Mark, I completely disagree re: Redemption/Armstrong.

Armstrong is a sociopath. He is incapable of redemption, because he is incapable of guilt. He can NEVER admit his guilt.

 

[Adamastor]

France2 Report

I see/read a lot of excitement in this thread around that famous France 2 report. I must admit, I watched it twice, and to me it looks much much less damning towards Armstrong than their reports, say, 7 years ago, after Walsh, police, etc investigations. They emit opinions, predictions on what USADA might/will have, but no proven facts. While on the hand the report sounds negative towards Armstrong, it also is manna for his PR, "see? it's all hearsay, hypothesis, frustrated testimonies,..." The public, who do not know the details, might think the same.

About the retested samples, in what degree is it possible that France2 is simply interpreting the contents of USADA's charging letter?

I find it weird, they would mention this in only one sentence, when actually it was considered as "the revelation of the year" here...

Maybe I'm missing something here, but feel free to contradict me.

 

[ToreBear]

An outlet like CN has to walk a fine line. Most outlets whose business is competitive cycling media have to do the same. If they don't, then the UCI pulls their World Championships press credentials or something like it depending on the time of year.

Yes I know, but I hope that other outlets show solidarity. It could be them next time. And in the end cycling relies on sponsors, and sponsors need coverage. I think it would cost non specialist outlets less to follow up on such a coverage "strike", so they should have an even bigger interest in protecting their journalistic integrity. Stories of UCI pressuring the media would also be news outside of specialist outlets.

If such a story is true, you can be sure there will be reports of it (beyond the one nyvelocity report). Good stories still take time to write.

I hope you are right, and It should be a big story if true.