"When you have class, you cannot lose" - Vinokourov

[blackcat]

I think you missed the point there a little bit. Why are some guys welcomed back and others banished?

+1...............

even to the extent of Heras, Landis and Hamilton.

 

[Galic Ho]

Thanks for the response since this is off-topic. I don't know much about Aussie sports history but did wonder if there was a time that cycling fans began to question the legitmacy of results. For the US it was the LA Olympics and the disclosure of blood doping, then legal; as the means to an end. Disclosures by Alexi Grewal and others suggest it was just part of a larger problem.

Can't speak for the whole of the country but in my opinion most people are oblivious to the extent and benefits of blood doping. The cycling fans know a bit, some more than others, but society as a whole doesn't care. One need only look at our football codes to see this. "Move along nothing to see here" as the officials bury the dirty laundry. Recreational drugs appear to be the drug of choice along with alcohol and sex scandals. Blood doping doesn't get mentioned.

Now to Vino and Kash.

Two contrasts. The article with Vino's quote does not sound vindictive of spiteful, rather it comes across as informative. Vino sounds like he is being realistic. Astana want to keep Contador, they have to work diligently to hold their Pro Tour license and Kash can't be seen any time soon asking for favours. Timing of suspensions benefitted Vino first and if the team take Kash they are sealing their own fate. In all fairness, he should be taken by another team if they have room, money and he meets the bio-passport rules. He did the crime, paid the time, end of discussion. I hate seeing elitism and favouritism manifested in any environment, even with doping cheats.

Polish your line to Alpe d'Huez:

Alpe, are you implying that it is OK to dope if you have potential talent?? Just be prepared to take a 2 year "sabbatical' after you are caught?

You are misreading what was written. It was not implied that doping is ok. What was implied is the fact that despite the doping violation and given the likelihood of doping being widespread in the peloton, Kash had enough talent to stand out amongst the top 20 GC contenders. He has the physical nouse to be a bike rider and a good one at that.

Balance is needed. If one rider is welcomed back, despite cheating, others should not have the door slammed in their faces. Basso is no different than Vino, Kash, Heras, Rasmussen. All behaved in a similar matter. Basso has had a very easy ride back in and so too Vino. My guess is that it pays to be the top dog of your respective nations when you get caught. Nobody forgives transgressions (or overlooks them entirely) like a fanboy. You don't have to like doping but the punishment and re-entry to the peloton should be universal.

 

[350Watts]

+1...............

even to the extent of Heras, Landis and Hamilton.

Maybe because Heras and Hamilton were multiple offenders. Floyd is back at a team that suits his level. Kash was/is an unrepentant *** while Millar groveled his way back. All seems about right.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Some have class, some don't duh.
It is the topic of this thread

OK, what did Vino do that was so much classier that Kashi?
Really "class" has nothing to do with it, UCI seems to have just come up with a new rule. Only one returnee from suspension per team, or per Astana anyway. Although it would be the first time convicted dopers were taken back by the team they were on when they were busted, I think.

 

[350Watts]

OK, what did Vino do that was so much classier that Kashi?
Really "class" has nothing to do with it, UCI seems to have just come up with a new rule. Only one returnee from suspension per team, or per Astana anyway. Although it would be the first time convicted dopers were taken back by the team they were on when they were busted, I think.

I once worked for a company that had their employee manual written in pencil just so they could make changes on the fly, perhaps the UCI has something similar.

 

[Polish]

Vino 4-ever

OK, what did Vino do that was so much classier that Kashi?

Vino made up some classy "GRRRR FACE" Jerseys...And nothing is better than that (Is it?)

 

[ludwig]

McQuaid and liminal zone....

It's depressing but as Kazachs, Vino and Kash are more likely to be seen by the European public as evviiilll dopers from uncharted ex-commie lands. There's a subtle xenophobia at play, the kind that is particularly biting since virtually no one is aware of it. McQuaid is just playing politics, thinking that Astana's inclusion will stink less if one less convicted doper is around. But if Kash wants it bad enough he should be able to find a ride somewhere...

 

[blackcat]

http://www.vino-4ever.com/

 

[blackcat]

It's depressing but as Kazachs, Vino and Kash are more likely to be seen by the European public as evviiilll dopers from uncharted ex-commie lands. There's a subtle xenophobia at play, the kind that is particularly biting since virtually no one is aware of it. McQuaid is just playing politics, thinking that Astana's inclusion will stink less if one less convicted doper is around. But if Kash wants it bad enough he should be able to find a ride somewhere...

feeding into it, makes the administrators a party

 

[auscyclefan94]

Vino made up some classy "GRRRR FACE" Jerseys...And nothing is better than that (Is it?)

Yeah... he's probably GRRRRRRing for some more blood

 

[350Watts]

Yeah... he's probably GRRRRRRing for some more blood

F**ing hilarious.