• From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Topic: Tour de Farce

I was listening to our local SF sportstalk radio station this morning and the host made the comment that no pro athletes try harder at cheating than the tour cyclists. Last year was baseball's year of shame and the NFL has had it's time of reckoning, but year after year the Tour de France is plagued by cheating. Do these guys think the testing has ceased each year or what? George, you seem to have the most interest in this sport and I was hoping you could shed some light on this dilemna.

                                                                                                       Think Clean,

                                                                                                       J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
  • From: Deep in the forest
  • Registered: 2007-02-11
  • Posts: 5,296

Re: Tour de Farce

NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY is tested like this year's riders in the Tour. NO other sport is working harder than cycling to be clean. There is a new form of Epogen (a chemical produced by the kidneys to boost the production of red blood cells, which ,in turn, means increased available oxygen and thus increased stamina). ALL riders were tested before the race, and these "radom" tests are rumored to not be random at all, but rather re-testing of those that had "abnormalities" in the prerace tests. This new drug is potent at a much lower dose. I think the cheaters didn't think technology had caught up with them. Unlike many American sports, there is NO support for these riders. Both American teams employ their own labs and test continuously. All true riders are glad to see the war on doping that's going on.

I think we should all be proud of Mark Cavendish, the 23y/o from The Isle of Man!!, riding on a California Team!!! Winning his 3rd stage of this year's Tour today. And riding clean, as I truly believe most are this year. For me, there is NO OTHER test of athleticism out there that comes close to the Tour de France.

So, my point is, don't go bad mouthing cycling with all the "crap" that surrounds American sports "Heros". I don't feel that anybody can compete with the degree of corruption in this country as far as sports goes. Now I'm all huffy like you just said my kids were ugly....O-O O-O O-O O-O O-O O-O   C

  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: Tour de Farce

Sis,

     I didn't say it, a radio talk show host said it. Would you like his e-mail address to vent your spleen upon him????????????? I'd be happy to oblige. BTW, I think your kids & your grand kids are adorable. Don't shoot me I'm only the messenger.

                                                                                                    Running For Cover,

                                                                                                    J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
  • Libby
  • Libby
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Sunny Southern California
  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 1,551

Re: Tour de Farce

cathysiler wrote:

NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY is tested like this year's riders in the Tour. NO other sport is working harder than cycling to be clean.    C

Unless maybe you're talking about 5-time U.S. Olympic swimmer, 41-year old, Dara Torres.....

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/con … _0710.html

It's a real shame, what a couple of bad apples have done to the whole barrel ....... it will be hard, I think, for MANY people to COMPLETELY TRUST and BELIEVE IN any hard-working, naturally gifted athlete again.  In a time when we could use more heroes ...... as I say, it's a real shame....


sad  L

I know that Joe could play one of those kid's guitars with the plastic strings and make it sound good-
Bill S.
  • From: Amsterdam
  • Registered: 2007-10-06
  • Posts: 5,249

Re: Tour de Farce

Dawg, I suspect that a fair part of the above 'outburst' was provoked by you addressing the question to me. big_smile

In fact, the co-elder knows just about as much as I do about the sport - she is a very knowledgeable fan!

Yes, it's a distressing and depressing business when your suspicions have to be aroused every time anyone produces a 'special' effort. On the other hand recent events seem to show that testing is becoming ever more efficient and that the very vast majority of these Tour participants are riding clean.

RIP Iron Man

Rock On and keep the Faith
  • From: Edgewater, FL
  • Registered: 2007-12-08
  • Posts: 5,046

Re: Tour de Farce

After agreeing with the shame of it all, I had to laugh at the growling of the granny bear.  Mother used to stay "...mad as on ol wet hen" when somebody said sumpn bout her kids, although it was alright for her to hit me with a broomstick big_smile

John, all that with a grain of salt... sports talk radio?  Sometimes Mouth in gear, brain in next block.

But I like it when the second one is not even close.  Very exciting.

likeme
fdol

Rock On & Keep the FAITH
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