2007 tour de france

[gila]

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Or, you could go to the other extreme and pretty much just assume that all of them are doping, and recognize that they are still putting forth pretty heroic efforts. Doping or no, Landis's big stage last year was crazy and awesome. I'm generally sick of the hand-wringing about doping in all of the different sports, so I'm pretty much in a place where I don't care about it anymore.

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Yes, that stage was awesome, but it has surely been somewhat diminished in the aftermath; as has Basso's Giro. Mostly what I am saying is I don't want it to be diminished, whether that is because they don't dope, or they don't get caught, I really don't care so much. I agree with your statement though, and is pretty much my view. Although I would obviously prefer that they are not doping, what bothers me even more, is that it seems some get caught and some don't. It's almost like a crap shoot, which does not make sense.

I wish they could either come up with a close to 100% test to detect any doping, or forget it all together and pretty much just concede it is part of the sport, i.e., dope if you want, or don't if you don't want to. Although this later option would not be ideal, it would be much better, in my opinion, than the half-assed controls they currently use which seem to, every once in awhile, catch a doper, while, for the most part, not so much.

[gumpzilla]

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I wish they could either come up with a close to 100% test to detect any doping, or forget it all together and pretty much just concede it is part of the sport, i.e., dope if you want, or don't if you don't want to. Although this later option would not be ideal, it would be much better, in my opinion, than the half-assed controls they currently use which seem to, every once in awhile, catch a doper, while, for the most part, not so much.

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Yeah, I'd agree with this.

[cbloom]

I'm just sick of all the talk about doping in cycling as if it's so unique. The reality is the testing in cycling is way more strict than any other sport. A huge number of athletes in every single sport for the last 30 years have been doping, and pretty much every feat & record set in that time in *every* sport is bogus. Baseball is one of the worst, but for a while just about everyone in the NFL was doping, and their testing is an absolute joke, it's incredibly easy to get away with it in those leagues. Even people who are clean in the pro leagues, most of them took steroids or other things when they were in high school to build their bodies, and they carry the benefits of that their whole lives.

You have to compare Landis' big day to what other people were able to do under the same conditions.

[gila]

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You have to compare Landis' big day to what other people were able to do under the same conditions.

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Yes, I agree with this, but the difference is, he got caught, and what a huge difference it is. It will be forever tarnished, whether he doped, or didn't dope, and even if the other top twenty riders in the race doped. He got caught. I don't doubt that many other riders in that race doped also; but the fact that he got caught, and they didn't, THAT is where my biggest problem lies.

And that is why I made the statement, above, about Rasmussen that 1. I hope he is not doping, or 2. doesn't get caught.

[JaredL]

Could we get back to tomorrow's time trial?

I want predictions people!

I think Vino, Kloden and of course Cancellara are probably the 3 most likely to win the stage. Not sure what the experts are saying but I'd be surprised if they add too many names to those 3.

Valverde isn't bad and has a minute fifteen over Kloden so I expect him to be the yellow jersey tomorrow. It's going to be interesting to see how well the climbers like Contador, Sastre, and Mayo do. If they can keep the gaps small they have a chance.

[gila]

If Levi has a good day, he could maybe crash that top 3 of yours. Evans, as well. Personal, I think Kloden takes it, but I hope Levi or Evans does. I would think, as far as time trials goes, this one should suit Rasmussen about as good as any of them, with the hills.

Contador is bad ass. He looks to be something special. I can't wait to see him climb again.

Edit: Hincapie could be up there pretty high as well.

[brettkc]

Sadly the media has portrayed Landis as a cheater and most everyone assumes he's guilty without even looking at some of the facts with his case. He realeased the actual lab packets that he recieved from the french lab that conducted the tests. The errors made in the lab packet are so amateur it would blow your mind. Sadly USADA and WADA and the anti doping agencies take pride in never losing a court case and could careless about actually finding the truth they just want to win the case. Floyd test wouldnt even be considered a positive test in labs in different countries around the world. the anti doping agencys are just as shady and corrupt as some of the dopers, before cycling can get on the right track until dick pound and the rest of the retards running the show are gone.

[jogsxyz]

I think Rasmussen will ride the time trial of his life. With luck he will be able to hold onto the yellow jersey.

[jah7_fsu1]

Did anyone catch the article on the Tour De France/Lance Armstrong in SI a few weeks back (same issue as "Where are they Now?") Quotes a lot out of that new book that has me thinking more than ever that our beloved hero Lance is a doping cheater just like everyone else in most sports.

[Victor]

jah, i read that. also check ou the espn article with excerpt from the book "from lance to landis." fairly daming.