No! Vino, No!

[yvonne]

i cannot freaking believe this ....


http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/details/articles/12910.0.html


i'm absolutely devastated.

[like2bike]

Son of a B! Can't ANYONE just be a true, honest athlete? ANYONE???? What I REALLY don't understand is, they KNOW they are going to be tested, so WHY WHY WHY DO THEY DOPE? It's a guarantee you'll be caught and eliminated.

[Pink]

Honestly, I'd be surprised if anyone is clean. Sad to say that but it's what I believe.

So why not just lift the restrictions and may the best drug win.

[megale3]

David Millar was the first rider to react to the news: "Jesus Christ - there you go, that's my quote," he blurted out. "What timing, huh? This is just fuc**** great."


My feelings as well:mad:

[yvonne]

Honestly, I'd be surprised if anyone is clean. Sad to say that but it's what I believe.

So why not just lift the restrictions and may the best drug win.

i am so with you there, Pink.

[lizardbiker]

McQuaid refused to make any statement on the matter until probably the B sample had been tested.
"I can't comment on it. We have to follow the rules," said the Irishman, who like predecessor Hein Verbruggen has now seen a team pull out of the world's most famous cycling race over a drugs scandal - Festina having been kicked off the Tour in 1998.

OK, just when did he decide to start following the rules about leaking information or making derogatory comments when a rider's A sample tests positive? After Lance and Floyd were out of the picture?

Also, wasn't Vinnie the only one on his team last year that didn't test positive, and he had to miss the TdF because he didn't have a team left? What irony.

They might want to check the yellow jersey a bit more closely too, since he had four warnings about missing drug tests. Funny how a professional can forget to tell people where he is four times when he received warnings. You'd think his coach would help inform the UCI of where he was too. Too many fishy things going on. Too many politics. Too much cheating. Too much pressure to succeed to let cyclists just enjoy the purity of a good race.

[amybatt]

They might want to check the yellow jersey a bit more closely too, since he had four warnings about missing drug tests.

I've been wondering this, hasn't he been banished from his national team and such for this, yet he's still in the TdF?

[like2bike]

McQuaid refused to make any statement on the matter until probably the B sample had been tested.
"I can't comment on it. We have to follow the rules," said the Irishman, who like predecessor Hein Verbruggen has now seen a team pull out of the world's most famous cycling race over a drugs scandal - Festina having been kicked off the Tour in 1998.

OK, just when did he decide to start following the rules about leaking information or making derogatory comments when a rider's A sample tests positive? After Lance and Floyd were out of the picture?

Also, wasn't Vinnie the only one on his team last year that didn't test positive, and he had to miss the TdF because he didn't have a team left? What irony.

They might want to check the yellow jersey a bit more closely too, since he had four warnings about missing drug tests. Funny how a professional can forget to tell people where he is four times when he received warnings. You'd think his coach would help inform the UCI of where he was too. Too many fishy things going on. Too many politics. Too much cheating. Too much pressure to succeed to let cyclists just enjoy the purity of a good race.

Amen brother. This could be well be the last Tour I ever watch. Why bother? If I want to watch a cheater I can just watch a Bonds play his next game.

[Pink]

Too much pressure to succeed to let cyclists just enjoy the purity of a good race.

AMEN!

On some small scale it reminds me of kids' sports -- where the pressure to win negates the fun & benefits of playing.

[EuroD]

I've been wondering this, hasn't he been banished from his national team and such for this, yet he's still in the TdF?

Amy, apprently Rasmussen hasn't 'broken' any TdF rules. It's just the Danish Cycle Federeation who has banned him from the worlds and the olympics.

It does all smell of politics to some extent, and when politics is involved, well, we all know that the real information will never surface.

EuroD

[lizardbiker]

AMEN!

On some small scale it reminds me of kids' sports -- where the pressure to win negates the fun & benefits of playing.
That's pretty close to one of my sad statements about grownups - they can take just about anything that's fun for kids and turn it into cut throat competition and totally suck all the fun out of it - they even have professional frisbee golfers now! Need to spend hundreds of dollars on specialized frisbees, not to mention the leather carrying case, etc. Don't think steroids would help in that sport, but I bet there are some idiots out there that are trying it to get a little more yardage out of their frisbees. And you're right - the pressure that grownups even put on kids playing T-ball. They never learn teamwork and sportsmanship, which was one of the original intents of youth sports.

[2bfit]

By Steve DiMeglio (http://www.usatoday.com/community/tags/reporter.aspx?id=587), USA TODAY
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — Golf legend Gary Player said Wednesday in a news conference on the eve of the 136th British Open that he knows of at least one golfer who has used steroids.
"One guy told me — I took an oath prior to him telling me — but he told me what he did and I could see this massive change in him," said the 71-year-old Hall of Famer and winner of nine majors. "And somebody else told me something I also promised I wouldn't tell, that verified others had done it."

Why should golf miss out on all the press and fun that every other major sport enjoys in regards to doping!!

[megale3]

Come on this is not the big news what we need to ask is the big question doesn't Josh Taylor look suspiciously like Micheal Rasmussen?? You deside......Hummmmmmmm

http://media.godashboard.com/spinning/mi-bio_taylor.jpg

http://www.feltet.dk/michaelrasmussen/e107_images/michael-rasmussen.jpg

[BFSpin]

Honestly, I'd be surprised if anyone is clean. Sad to say that but it's what I believe.

So why not just lift the restrictions and may the best drug win.

. . . because there are riders out there like David Millar who admit their guilt, take their punishment, and come back clean.

There will forever be cheats in the world, in every aspect of life - but I continue to have faith that the good and the honest will win in the end.

Oh, but Vino - I'm so disappointed! I've never been a fan of the guy - but hanging on all stitched together, I've begun to have a little more respect for the guy's character. The whole Astana team is out now . . . which means Kloden and Kashechkin (sp?) are gone as well. They've just shaken up the GC.

:confused:
Beth

[BFSpin]

And one more thing . . . as I sit here watching the replay of Saturday's TT, I wanna know what got into Rasmussen's knickers. Two tours ago the boy couldn't time-trial to save his life. Now he passes Valverde???

How did HIS post-stage testing come out, or couldn't they find him?

Hmmmmmm. . . . .

:confused:

[megale3]

http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/news/articles/12912.0.html

[JFK]

"Chicken" Rasmussen is known as an obsessive sort...interesting how he managed to miss two of the Danish surprise checks and two UCI, but not enough of either to be nailed? Coincidence? I think not.

My brother sent me a text message today that said "Vino. F***, F***,F***F***F***F***F***F***." I was thinking "why did my brother send me an obscene text message? Today was a rest day...Uh oh." :mad::mad:

[BFSpin]

What an ugly business. With a self-created cloud of doubt around him, any Rasmussen victory is already in question. The peloton is angry . . . read David Millar's diaries to get the flavor of it . . .

Vive le tour :(

B

[kszspin]

I spent three precious hours of my afternoon yesterday pulling, rooting for Vino to take that stage. When I found out today what happened, I felt like a woman who found out her hubby was screwing around on her. I am mad, ashamed, pissed, and if I get my hands on the dude, I'm gonna bust his other knee! :mad:

[spinderella]

I am so disappointed in Vino- he has always been one of my favorites.

[lizardbiker]

I'm going back to rooting for Jure Robic - he's not in the TdF - too many rest stops.

[tracik]

I am so disappointed in Vino- he has always been one of my favorites.

Me, too! I remember like it was yesterday him "rocking the baby" across the finish line the day Beloki had his famed crash and Lance cut through the field. What a huge disappointment!

[Legspeed]

I'm blaming Hamilton's unborn twin.

[BFSpin]

I'm going back to rooting for Jure Robic - he's not in the TdF - too many rest stops.

Wonder how much coffee he consumes? Now THIS guy is beyond human . . .

B

[lizardbiker]

Jure Robic, Wolfgang Fasching, and Rob Kish - all 3 time winners of Race Across America. John Spurgeon - 1st Race Across America finisher on a single speed bike. No drafting, no big publicity hype, no huge sponsors, no big money, no dopers. True cycling heros.

[RaffCycles]

I can't believe this happens year after year. You would think that as the cheaters are caught, the rest of the field will go clean for fear that they will be next.

Maybe team peer-pressure will convince more riders to stay clean if they stand to be asked to leave the races and forfeit their earnings based on failed rsults one of their teammates.

[Legspeed]

Theres absolutely no truth to the rumor that fellow countryman Borat was serving as an honorary soigneur the day before the ITT.

[lizardbiker]

I can't believe this happens year after year. You would think that as the cheaters are caught, the rest of the field will go clean for fear that they will be next.

Maybe team peer-pressure will convince more riders to stay clean if they stand to be asked to leave the races and forfeit their earnings based on failed rsults one of their teammates.
Maybe if the big money sponsors start dropping their sponsorships and the money and hype starts to go away, there will be less doping. There also needs to be a politically independent, modern lab to conduct tests with strict rules for controlling and testing samples.

[megale3]

It still comes down to the tech around it. Cheaters will always be one step a head since that is their job to cheat the current system. Vino really made todays stage seem like it was just going through the paces like something was missing. The GC is messed up now. Game plans are crushed and need to be looked at again. The whole thing is just maddening.:mad:
I need some chocolate and coffee.
Meg

[lizardbiker]

Looks like bovine boy just won the big stage today. Wonder what'll happen if they're able to detect what he's been playing with? Tell you what Megs, the way riders are getting popped for doping, maybe we should put a team together. We could win by the process of elimination (as long as they don't test for Beth's German Chocolate cake!!!) :D

[megale3]

Looks like bovine boy just won the big stage today. Wonder what'll happen if they're able to detect what he's been playing with? Tell you what Megs, the way riders are getting popped for doping, maybe we should put a team together. We could win by the process of elimination (as long as they don't test for Beth's German Chocolate cake!!!) :D
Yah they'd find out we have been doing a potent stack of GCC and Coffee Bucks and we'd get disciplinary action on a tread mill :D

[yvonne]

Theres absolutely no truth to the rumor that fellow countryman Borat was serving as an honorary soigneur the day before the ITT.

hmmm ... there very well may be something to that ~

[BFSpin]

Theres absolutely no truth to the rumor that fellow countryman Borat was serving as an honorary soigneur the day before the ITT.

I think it was this guy :D

[BFSpin]

Yah they'd find out we have been doing a potent stack of GCC and Coffee Bucks and we'd get disciplinary action on a tread mill :D

Here is our fuel:

http://www.53x11coffee.com/

and the jersey would look great with my bike, too :D

[yvonne]

I think it was this guy :D


I KNEW IT!!!

[megale3]

Here is our fuel:

http://www.53x11coffee.com/

and the jersey would look great with my bike, too :D

SWEET@SS.com!!!

[Todd S]

They might want to check the yellow jersey a bit more closely too, since he had four warnings about missing drug tests. Funny how a professional can forget to tell people where he is four times when he received warnings. You'd think his coach would help inform the UCI of where he was too. Too many fishy things going on. Too many politics. Too much cheating. Too much pressure to succeed to let cyclists just enjoy the purity of a good race.

At least we know he wasn't on steroids.

http://www.ulrichfluhme.com/skeletor.jpg

[Julibird]

More reasons why The Denture Center in East Podunk, Maine can afford an ad spot on Versus during primetime TDF recap shows. I'm not kidding.

With this latest besh*tting of the sport, I'd be surprises if the network broadcasts TDF '08. I'm watching tonight only to see the rider protest, then I'm done.

[megale3]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That just doesn't look healthy:cool:

[Julibird]

At least we know he wasn't on steroids.

http://www.ulrichfluhme.com/skeletor.jpg

OMG - maybe he does need some extra help. Whoa.

[lizardbiker]

More reasons why The Denture Center in East Podunk, Maine can afford an ad spot on Versus during primetime TDF recap shows. I'm not kidding.

With this latest besh*tting of the sport, I'd be surprises if the network broadcasts TDF '08. I'm watching tonight only to see the rider protest, then I'm done.
How much do ya wanna bet that a portion of the cyclists in the protest are of tainted blood?

[lizardbiker]

At least we know he wasn't on steroids.

http://www.ulrichfluhme.com/skeletor.jpg
I think he's straining himself to pull his sock up!

[Julibird]

How much do ya wanna bet that a portion of the cyclists in the protest are of tainted blood?

I know! Unfortunately that was my first reaction, not "good for them".

[Todd S]

Don't know that I agree with all of this, but an interesting perspective none the less...

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/features/health_doping_slowtwitch2.html

[Todd S]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/news/?id=/news/2007/jul07/jul26news

[megale3]

You are kidding me~!

[Legspeed]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/news/?id=/news/2007/jul07/jul26news

Tour de Farce, as far as I'm concerned.

I wonder how long before the "Free Floyd" faction begins wailing and gnashing their teeth that the Chicken isn't getting a fair shake. Prediction: never.

[lizardbiker]

Don't know that I agree with all of this, but an interesting perspective none the less...

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/features/health_doping_slowtwitch2.html
Very interesting article - I've read a lot of studies showing that endurance cyclists who don't do other cross training activities & weight bearing exercises tend to have the bone density of a very old person.

[lizardbiker]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/news/?id=/news/2007/jul07/jul26news
Jeez. Now I won't have anything to gripe about tomorrow. Guess the team & sponsors started picking up on the huge trail of booing throughout the race course today. The Tour de Farce has been blown way out of proportion anyway - just one more race in the racing season. I'm more impressed with someone who can consistently finish throughout the season (organically) than someone who crushes everyone on one race. Nothing against Lance, but over the past decade the TdF has become the WWF of cycling, totally trivializing the successes of cyclists in other challenging races.

[BFSpin]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/news/?id=/news/2007/jul07/jul26news

I was about to type "unbelievable", but then decided that it isn't really so unbelievable. . . Rasmussen's exodus was predictable.

What's next on this train wreck of a TDF??

Beth

[lizardbiker]

I was about to type "unbelievable", but then decided that it isn't really so unbelievable. . . Rasmussen's exodus was predictable.

What's next on this train wreck of a TDF??

Beth
The lab techs popping everyone for doping get busted for doing drugs.

[megale3]

NO! the on course refree's have been on the take and fixing the rides for the last ten years just like pro basketball. And the head of the cycling organization has been having dog fights in his basement but he blames it on his cousin cause he was out of town

[2bfit]

NO! the on course refree's have been on the take and fixing the rides for the last ten years just like pro basketball. And the head of the cycling organization has been having dog fights in his basement but he blames it on his cousin cause he was out of town

Megs, you forgot to mention Lindsey Lohan getting picked up again for a DUI on the Tour route; and Britney Spears having a meltdown during another OK magazine photo shoot in Paris..... :cool:

[like2bike]

Megs, you forgot to mention Lindsey Lohan getting picked up again for a DUI on the Tour route; and Britney Spears having a meltdown during another OK magazine photo shoot in Paris..... :cool:

Lohan and Spears = Squirrels :cool:

[yvonne]

What's next on this train wreck of a TDF??

Beth

Phil & Paul on steroids? ;)

[BFSpin]

Phil & Paul on steroids? ;)

. . . and Bobke on Ritalin :lol:

Beth

[2bfit]

Lohan and Spears = Squirrels :cool:

Ha! +1