Pro Cyclist Mortality Rates

[fmk_RoI]

A good Tour takes a year off your life? Not any more it doesn't. It may actually add a couple of years. http://www.escardio.org/congresses/esc-2013/congress-reports/Pages/709-Tr-de-France.aspx

 

[Ferminal]

Probably says more about their lifestyle than the actual effect of riding a GT.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Probably says more about their lifestyle than the actual effect of riding a GT.

The authors don't actually conclude that the Tour adds longevity, just note that the French Tour riders have generally lived six years longer than the general population. But come on, admit it, the old saw that the Tour takes a year off life expectancy does seem to be challenged by this.

What is particularly interesting, though, is comparing these findings with those normally cited, from De Mondenard, which say that mortality rates are higher among Tour riders and that this was proof that the peloton was doping like billy-o.

 

[Zorotheslacker]

So an outsider might see cycling like this
-It is assumed all Tour cyclists dope
-They live longer

Why is doping any different than any other cheating?

 

[IndianCyclist]

I think pro cyclists live longer because the VO2max is higher and resting heart rates are lower leading to lower heart attacks and other old age related problems.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

LOL.
Another myth busted.
We had this discussion 2009 (AFIR) in the clinic. I guessed that pro riders live longer. Nobody believed.

So after all am not surprised. The average person smokes, drinks and does other risks, while a pro athlete rather lives heahlty (besides doping).

 

[Briant_Gumble]

I'm British but I think France might have the least doped cyclists in the world which might add to their longevity.

The results of the EPO generation are heavily obscured by the 1947-2012 timeframe. If EPO came in, in 1991 that really gives them 10 years to die which for guys on average probably in their mid 20's would be a very early death indeed.

The only conclusion I'm drawing from this is that cycling is good for your health.

 

[fmk_RoI]

LOL.
Another myth busted.
We had this discussion 2009 (AFIR) in the clinic. I guessed that pro riders live longer. Nobody believed.

So after all am not surprised. The average person smokes, drinks and does other risks, while a pro athlete rather lives heahlty (besides doping).

I do think De Mondenard's 1990s study gave life to the lie that Tour vets die early. A big EU report from abt 2008 quoted it as showing that ""even though the link with doping has not been established, it is known that the life expectancy of those who have taken part in the Tour de France is lower than average."

Plus, of course, we've got the litany of names: Fausto Coppi (dead at 40), Gastone Nencini (dead at 49), Hugo Koblet (dead at 39), Tom Simpson (dead at 29), Roger Rivière (dead at 40), Louison Bobet (dead at 58), Jacques Anquetil (dead at 53), Luis Ocaña (dead at 48), Marco Pantani (dead at 34), and Laurent Fignon (dead at 50).

 

[fmk_RoI]

I'm British but I think France might have the least doped cyclists in the world which might add to their longevity.

The results of the EPO generation are heavily obscured by the 1947-2012 timeframe. If EPO came in, in 1991 that really gives them 10 years to die which for guys on average probably in their mid 20's would be a very early death indeed.

The only conclusion I'm drawing from this is that cycling is good for your health.

The authors note that the Gen-EPO years are open to change in the future, but considering how many bodies piled up on mortuary slabs *during* those years, you might have expected some bump in Tour vet mortality rates to be shown, which it wasn't.

As for French riders being cleaner - post-Festina, this may be true, because of judicial intervention, but pre-Festina absolutely not true.

 

[Briant_Gumble]

The authors note that the Gen-EPO years are open to change in the future, but considering how many bodies piled up on mortuary slabs *during* those years, you might have expected some bump in Tour vet mortality rates to be shown, which it wasn't.

As for French riders being cleaner - post-Festina, this may be true, because of judicial intervention, but pre-Festina absolutely not true.

I agree with your second paragraph.

I still believe the average lifespan will look very different in 10 years for the EPO generation aside from the initial deaths of those who didn't know how to use it, off the top of my head Frank VandenBroucke (34 Pulmonary Embolism), Philippe Gaumont (40 heart attack) are two examples of deteriorated health from doping.

 

[therhodeo]

Given how the early dopers doped, its no wonder they died young. Most of the last big doping generation haven't gotten old enough to really show themselves yet aside from the few that did it wrong and paid the price very young.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

I do think De Mondenard's 1990s study gave life to the lie that Tour vets die early. A big EU report from abt 2008 quoted it as showing that ""even though the link with doping has not been established, it is known that the life expectancy of those who have taken part in the Tour de France is lower than average."

Plus, of course, we've got the litany of names: Fausto Coppi (dead at 40), Gastone Nencini (dead at 49), Hugo Koblet (dead at 39), Tom Simpson (dead at 29), Roger Rivière (dead at 40), Louison Bobet (dead at 58), Jacques Anquetil (dead at 53), Luis Ocaña (dead at 48), Marco Pantani (dead at 34), and Laurent Fignon (dead at 50).

Where is that EU report? Even tough 786 TdF riders is a very small sample size (= huge margin of error) i highly doubt pro riders die younger. For now we only have this study here, which shows riders actually live longer.

Why am I so sure? Because even in the mega dope/painkiller league NFL, players actually live longer than the average american.

And this league also have a ton of guys who died young b/c of suicide, accidents, heart attacks and whatever...

Conclussion: Doped sports is still healthier than eating burgers and getting mad at doped cyclists in the sofa at home...

 

[Briant_Gumble]

Why am I so sure? Because even in the mega dope/painkiller league NFL, players actually live longer than the average american.

Do you have a source for that?

If doped sports are healthier than the average lifestyle it doesn't negate the fact that clean sports are healthier than doped sports.

 

[zlev11]

I agree with your second paragraph.

I still believe the average lifespan will look very different in 10 years for the EPO generation aside from the initial deaths of those who didn't know how to use it, off the top of my head Frank VandenBroucke (34 Pulmonary Embolism), Philippe Gaumont (40 heart attack) are two examples of deteriorated health from doping.

yeah but those two also did a ton of recreational "doping" that probably had more to do with their deaths than the PED's they took

 

[Briant_Gumble]

yeah but those two also did a ton of recreational "doping" that probably had more to do with their deaths than the PED's they took

Maybe in the case of Gaumont but biologically I think it's much more likely that a pulmonary embolism would be caused by EPO than any recreational drug.

 

[Briant_Gumble]

Given how the early dopers doped, its no wonder they died young. Most of the last big doping generation haven't gotten old enough to really show themselves yet aside from the few that did it wrong and paid the price very young.

Is that a typo, seems incongruent with the rest of what you have said to me but I may be wrong.

 

[avanti]

..................... Even tough 786 TdF riders is a very small sample size (= huge margin of error) .................

Actually 786 is a good sample size that gives high confidence (low margin of error).

 

[therhodeo]

Is that a typo, seems incongruent with the rest of what you have said to me but I may be wrong.

How so? Simpson and the like did some nasty stuff to their bodies to keep them running. I'm surprised honestly that more guys didn't die like Simpson did.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Do you have a source for that?

If doped sports are healthier than the average lifestyle it doesn't negate the fact that clean sports are healthier than doped sports.

Yep, congressional papers. If you can wait i´ll look for it... (2-3 weeks, coz am shifting).

Of course, if the dopers would compete clean, they would be getting 100 yrs old. No doubt.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Actually 786 is a good sample size that gives high confidence (low margin of error).

a good sample size would be 10.000... anyway i give you the point.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Where is that EU report?

Link to report

 

[fmk_RoI]

Given how the early dopers doped, its no wonder they died young.

Where is the evidence for them dieing early, let alone young?

 

[fmk_RoI]

Maybe in the case of Gaumont but biologically I think it's much more likely that a pulmonary embolism would be caused by EPO than any recreational drug.

But EPO will not "cause" an embolism a decade after your retirement.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Link to report

Thanks for the link, but i couldn´t find anything life expectancy related.

 

[therhodeo]

Where is the evidence for them dieing early, let alone young?

Just a small list posted above.

Plus, of course, we've got the litany of names: Fausto Coppi (dead at 40), Gastone Nencini (dead at 49), Hugo Koblet (dead at 39), Tom Simpson (dead at 29), Roger Rivière (dead at 40), Louison Bobet (dead at 58), Jacques Anquetil (dead at 53), Luis Ocaña (dead at 48), Marco Pantani (dead at 34), and Laurent Fignon (dead at 50).