State of the Peloton 2026

[Netserk]

Coudl you provide a source? never seen that!

Chris Horner's Bio Passport Problem

The American's Vuelta victory might be one of the greatest performances in the history of the sport—if only it hadn't taken place under a cloud of doping suspicion. Horner maintains he's clean, and released six years worth of blood data to prove it. But his troubles just won't go away.

www.outsideonline.com

his own site where it was published is down , so i cant easily find what he published

with internet rot , you need to do some digging

 

[peterfin]

A few points regarding the idea that the performance of youngster is somehow a sign the sport is cleaner: first, they train like a pro today which means their future progress is likely minimal. This makes claims like Seixas becoming the new Pogacar totally overblown. Second, the junior years offer opportunities to test doping and optimize blood values not catched by the blood pasport as their is less risk of being caught.

 

[Pozzovivo]

A few points regarding the idea that the performance of youngster is somehow a sign the sport is cleaner: first, they train like a pro today which means their future progress is likely minimal. This makes claims like Seixas becoming the new Pogacar totally overblown. Second, the junior years offer opportunities to test doping and optimize blood values not catched by the blood pasport as their is less risk of being caught.

I don't see the relevance of the first point to the doping issue other than it may explain why youngsters are able to compete with clean top pro's. The second point, do you have any evidence of this practice in the jr ranks?

I sometimes hear arguments that suggest youngsters are doping to have elevated levels for when they first get enrolled in the ABP. I can point out so many unlikely things that need to be true for this to be the case, but i'll just quote Lance and say that "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence". Where is the evidence?

 

[AmRacer]

A few points regarding the idea that the performance of youngster is somehow a sign the sport is cleaner: first, they train like a pro today which means their future progress is likely minimal. This makes claims like Seixas becoming the new Pogacar totally overblown. Second, the junior years offer opportunities to test doping and optimize blood values not catched by the blood pasport as their is less risk of being caught.

Does that explain why Sexias outclimbed Contador?

 

[Pozzovivo]

Does that explain why Sexias outclimbed Contador?

No. He had favorable wind conditions which is very rare on that climb and he was paced by world class riders the entire way. That is why they climbed so fast. If and most likely when they climb much slower next year, will you take that as evidence against them doping?

 

[ColonelKidneyBeans]

For ethical reasons yes. It is a difference between offering drugs to grown men and teenagers, basically everyone agrees with this. I work with medical professionals and age is a very relevant consideration for ethical practice.

But to follow your logic, why didn't they before? Many accounts of riders who said that this was something that was offered to senior riders and leaders. Only with time did they get the same stuff.

I'm a little late, but i don't get your argument here, the people peddling doping products to "grown ups" already have "flexible" ethics, what makes you think they would stop at teenagers?

 

[Pozzovivo]

I'm a little late, but i don't get your argument here, the people peddling doping products to "grown ups" already have "flexible" ethics, what makes you think they would stop at teenagers?

Your point is well taken. Some would and some wouldn't. I personally don't think that talented teenagers are rushed into a doping system by teams or doctors. That strikes me as too sinister, but maybe i'm naive on that point. But a non-naive thing to do is to ask for evidence on this, not conspiracies? Anyone, anything?

There is a lot of risk involved with that and as a risk management strategy you would want to keep these kinds of things within a close circle. Offering PED to 18 year olds because they are talented and Decathlon or whoever is just desperate to win Algarve or any similar race is such a stretch.

 

[Netserk]

i think the ambitious kids dont wait around for an offer , they reach out