Tour de France 2009

I don't think Lemond's interventions have any positive effect on the likelihood of doped riders getting caught. Do you think the UCI, ASO, AFLD, WADA etc. are doing nothing until a washed-up has-been pipes up? Do you think 'aggressivly clean' teams like CTT, Highroad and Slipstream wouldn't be making representations behind the scenes if they had suspicions? They have access to much better data than Lemond, after all.

I'm certain I've far more knowledge of what the UCI are up to than you'll ever have. They know certain riders are still doping and they are trying to catch them. But autologous blood transfusions remain virtually impossible to detect, as Pierre Bordry, head of the AFLD, reaffirms today;

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bordry-floats-possibility-that-new-products-could-be-in-use

Some teams are taking a stance, primarily the French teams and Slipstream, but too many, and I include both CTT and Columbia-HTC, say one thing yet do another. They need to do much, much more if they are serious about a cleaner sport.

The fact that a respected ex-rider like Lemond has the balls to stand up and publically cry foul should be applauded, not derided. Cycling is a beautiful sport, with unique appeal, yet the professional side of it remains a seedy, amoral sideshow. It needs more people, especially current riders, to actually make a stand against the culture of omerta and declare their opposition to doping. Contador has been asked countless times about his attitudes during this Tour and, as you'd expect of someone riding for Bruyneel, has come out with a terse 'no comment' without fail. That alone speaks volumes.