What can I say that has not already been said about doping in cycling? When I started BKW my goal was simple: To shed light on the cool and often overlooked aspects of cycling. To keep all my posts positive and avoid the negatives of the sport. Focus on the little things. All well and good, but I don't think I can take much more of this doping crap. I do not even know where to begin. Do I blame the journalists, the riders, the doctors, the DS, Dick Pound, the UCI, WADA, Cyclingnews.com, that damn rock 'n roll music, MTV, or myself? Has my patience run out before everyone else's?
I would like to hear from you, so post your thoughts and your opinions. What's going on in our sport and where does it leave the diehard fans of PROfessional cycling?
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12 comments:
My patience ran out with Landis. The cause is all of those you listed, except maybe rock and roll. But, I love cycling. My only hope is that those who control the sport act to save it before is is too late.
the prevalence of drug usage is definately taking the machismo out of it. what happened to straight up gutting it out man against man? maes and coppi and bobet and anquetil and merckx. That's when men were men. sheer physical condition and will power rather than needles and chemicals.
Maes, Coppi, Bobet,Anquetil and Merckx' eras are far from clean.....
I think it is important to consider that as medical technology advances so does the ability to manufacture drugs and consequently, create tests which can identify cheating methods. A substance or its effects are only illegal when they are placed on a banned substance or practice list. In the old days, alcohol and benzedrene were common as performance enhancing drugs. It is undeniable that cycling at a PRO level is a tough sport. Cyclists require a degree of "assistance" medically. The body simply cannot recover quickly enough when faced with 3 weeks of back to back hard racing. So a fine line is drawn. It is impossible to race with with just water and a banana and amount to much. So is it doping when the performance enhancing substances are not illegal?
i guess i was more trying to get at what radio freddy just said. i dont doubt that there was some sort of drug use dating a long ways back. there definately wasnt the technology then to enhance performane the way there is today.
I race and I don't dope. They can't take that away from us. Remember who sponsors many of the races in Europe. Tabloid Newspapers. They have decidied to eat their young. Instead of watching cycling this year I will be out there riding. If we don't watch they will fix this thing. Hit em all where it hurts them. In their wallets.
Go ride you bike and forget the cheater and the liars
Bobby
An interesting comment about the tabloid sponsors. This is why I felt the image of the lifeless Tour podium was appropriate. Who will be left? Which riders? What fans? Does a team's budget create an aire of invinciability? If a rider is faced with the option of returning to the factory in their home town or gambling their career by doping can you blame them for their choices?
BTW- Bobby, did you know I have a post called Merckx is better than you? Chicken or the egg?
Why do you think they call it DOPE? I remember hearing stories of CAT1 riders going to Europe and not being able to compete at THEIR level w/o doping. I long for the days when it was mano-a-mano, and a machine that all but gives man wings.
Hi Radio Freddy,
I often work in Brussels but do not know the city very well. Could you recommend any good racing bicycle shops to me? Many thanks
So are we better off knowing that the Lion of Flanders was "not completely honest"?
Would we be better off if Mercx were to tell us that he was only "better than you" becuase he took supplements that his competitors were not?
Maybe we can now celebrate that the Lion of Flanders was NOT using drugs up until the last year of his career.
Man, Yoo-han's admission sounds like a smoke screen for a career filled with drug use. Who knows?
Cycleit - When in Brussels I would recommend Van Eyck Sport or Godeau. Both good shops. I hope this helps.
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