Rasmussen just been chucked off le tour

but there's no evidence to suggest that rasmussen has been doping during the tour - I mean, he's been passing the tests, right? so unless the effects are longer term than I thought then he had been winning under his own steam.

you know, the whole thing would be a lot better if we just knew they were all doping - at least then a win would still be a win. It's the thought that some of them are cheating and others not that's most corrosive. I only just got round to watching Monday's stage, which I would have really enjoyed having developed a soft spot for Vino after his troubles last week, but now it seems, well not quite hollow, but a bit sad and futile. I didn't know what to think while he was giving his interview at the end - was he clean that day? or was he just being a hypocrite talking about how he miraculously felt better?

yes the affects are longer term....preparatory doping during training with certain products will make you stronger than you would have been training without them and it's as much against the rules as taking a shot on the day of the race....of course he may have lied about his whereabouts to bank some blood.

natureboy but there's no evidence to suggest that rasmussen has been doping during the tour - I mean, he's been passing the tests, right? so unless the effects are longer term than I thought then he had been winning under his own steam.

you know, the whole thing would be a lot better if we just knew they were all doping - at least then a win would still be a win. It's the thought that some of them are cheating and others not that's most corrosive. I only just got round to watching Monday's stage, which I would have really enjoyed having developed a soft spot for Vino after his troubles last week, but now it seems, well not quite hollow, but a bit sad and futile. I didn't know what to think while he was giving his interview at the end - was he clean that day? or was he just being a hypocrite talking about how he miraculously felt better?

Vino was lying. He had doped, that's why he was feeling better.

Same as Virenque lied for 2 years when he said that he wasn't doping after the Festina affair. Everyone else on his team admitted they doped, the soigneur said the whole team was doped, the manager said they were all doped, but Virenque insisted he wasn't doped. And then finally broke down in court and confessed. This after he published a book called 'Ma Verite' (My Truth), in which he said he hadn't doped.

Rasmussen lied and said he was in Mexico, when he was really in Italy. Why did he do this? To avoid the out of competition testing that would have probably showed him positive for EPO.

The reason that it's not cool to dope is that the products kill.

The reason that it's not cool to dope is that the products kill.

EPO doping has killed riders, this is the bottom line, no sport should put competitors in this postion to be competitive

the-smiling-buddha The reason that it's not cool to dope is that the products kill.

EPO doping has killed riders, this is the bottom line, no sport should put competitors in this postion to be competitive

Yeah, cycling down mountain passes at high speed has also killed riders, no sport should put competitors in this postion to be competitive ;)

Buffalo Bill
Rasmussen lied and said he was in Mexico, when he was really in Italy. Why did he do this? To avoid the out of competition testing that would have probably showed him positive for EPO.

Yes, but the key word is 'probably'. I get the feeling that the UCI and Tour officials are on some sort of McCarthyist witch-hunt, where the presumption is of guilt. To my mind, that's far more damaging to the Tour than the occasional act of doping.

Unfortunately, given the scale of dishonesty, pro cyclists ARE guilty until proven innocent.

I think the sad thing is that the ASO, Rabobank, Danish Cycling Federation and UCI knew most of the details of the Rasmussen case before the tour started. If they actually had their s*** together he shouldn't have started.

However, to throw him out 2/3rds of the way through is a joke. Its just the ASO and Rabobank caving into the witch hunt to cover up their initial mistakes. He's pretty much proved he's the best rider out there rendering the actual result of this tour meaningless.

I don't believe he cheated, I just believe he's a bit of as stropy git and was deliberately uncooperative with the doping authorities. However, in this climate he's now paying the penalty for messing them around.

No, he lied. He said that he had been in Mexico. Then the team found out that he had been seen training in the Dolomites. This was new information that wasn't available to them before the Tour started. Even during the rest day press conference Rasmussen said (in English) that he was in MExico.

He's a stroppy liar. And he broke the rules, by not being where he said would be.

I'm with Bill on this one. i think if you're a pro cyclist you have to adhere to the rules, whether in training or not. while it is disappointing that the last few days are marred by some rather embarassing withdrawals, we should try and enjoy the four days of cycling left. unfortunately, these events will probably overshadow the riders that are riding hard, well, and clean.

Hovis Brown unfortunately, these events will probably overshadow the riders that are riding hard, well, and clean.

Yeah but those two are struggling at the bottom of the points table anyway.

Missing a dope test by not being where you claimed to have been is as good as testing positive. Rasmussen's a liar and a cheat.

a bit like like saying I'm working from home & instead being seen down the boozer?
but then, in my case, there's not much of a performance differential either way

or like cheating on the wife. bad. bad.

rasmussen's an idiot. am glad he's gone and have to say it will in no way affect my enjoyment of the last four days of racing. i just hope contador or leipheimer win it. sorry hippy, just can't stand watching evans ride up hills.

Yes, Cadel has an ungainly look, honking on the steep bits.

Still, you can expect no better from an uncouth colonial. I hope he wins it though. He's ridden the best race, and has had almost no team around him.

Chris Boardman for Mayor.
Big up the Wirral massive.

Buffalo Bill Yes, Cadel has an ungainly look, honking on the steep bits.
Still, you can expect no better from an uncouth colonial. I hope he wins it though. He's ridden the best race, and has had almost no team around him.

Them's fighting words! Oh wait.. you hope he wins too. Nevermind.

I don't think I can be bothered to get excited about the tour anymore, they might as well all be cheating the way that things are going at the moment, who can you trust? Miller on his high horse!?! I hope they call it all off!

What?! And replace it with fscking football or tennis or some other w@nk sport?! Fsck that! Give me drug cheats riding any day!

I'm gonna put some money on a rabo rider winning today's stage....boogie probably.

Well let them get on with it then, but how can you get into a race when you don't know if the rider you want to win will even be in the race at the end!

That's always the case. Look at Robbie.. my star sprinter.. crashed out.. Stuey.. crashed out.. the much cooler Aussie GC contender Rogers.. crashed out.
They don't have to dope to not make Paris.

I seriously reckon this could be the first year that the teamcar could win.

Well fuck it, lets put some jumps in as well to add to all the reasons they won't make it, that might liven it up a bit. I'm just bored of it now!