Reactions from the peloton

[labratty]

Not to get into the specifics of whether cycling is the most tested sport or not (it clearly has a more rigorous testing protocol than many sports), but the quote about IIHF is comparing total OoC tests (blood and urine) to cycling's OoC Blood tests. If you include all OoC cycling tests I wonder where the stats stand?

I was wonder that myself, out of real interest, not to be critical because 6000 test of either sort deserved some credit.
I had a poke around their website and did not find what I was after but did find a summary page of news that included what the IOC had planned for the 2010 Winter Olympics

http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/browse/8/recap/4124.html

of 2000 tests, 25% for EPO in urine and 20% blood.

Then I noticed that their total number of registered senior players alone total 373000, so that didn't make it look so good.

http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/survey-of-players.html

ratty

 

[Tinman]

Omerta lives...

That's why I love finding the comments from the up-and-comers.

We want to change cycling? Look at the young-guns speaking out!

Laud the second-tier riders grinding it out, trying to make a living under this cloud...

Good on them.

Would it not be great if as a next step "clean teams" are not only those who sign a declaration, but those whose riders speak out strongly, like Routley. And ideally routinely release their blood data. That for me would be a team and sponsor I support. And Routley would be a guy I would therefore consider if I were a team manager (rather than Dekker by the way JV).

We would soon know who is serious about "clean", not only junior riders, but also teams.

JV take note. Beyond the clean team PR. Insist your riders speak about how clean they now are. Coming second, or tenth, behind Omerta types, would be noticed. Riders to speak out loudly. Because they need to put their balls on the block. So we can be real (trusting) fans once more. You've already announced who was not clean for your team in the past. So you're ready to go. Lead by example.

 

[fat_boy_fat]

Benoît Joachim, ex-teammate of LA, had the opportunity to work with Dottore Ferrari, but didn’t take his chance – in fear of a positive text result. He declares doping to be a personal thing. Nobody is forced to do it …

He calls the USADA investigation ridiculous and says, that LA is the greatest champion of cycling. Still.

http://www.lematin.ch/sports/depech...-armstrong-regrette-setre-dope/story/17055197 (French)

 

[D-Queued]

Just in case you thought Omerta was a thing of the past:

Freire: I never had suspicions about Armstrong

This is priceless:

“Among fellow cyclists he didn’t seem to be a suspect [for doping]. We all passed the controls, just as he did, and he was the one who was winning,” said Freire in an interview on Spanish state radio.

Move along, move along.

But, my favorite part is this:

"...According to Freire, a case like Armstrong’s could not happen at the moment because the situation is cycling is “better” because there are more controls and they are more effective than before...."

Total bullchips. And, I am sick and tired of that Omerta line.

The only way that Freire, or any of the other Omerta-perpetuating idiots in the peloton, could know that this is true would be if they knew for sure that someone who was doping and didn't get caught before is getting caught now.

Sure glad that a stand-up guy like Oscar is about to become the Spanish national coach.

Dear Oscar,

Please provide proof that the controls are more effective. Who got busted? Did you fail a test that you had passed before?

Mentiras.

Yours Truly,

Dave.

 

[del1962]

Nibali

A proposito di personaggi nella bufera: che idea s’è fatto di Armstrong?

"Per me resta sempre Lance, quello che ha vinto i sette Tour".

I am told this translates as

What's your thought about Armstrong's case?
"To me he's still Lance, the one who won 7 Tdfs."

http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/12-11-2012/nuovo-mondo-nibali-io-astana-vedrete-che-giro-913197045203.shtml

Dissapointing comments from him

 

[Hugh Januss]

Nibali



I am told this translates as



http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/12-11-2012/nuovo-mondo-nibali-io-astana-vedrete-che-giro-913197045203.shtml

Dissapointing comments from him

To me it seems pretty clear, any contemporary of Armstrong's who does not greet the USADA findings with some comment along the lines of "the basterd cheated me" was doing a lot of the same things, and probably still is.

 

[Arnout]

Igor Anton:

Q. Do you think cycling can get rid of doping?

In cycling, as other sports and in general life, some guys will take a shortcut. In every situation, both in social and in athletic cases, we need to realize that the shortcut is not the correct way. In cycling there are things like the biological passport and the ADAMS (whereabout) system that should prevent the mishaps of individuals that damage the whole sport and the peloton. In cycling, we are at the forefront of the fight against doping and there is total commitment for a clean sport.

What do you think about the Armstrong case? Will it damage or improve the image of cycling?

The impact has been very strong worldwide. I hope we can put the story behind us in the short to medium term and improve the image of the sport once and for all.

http://www.grada360.com/ciclismo/20121112/igor-antn-ciclismo-siempre-201211121215-g3.html

There is also a bit on Contador, can a Spanish speaker translate it, I fail to do so with my limited Spanish and Google translate.

G: ¿Cómo cree que ha tratado los organismos y los medios de comunicación a Contador?

I.A.: Es difícil valorarlo en general, ha habido de todo. Lo que sí que creo es que Contador mueve mucho y pienso que es querido también por muchos medios.


All in all a, for me, satisfactory response from him, considering he normally doesn't say anything at all on anything in interviews. Certainly better than Sanchez.

 

[Benotti69]

Freire is part of the problem in cycling. Old school doper and believer in old ways about doping.

Need these people out of the sport.

The sport needs to for the next 8 years hand out large bans to doping, min 4 years for epo 1st offence. This can only be done by independent anti doping.

Miss 3 ooc tests 4 year ban.

That'll make the likes of Freire think about the sport in a new light!

 

[hrotha]

G: ¿Cómo cree que ha tratado los organismos y los medios de comunicación a Contador?

I.A.: Es difícil valorarlo en general, ha habido de todo. Lo que sí que creo es que Contador mueve mucho y pienso que es querido también por muchos medios.

G: How do you think the institutions and media have treated Contador?

IA: It's hard to assess it in broad terms, there's been a bit of everything. I do believe however that Contador has a lot of weight and I think he has the affection of many media outlets, too.

 

[frenchfry]

Freire will be an excellent candidate for a management position in cycling, he has the omerta spiel down pat. He could share his values with up and coming Spanish riders who might have doubts about the positive effects of a little boost now and then. Not caught = not doping.

 

[ultimobici]

Two major problems here. One. The statement is not attributed. Who the hell is Routley? Where did the quote come from?

Second. Whoever Routley is, they are totally in error. " . . . because he has never done so . . ." is complete rubbish. That would mean the doper had doped, intentionally, as a child beginner in the world of competition. Nonsense. Bad logic based on a flawed premise.

I THINK that might have been your point. However, just can't tell from this snippet you give us. Routley is misguided, at best, regarding zero-tolerance. That this quote is unattributed is also, ahem, unfortunate.

It is attributed, as the whole piece is a article by him. If you read it it is clear as crystal.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Freire will be an excellent candidate for a management position in cycling, he has the omerta spiel down pat. He could share his values with up and coming Spanish riders who might have doubts about the positive effects of a little boost now and then. Not caught = not doping.

Plus he could lord it over Valverde for not keeping that promise in Freire's last race.

 

[Arnout]

G: How do you think the institutions and media have treated Contador?

IA: It's hard to assess it in broad terms, there's been a bit of everything. I do believe however that Contador has a lot of weight and I think he has the affection of many media outlets, too.

Thanks! That's a cryptic answer, but doesn't sound like he is too happy with Contador?

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

Thanks! That's a cryptic answer, but doesn't sound like he is too happy with Contador?

Very. The translation of the comments about Sanchez sounded like he wasn't pleased with him either.

 

[JimmyFingers]

Re: Routley

Once again, The Clinic misses the forest for the trees...

You have a clean rider vilifying doping, and the first response is to see what teammates he was excluding with his 'most of' statement.

These are the guys to glorify!

Currently in the peloton, racing hard, and speaking out.

Maybe it would be better to bite our tongues and wait until the criminally-minded peloton pushes him out entirely... (although, since he's not a Euro, he won't have the legacy Bassons did).

Is that what you want?

Investigate your motives, that's all I ask. WHAT ARE YOUR MOTIVES?

I thought Routley's statement was spot on, exactly the condemnation we need. For me there is too much of this reconciliation business, I prefer less forgiveness for those that made a living from cheating, and denied clean riders the chance to win, and duped the fans. Anger like that is healthy and a relief from either the 'Lance is still a great rider' or 'this is a new era' style-ones

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

routley to me sounded like a total idiot and clueless as well

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Freire is part of the problem in cycling. Old school doper and believer in old ways about doping.

Need these people out of the sport.

The sport needs to for the next 8 years hand out large bans to doping, min 4 years for epo 1st offence. This can only be done by independent anti doping.

Miss 3 ooc tests 4 year ban.

That'll make the likes of Freire think about the sport in a new light!

 

[GJB123]

Although it is in Dutch I will post it ayway. Koen de Kort from Argos-Shimano doe a "Kittel" (more or less).

http://www.nusport.nl/wielrennen/2957326/als-zij-oorlog-willen-verliezen-ze.html

Remarkable quote though regarding Liberty Seguros (my quick translation):

On his two seasons with Liberty Seguros, the Spanish team that went bust as a result of the blood doping scandal Operación Puerto, De Kort says amongst other things: "The first years they did nothing with the riders."

"Just looking what they (the riders, GJB123) could achieve clean - at least that was my take on it - and then perhaps go further. They once said to me: 'You will win a classic/monument one day. We will take care of that.'"

 

[classicomano]

Ive tried to translate it a bit, its a refreshing sound coming out of the peleton.


Cyclist The Kort breaks silence about doping

HOOFDDORP - Also Koen de Kort break the omerta in cycling. The Argos-Shimano rider understands the consequences, but is not afraid of reprisals. About the dopers he says: "If they want war, they lose."

Koen de Kort speaks in the magazine NUsport first extensively about his four seasons with the polluted doping teams Liberty Seguros and Astana.

In the interview De Kort, who stated to never have used drugs, talks about his behavior, his former teammates, his suspicions and the consequences of the solutions.

About to break the code of silence from the pack says De Kort: "If the omerta guys try to maintain the code, it would be very stupid now for them to seek the confrontation with us."

"What can they do? I think the general public and 90 percent or more of the media are behind us already. If they want war, they lose."

Kittel

More and more riders in the peloton talk together about their behavior. In their eyes questionable statements from riders or suspicious athletes are served with immediately reply.

De Kort's teammate Marcel Kittel recently took a stance against doping. The Germans understand the consequences. Against NUsport Kittel told two weeks ago that he felt safe because he would be surrounded by 'good people.' Also De Kort feels supported.

Argos Shimano, the team of The Short and Kittel maintains a strict anti-doping policy after. Riders of dubious and can not come to even the slightest doubt about compliance with the five principles accumulated by the team, the rider its day with the team had.

French teams

Asked whether De Kort wanted to name teams he recently felt had an unnatural surge in form, he says: "Almost all the French teams in the Tour de France. Whether theyre playing fair or not I do not know. But I do think: You guys must have focussed and worked REALLY hard towards the Tour. I guess thats possible also. "

Over his two seasons at Liberty Seguros, the Spanish team who perished in the Operación Puerto blood doping scandal De Kort says among other things: "The first year they did nothing with riders."

"They just wanted to see what they were worth clean - that's my idea anyway - and then perhaps go further. They told me sometimes:" You will win a great classic one day. We will make sure of that. '"

 

[sniper]

Freire is part of the problem in cycling. Old school doper and believer in old ways about doping.

Need these people out of the sport.

The sport needs to for the next 8 years hand out large bans to doping, min 4 years for epo 1st offence. This can only be done by independent anti doping.

Miss 3 ooc tests 4 year ban.

That'll make the likes of Freire think about the sport in a new light!

exactly, he's one of many who have benefited massively from the dope-free culture in cycling.
The system as it existed has been good to them, so they won't spit on that system.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

again prooves organised doping was already out of teams like liberte seguros in 2005 and post fuentes

 

[hrotha]

again prooves organised doping was already out of teams like liberte seguros in 2005 and post fuentes

How? Liberty had 100% organized doping, it's just that having neo-pros and the like ride clean to assess their potential would be part of this system.

 

[GJB123]

How? Liberty had 100% organized doping, it's just that having neo-pros and the like ride clean to assess their potential would be part of this system.

What would that tell us about Contador? Was he cleanish in 2004-2006? Especially if know there was an AC on the Fuentes-list? Not Contador or what?

 

[Shardi]

again prooves organised doping was already out of teams like liberte seguros in 2005 and post fuentes

Wow.. You just missed the whole idea of the systematic setup.

 

[hrotha]

What would that tell us about Contador? Was he cleanish in 2004-2006? Especially if know there was an AC on the Fuentes-list? Not Contador or what?

The AC in the Puerto files was indeed Contador. However, there were no blood bags and no training schedules with annotated doping intakes, as far as I know (some numbered pages are suspiciously missing from the dossier, and they correspond largely to the young guns at Liberty). In one page there was an annotation next to "AC" that said "nothing, or same as JJ".

Contador turned pro in 2003. It's possible that he was clean then - he certainly showed his class but without doing anything extraordinary. A large part of the Puerto papers are from 2004 or so, I think. Maybe by 2005 Manolo already felt he had assessed Contador's potential. Or, since he was such an obvious talent, maybe he was confident about his potential from the get go. Hell, maybe De Kort is lying. Who knows.