ColonelKidneyBeans said:
Sestriere said:
He is probably doing all the same everybody else does (except UAE it seems), which means TUEs, using grey areas whatever that means. But you guys seem to suggest he is on the real hard stuff. However, as the leader of a GT you are tested everyday so it's surely out of the question that he is on some kind of EPO or steroids. Don't really know how the situation reagarding blood bags and Biopass is, but a sudden rise of hematocrit after a rest day should be noticed easily also it would be difficult to keep the level below 50% by consuming a lot of liquid when you are tested after the stage.
I'm not an expert, but what do you expect him to be on if his performance is so incredibly unbelievable (leading a GT by 2 minutes apparantly is)? Btw, I'm not interested in some kind of conspiracy theories à la he's covered by UCI or whatever.
The everyday testing did wonders to catch Horner at the Vuelta, an EPO test has existed since 2001 and we know that EPO use didn't stop in 2001, testosterone is still usable has long as you don't go over the (very high) 4/1 T/E ratio which trigger the isotope ratio test, there's still no approved test for AICAR... What makes you think that it's impossible to take "hard stuff" exactly? And that's just talking about good old stuff, who knows what new substances are out there...
From my understanding, ever since the EPO test has been introduced it has become the "poor man's choice" to increase the hematocrit level as the effort and cost is less than blood transfusions. Also, many riders have been tested positive for EPO, the risk would be very high imo. Synthetic testosterone is dangerous, if you can avoid it you would definitely do it. Riders have been popped with it as well. Of the good old stuff blood transfusions seem the most likely to me.
However, my questions was also pointing at substances which haven't been known to be used so far but could if someone wanted to.
Btw, Nibali was leading that Vuelta most of the time.