TdF & Doping

[ERCougar]

So no scandals this year, right?
Knowing very little about cycling, but a little more about human nature, I'm a little skeptical. I just read that Astana had a doping scandal last year that forced Contador to sit out last year. Does it seem a little odd that Astana did so well this year, including a couple of superhuman performances (Contador and Armstrong, for his age)? Maybe they've figured something out that's not testable?
I hate taking away from their performance like that. Doping or not, the TdF has to be one of the greatest athletic contests out there.

[TripletDaddy]

This forum really raised by curiosity about the TdF this year. It was fun to read updates and follow it. There seemed to be several lead changes.

However, as a very casual observer, I do have one critique. 4 or so days ago when whats his face took the lead and everyone said that the race was over, I totally lost interest. If the race is already decided 5 or so stages before it is over, and pretty much everyone concedes that the race is over, then what is the point?

Also, why does the winner hold that stuffed lion?

[Surfah]

This forum really raised by curiosity about the TdF this year. It was fun to read updates and follow it. There seemed to be several lead changes.

However, as a very casual observer, I do have one critique. 4 or so days ago when whats his face took the lead and everyone said that the race was over, I totally lost interest. If the race is already decided 5 or so stages before it is over, and pretty much everyone concedes that the race is over, then what is the point?

Also, why does the winner hold that stuffed lion?

The subplots kept me interested. I wanted to see if LA could climb back onto the podium. I wanted to see how the Schleck's would try and pull Frank into third on Mont Ventoux. I also wanted to see if Contador would play the good teammate to keep LA in 3rd. There was plenty to keep it interesting. Besides, I keep waiting for that positive test. While any positive test would be bad for the sport, there is a very immature part of me hoping that Contador is caught doping.

I really don't like that guy. I also don't like Cadel Evans. Creekster's reports on that guy seemed to be spot on. What a baby. I am interested in seeing how team Radio Shack rounds out. I also am excited to see LA come back in better shape albeit a year older to try and keep Contador from his 3rd TdF.

[beelzebabette]

I also don't like Cadel Evans. Creekster's reports on that guy seemed to be spot on. What a baby.

Any chance Silence-Lotto dumps Evans and focuses on Jurgen Van den Broeck for the future?

[mtnbiker]

So no scandals this year, right?
Knowing very little about cycling, but a little more about human nature, I'm a little skeptical. I just read that Astana had a doping scandal last year that forced Contador to sit out last year. Does it seem a little odd that Astana did so well this year, including a couple of superhuman performances (Contador and Armstrong, for his age)? Maybe they've figured something out that's not testable?
I hate taking away from their performance like that. Doping or not, the TdF has to be one of the greatest athletic contests out there.

The Astana scandal was two and three years ago. The team was sponsored by Liberty Seguros, but fell apart with the big Operation Puerto doping scandal. Some Kazakh businesses took over the team and named it Astana (the name of the Kazakh capital) and built a team around Alexander Vinokourov. But Vino tested positive for doping in the Tour 2 years ago and was banned for 2 years.

Then the remnants of the US Postal/Discovery Channel team took over the Astana squad and totally rebuilt it. Everything was new but the name, but the tour de france people didn't trust anyone after 2 straight years of doping, and didn't invite the team. While Contador may have had some connection to Operation Puerto (and doesn't seem to want to answer questions about it), the Astana non-invite last year didn't have anything to do with people currently on the team.

[creekster]

So no scandals this year, right?
Knowing very little about cycling, but a little more about human nature, I'm a little skeptical. I just read that Astana had a doping scandal last year that forced Contador to sit out last year. Does it seem a little odd that Astana did so well this year, including a couple of superhuman performances (Contador and Armstrong, for his age)? Maybe they've figured something out that's not testable?
I hate taking away from their performance like that. Doping or not, the TdF has to be one of the greatest athletic contests out there.

I posted a link in a thread a couple of days ago to an article showing that CONtador's climbing rate is practically off the cahrts in this tour. He is light years ahead of several guys who not only were known dopeurs, but were admittedly doping when the climbs in question were made. OTOH, Bruyneel spotted Contador early on and noted that he was perhaps the fastest climber he had ever known. SO maybe he is simply gifted; SOMEONE has to be the fastest, right? It is hard to know for sure.

[creekster]

This forum really raised by curiosity about the TdF this year. It was fun to read updates and follow it. There seemed to be several lead changes.

However, as a very casual observer, I do have one critique. 4 or so days ago when whats his face took the lead and everyone said that the race was over, I totally lost interest. If the race is already decided 5 or so stages before it is over, and pretty much everyone concedes that the race is over, then what is the point?

Also, why does the winner hold that stuffed lion?

THe lion is the mascot of a bank that drops a lot of coin to sponsotr the Tour.

SUrfah expalins why we keep watching. The VEntoux stage was an epic battle all by itself.

[creekster]

Any chance Silence-Lotto dumps Evans and focuses on Jurgen Van den Broeck for the future?

Oooh, someone was paying close attention. Van Den Broeck made quite an impression. With some time and seasoning he might be very good, and dont the Belgians deserve somethign to cheer for?

I douobt SIlence drops Cadel, but he might leave. BUt Jurgen is the future. I wonder if Cadel is crushed by this race; if he can recover from such an absolute humiliation. HE may never be the same again.

[creekster]

The Astana scandal was two and three years ago. The team was sponsored by Liberty Seguros, but fell apart with the big Operation Puerto doping scandal. Some Kazakh businesses took over the team and named it Astana (the name of the Kazakh capital) and built a team around Alexander Vinokourov. But Vino tested positive for doping in the Tour 2 years ago and was banned for 2 years.

Then the remnants of the US Postal/Discovery Channel team took over the Astana squad and totally rebuilt it. Everything was new but the name, but the tour de france people didn't trust anyone after 2 straight years of doping, and didn't invite the team. While Contador may have had some connection to Operation Puerto (and doesn't seem to want to answer questions about it), the Astana non-invite last year didn't have anything to do with people currently on the team.

What he said. I would add that the tour organizers also used it as a way to spank Brutneel and the former posties team because they never liked LA or his team.

[pelagius]

What he said. I would add that the tour organizers also used it as a way to spank Brutneel and the former posties team because they never liked LA or his team.

I heard the announcer on versus say that TV ratings where up 50-60% across all countries. I wasn't surprised to hear that it was up 50-60% in the U.S. but across all the countries is quite a thing. Not that LA is responsible for the whole 50-60%. I am sure being a few years removed from the scandals, the French winning a stage, and the rise of Contador and the Schlecks helps. Still, If true they should learn to appreciate LA a little more.

[creekster]

I heard the announcer on versus say that TV ratings where up 50-60% across all countries. I wasn't surprised to hear that it was up 50-60% in the U.S. but across all the countries is quite a thing. Not that LA is responsible for the whole 50-60%. I am sure being a few years removed from the scandals, the French winning a stage, and the rise of Contador and the Schlecks helps. Still, If true they should learn to appreciate LA a little more.

It is the surprising thing abotu LA. The French press seems to disliek him, but the French public has always seemed to like ghuim, and no more than this year. The cheers when he started the ITT on stage 18 were surprsingly loud for him. I think the sponsors love him. The tour leadership, who are French, not so much, but they are, after all, French.

[NorthShoreCoug]

So no scandals this year, right?
Knowing very little about cycling, but a little more about human nature, I'm a little skeptical. I just read that Astana had a doping scandal last year that forced Contador to sit out last year. Does it seem a little odd that Astana did so well this year, including a couple of superhuman performances (Contador and Armstrong, for his age)? Maybe they've figured something out that's not testable?
I hate taking away from their performance like that. Doping or not, the TdF has to be one of the greatest athletic contests out there.

I like the idea of sealing selected specimens from the top riders and then retesting them, say, 6 years later. Something undetectable now might be detectable then. But I'm not sure how you would penalize positives, other than modifying the results.