Doping

I do find it somewhat convenient that his doping ended just beyond the statute of limitation limit. Given he rode for both USPS and Phonak, both teams that embraced the doping culture of the time with unparalleled relish, I'm sceptical.

But, frankly, at the time most people were at it so is anyone really surprised by his admission?

That said, I find the idea of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission ridiculous. It worked in South Africa because of the severity of the situation and moral leadership.

Professional cycling doesn't do moral leadership.

It'd be pointless without a true commitment to change for sure.

I raced professionally for one season in France. 95-96 season. Just as Lance was kicking off in Europe. Out of the 30 other British riders who were in the region (amateur and Pro) almost every single one of us was doping to some extent. I'm not proud of it, but it was so widespread that it just became normalised. Like having a massage after a race.

I cant condemn Lance on that basis. At the end of the day, the sheer mental and physical effort required to win any stage race is tremendous. The drugs were not a differentiating factor. Almost everybody was doping. The calibre of the man and rider was.

For me he's still the greatest Tour Rider ever. They used cocaine paste for their eyes in the 30's and amphetamine all through the 50's and 60's and even the 70's. It aint a new bag.

WADA has a lot of questions to answer themselves. I doubt very much whether we will ever get to the bottom of their own complicity in doping (which is in no doubt).
It's wrong to condemn a man unless you've ridden in his slipstream. I've had that pleasure, and to be sure - he was one of the fiercest, hardest competitors I've ever encoutered.

I raced professionally for one season in France. 95-96 season. Just as Lance was kicking off in Europe. Out of the 30 other British riders who were in the region (amateur and Pro) almost every single one of us was doping to some extent. I'm not proud of it, but it was so widespread that it just became normalised. Like having a massage after a race.

I cant condemn Lance on that basis. At the end of the day, the sheer mental and physical effort required to win any stage race is tremendous. The drugs were not a differentiating factor. Almost everybody was doping. The calibre of the man and rider was.

For me he's still the greatest Tour Rider ever. They used cocaine paste for their eyes in the 30's and amphetamine all through the 50's and 60's and even the 70's. It aint a new bag.

WADA has a lot of questions to answer themselves. I doubt very much whether we will ever get to the bottom of their own complicity in doping (which is in no doubt).
It's wrong to condemn a man unless you've ridden in his slipstream. I've had that pleasure, and to be sure - he was one of the fiercest, hardest competitors I've ever encoutered.

You're having a laugh, right?

Just to clarify, the vast majority of doping was done TO riders by theor soigneurs and Team managers. I could name three team managers who doped riders bottles regularly without their knowledge or consent. If you want to find scapegoats in the whole sorry scenario, look to the management.

Riders are pawns. They sign contracts, they do what they are told. I did. Unless youve been there, doing it for a living, you really cant comment.

Just to clarify, the vast majority of doping was done TO riders by theor soigneurs and Team managers. I could name three team managers who doped riders bottles regularly without their knowledge or consent. If you want to find scapegoats in the whole sorry scenario, look to the management.

Riders are pawns. They sign contracts, they do what they are told. I did. Unless youve been there, doing it for a living, you really cant comment.

You're having a laugh, right?

You're having a laugh, right?

You're having a cry, right?

No mate, I'm telling you it straight from a professional point of view. Okay, I will name names. Cyrile Guimard doped my own bottle for eight months before I found out from our Sports Doctor. That was the culture, I imagine it was probably the culture right up until 2010 when WADA began to get serious about blood doping.

life bans for genuine medical use of steroids?

Medical use would fall under TUE rules. Obviously still up for abuse, but how many riders have TUEs for blood doping drugs?

Why would you want to ban life? The last time I checked, it was a pretty good thing.

Pedantry bans to be implemented.

If you are an outsider looking 'in' on this culture you really have absolutely no idea what was going on. I rode with Gert Van Theunisse, he was administered EPO fit for horses when he was 21 by his own Sports Doctor. He had no idea what it was or what it would do to him in the long term. He's lucky to be alive at 50, two heart attacks later.

When asked about doping in the 90's his only response was 'I've been to a lot of funerals lately'.

No mate, I'm telling you it straight from a professional point of view. Okay, I will name names. Cyrile Guimard doped my own bottle for eight months before I found out from our Sports Doctor. That was the culture, I imagine it was probably the culture right up until 2010 when WADA began to get serious about blood doping.

What year was this? Guimard wasn't a team manager in the '95-96 season-as far as I know he was on a break in between his time at Castorama ending in 95 and Cofidis starting in 97.

I raced in total four years Pro and Amateur in France. If youre tyring to 'out' me, good luck. LIke I said I'm not proud of the doping we did, but if you think its all gone away in 2013, I can assure you of the contrary.

The drugs just get better, and easier to work off when there's no one looking. I would expect the bottom of the barrel is further away than just about anyone can imagine.

I'm not trying to out anyone. You're on a public forum making claims that you raced pro in 96 and Guimard doped your bottle for 8 months without your consent, and that you raced with van Theunise who by 95 had retired, i'm just asking you a question how that all makes sense.

Guimard was instrumental in the setting up of Cofidis from 1995 onwards. He was subsequently given a suspended sentence for 'Abuse of funds' at Cofidis. He was a notorious doper of young riders, and is still talked about in this regard.

I started racing in France in 1992. I'm off for a ride on my bike now. Tara.

Are you Roger Hammond? http://www.cyclingarchives.com/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=7315

ah ok. have a nice ride whomever you are.

Cyrile Guimard

Gert Van Theunisse

At least spell their names right when you're accusing them:

Cyrille Guimard

Gert-Jan Theunisse

Pedantry bans to be implemented.

Ooooops. :)

At least spell their names right

Spelling ability is one of the intellectual functions degraded by persistent drug abuse

Thank fuck... I just thought I was thick.

[QUOTE=Febrile;3914474

For me he's still the greatest Tour Rider ever. They used cocaine paste for their eyes in the 30's and amphetamine all through the 50's and 60's and even the 70's. It aint a new bag..[/QUOTE]

there's another 'insider' who'd disagree with you

Greg LeMond: Lance Armstong was 'a top-30 rider at best'