Reactions from the peloton

[ElChingon]

Mark Cavendish believes it is unfair to single out cycling as a 'dirty' sport in the wake of the Lance Armstrong doping revelations.

Ref: http://www1.skysports.com/cycling/n...cycling-following-Lance-Armstrong-revelations

Agreed Mark! Instead we'll tack on riders holding on to cars to get past the cols as a fair way to double out cycling as a "dirty sport".

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

Ref: http://www1.skysports.com/cycling/n...cycling-following-Lance-Armstrong-revelations

Agreed Mark! Instead we'll tack on riders holding on to cars to get past the cols as a fair way to double out cycling as a "dirty sport".

Has anyone got Frodo's quotes from when Ricco got popped?

Frodo seems to have got the message - cycling is a victim here the problem is the 'cynics and closed minded people' and the anti-dopers who don't care about cycling.

It seems to me that he is more concerned about the 'damage to the franchise' which sounds more like something a marketing man would say (did Fran write it down for him before he spoke?)

That's quite the statement from the Manx Hobbit. 1/3 whiny self justification, 1/3 blaming others and 1/3 marketing speak.

 

[thehog]

Has anyone got Frodo's quotes from when Ricco got popped?

Frodo seems to have got the message - cycling is a victim here the problem is the 'cynics and closed minded people' and the anti-dopers who don't care about cycling.

It seems to me that he is more concerned about the 'damage to the franchise' which sounds more like something a marketing man would say (did Fran write it down for him before he spoke?)

That's quite the statement from the Manx Hobbit. 1/3 whiny self justification, 1/3 blaming others and 1/3 marketing speak.

Good of him to don the Nike cap for the interview.

And it almost sounds like the UCI caught Armstrong!

He is a knobend isn't he? Total knobend. Remember in '09 he got all chummy with Lance.

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

Good of him to don the Nike cap for the interview.

And it almost sounds like the UCI caught Armstrong!

He is a knobend isn't he? Total knobend. Remember in '09 he got all chummy with Lance.

we could almost do with a rider fact-check to keep tabs on all of their chumminess with the Uniballer, since everyone is now in a hurry (unless they are Spanish) to distance themselves from him.

 

[thehog]

we could almost do with a rider fact-check to keep tabs on all of their chumminess with the Uniballer, since everyone is now in a hurry (unless they are Spanish) to distance themselves from him.

Gotta love the Spanish. Keeping their doping options open by not being critical!

Lance going down cuts up half their Amanda network! Supplies will be low for weeks!

 

[M Sport]

This may have already been posted but another link from me anyway. A great interview with ex pro Stephen Swart who first mentioned Armstrong doping way back in 1997.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10840244

Even then doping is hardly equal. It can't be, says Swart. The drugs are expensive and administration, monitoring and avoiding detection requires sophisticated help that doesn't come cheap. Few could afford the best drugs and doctors. "It's [generally] the small guy trying to keep up with the big guy that gets caught. Then the UCI, the world cycling body, make an example of him and say 'job well done' and carry on as normal."

Another witness, Levi Leipheimer, an American teammate of Armstrong's who was once third in the Tour, said this week that coming forward earlier would have accomplished nothing other than end his career. "One rider coming forward and telling his story in the face of cycling's code of silence would not have fixed a problem that was institutional.

"When USADA came to me and described a solution - where my admission could be part of a bigger plan that would make the positive changes we've seen in recent years permanent - I said 'I need to be involved.' I don't want today's 13-year-olds to be discouraged by their parents from dreaming about one day riding the Tour de France."

That's what Swart did seven years ago, only the Auckland builder wasn't cornered by a failed dope test or an investigation. He was brave enough to take an unpopular course because he believed it would one day do good.

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

This may have already been posted but another link from me anyway. A great interview with ex pro Stephen Swart who first mentioned Armstrong doping way back in 1997.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10840244

Good on him! Thanks for posting that.

 

[richwagmn]

Re roche: the guy has poor cycling judgment;training,diet,tactics. Needs a boss with strong personality,which riis has in spades[Aside-hated riis as a rider and watching him dancing his fat **** over alpine climbs was major reason i stopped following cycling for 15yrs, cause it was so evidently a joke]. Roche will never match a contador or valverde but he is on a level with the garmin boys, who are all still racing. He's got anger over fact these guys will be directly competing against him next year when they've all released statements to say they've doped for years.

Good thing Roche is now working for one of the biggest dopers in pro-cycling, Riis. Maybe, Contador can teach him a thing or two.

Quit this Roche worship. He has a clear conscience going to ride for Riis who was every bit as dirty as Bruyneel. I haven't heard him call for Riis to confess have you? F*ck Roche.

 

[richwagmn]

I find the Nicolas Roche article which was posted earlier troubling.

Compare and contrast his views on:

(1) Lance Armstrong's former team-mates who finally admitted to doping.

(2) Lance Armstrong who has never admitted to any doping, nor other nefarious things.

(3) Steve Houanard who has been provisionally suspended for EPO use.*

If he wrote an article purely about a rider or riders who finally admitted they doped ~10 years ago, say Bjarne Riis for example, I wouldn't have much of a problem if he espoused similar views.

In this article he has gunned down those who admitted and those awaiting the results of a B sample* while the gigantic f*cking elephant in the room is not even darted.

I am looking forward to Nicolas Roche's consistent views on Bjarne Riis forming his next article.

*I can't find any updates of this

Exactly. Mr. holier than thou is going to work for Riis. Enough said.

 

[JRanton]

Roger Hammond very supportive of Armstrong.

British cyclist Roger Hammond says Lance Armstrong was a "fantastic" team-mate who "never, ever" offered him performance-enhancing substances.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency has banned Armstrong for life and stripped him of his seven Tour de France titles.

But Hammond, who rode with Armstrong for Discovery Channel, told BBC Sport: "I never saw anything.

Armstrong, who has always denied doping but chose not to fight the charges filed against him, has been labelled a "serial" cheat and is accused of leading "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen".

But Hammond, who raced for the Discovery Channel team between 2005 and 2006, insisted he had never heard suggestions that Armstrong was taking or supplying fellow racers with banned drugs.

"I was in Lance Armstrong's team for two years and I was never asked, was never given any idea of any doping," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "I saw nothing at all, but then Usada never asked for my opinion."

He added that Armstrong was "fantastic to me as a team-mate", adding: "He was very supportive. He never ever forced his opinion, if this was his opinion."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/19910165

The reaction from within British cycling has been incredibly disappointing to say the least. Treating fans like mugs. I dare say that if USADA had asked the people within British cycling for their view then Armstrong would probably have got away with the whole thing!

And on another note, the season ends today Mr Brailsford, so presumably we'll hear very shortly about that meeting in Manchester you promised during the Tour. Tick tock.

 

[The Tibetan Hat]

"I was in Lance Armstrong's team for two years and I was never asked, was never given any idea of any doping," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "I saw nothing at all, but then Usada never asked for my opinion."

Amateur mistake Roger. When you're making a denial you don't include the very reason why you still don't need to tell the truth.

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Any rider who hasn't doped has a right to a clear conscience. Working for a multi-national bank doesn't mean that ethics get parked. Pragmatism permeates through most of our lives.

 

[richwagmn]

Any rider who hasn't doped has a right to a clear conscience. Working for a multi-national bank doesn't mean that ethics get parked. Pragmatism permeates through most of our lives.

Sure. But he doesn't have an issue working for one of the biggest dopers in cycling does he?

 

[RHRH19861986]

Roger Hammond very supportive of Armstrong.

Let´s count how often Hammond might have met Lance.

2 x team presentation
2 x January team training camp
maybe at 2 or 3 spring classics

Hammond was known as rather clean, for sure, but he was a crosser and man who´s season always almost ended after the first week of April, after Roubaix. Providing EPO to him, in Lance´s eyes, would´ve been likely "wasted liquid gold". Can´t imagine Lance has spoken more than 10 sentences to him within these 2 years.

 

[Benotti69]

Any rider who hasn't doped has a right to a clear conscience. Working for a multi-national bank doesn't mean that ethics get parked. Pragmatism permeates through most of our lives.

How do we know Roche hasn't doped?

And he has no problem riding for Riis and super doming for Contador who recently said he didn't consider any of his wins as being stripped.

Roche speaks out of both sides of his mouth.

 

[AcademyCC]

This is just my take on Nico Roche. Could be wrong.

Hes been clean so far and I think that has led to some of the friction between him and his dad. Stephen has been quite openly critical of Nico throughout his career that he hasn't been 'professional' enough. Add that to Stephen saying Nico has to go work with Riis or Bruyneel to get better - what else can that mean apart from hes got to get on the sauce?

I think Nico might have just caved in and was about to get on a program with Riis. Whether that ill happen now Im not sure. Could be way off, just a thought.

 

[Taxus4a]

Does it mean Sky domination has been postponed?

If everything goes cleaner, SKY will dominate more. But if they have real rivals in the Tour, it will be difficult to win it for them

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

This is just my take on Nico Roche. Could be wrong.

Hes been clean so far and I think that has led to some of the friction between him and his dad. Stephen has been quite openly critical of Nico throughout his career that he hasn't been 'professional' enough. Add that to Stephen saying Nico has to go work with Riis or Bruyneel to get better - what else can that mean apart from hes got to get on the sauce?

I think Nico might have just caved in and was about to get on a program with Riis. Whether that ill happen now Im not sure. Could be way off, just a thought.

bruyneel and riis aren't doping anymore.

 

[AcademyCC]

bruyneel and riis aren't doping anymore.

Not sure if your joking or being serious.

Johan certainly isn't due to a recent minor doping infraction.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Not sure if your joking or being serious.

Johan certainly isn't due to a recent minor doping infraction.

there aren't anymore team dopign structures. duh. not even bruyneel and riis are that stupid these days. I know liquigas stopped late 2008 with sending riders to doping doctors. I think bruyneel and riis stopped before as they were more involved in puerto.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Life long doper that they dope as a DS just for the hell of it?!?

 

[skidmark]

How do we know Roche hasn't doped?

And he has no problem riding for Riis and super doming for Contador who recently said he didn't consider any of his wins as being stripped.

Roche speaks out of both sides of his mouth.

Turning your line of questioning around, how do you know he 'has no problem' with Riis and Contador? Just because he hasn't said so publicly? Or do you mean that accepting a job with them is tacit consent for everything that they may have done in the past?

 

[AcademyCC]

there aren't anymore team dopign structures. duh. not even bruyneel and riis are that stupid these days. I know liquigas stopped late 2008 with sending riders to doping doctors. I think bruyneel and riis stopped before as they were more involved in puerto.

Obviously not a team wide doping structure, duh. To say Johan and Riis stopped their practices is a good one though. Oh look - a unicorn!

 

[the asian]

there aren't anymore team dopign structures. duh. not even bruyneel and riis are that stupid these days. I know liquigas stopped late 2008 with sending riders to doping doctors. I think bruyneel and riis stopped before as they were more involved in puerto.

Leipheimer confirms that at least part of the 2007 Tour team were under a doping program supervised by Bruyneel, even though at first he seemed reluctant and told Leipheimer to have his own program.

 

[B_Ugli]

Mark Cavendish what a silly little kid he is.

Actually Mark the really stupid one is you as you dont have the half a brain to realise that firstly Armstrongs doping happened under the present bp system and that most intelligent fans can see that as the reality.