The Training Doper vs. The Race Time Doper

[MarkvW]

Assume a highly motivated top tier ProTour cyclist.

In hypothetical one, the cyclist dopes ONLY out of competition using the best doping practices available and maximizes his training accordingly.

In hypothetical two, the cyclist trains out of competition completely without doping and ONLY dopes during races. In this hypothetical, the cyclist may (but need not) withdraw blood for later use.

Further assume that in both hypotheticals, that the racer is not UCI-protected but dopes to the max possible without being caught.

Which hypothetical racer will outperform the other? In what kind of races? In what kind of seasons?

 

[twothirds]

The training doper. Max workout/recovery 99% of the time with benefits that carry over short term vs. someone who is naturally limited 99% of the time and temporarily boosted.

 

[Ferminal]

You ask the impossible question, Mark.

I would tend to think number one would be superior.

Only with the CERA kids have we seen what crazy stuff you could achieve doping "in competition". It seems like a rare phenomenon. In competition doping more about transfusions and maintenance of blood, less about a huge EPO boost. Exogenous hormones throughout a race more about sustaining your level, not to attain a spike in performance? We don't really know what else is out there and what it does, can peptides help you in the middle of a stage race?

The out of competition doper would have the advantage in training, so in a one day race you would think they could outperform the guy who couldn't train as hard but took a pint of blood 36 hours ago. Over a course of a GT, maybe the 3rd or 4th blood bag would turn things around.

The problem is, it's impossible to believe that one dopes in-competition without doping in training too. In reality it's more 1 vs 1+2, and in that case, 1+2 always wins.

 

[Berzin]

Ever since Race Radio decided to no longer post here, the threads in the Clinic have gone downhill pretty rapidly.

 

[MarkvW]

Ever since Race Radio decided to no longer post here, the threads in the Clinic have gone downhill pretty rapidly.

I agree. I am definitely getting tired of posters whose major contribution is their capacity for thoughtless insult.