It was one year ago, yesterday, that Floyd Landis pulled out all the stops and recaptured the yellow jersey after a very good time trial during the penultimate stage of the 2006 Tour de France. One year ago, today, Landis rode onto the Champs-Élysées as the 2006 champion of cycling’s toughest race.
Landis, riding with a bum hip, overcame a number of obstacles in his rise to Tour champion, not the least of which was a bad day on Stage 16 where he lost so much time to the other contenders that he relinquished the yellow jersey and fell to 11th in the standings. The next day, as we all know, he came back and rode a tactically brilliant stage, regaining enough time to move back into contention for the overall win.
Unfortunately for Landis, and the sport of cycling in general, he had all of about 2 days to bask in the afterglow of his victory before everything changed. But we’ll save that story for another day. Today is a good day to remember how it felt watching Landis sipping champagne as he rode to Paris and the sight of him standing on the podium, smiling. Those are the images we should remember, along with his epic ride on Stage 17. Getting there was an accomplishment in and of itself. Landis deserves better than what he’s gotten over the last year.
In this year’s tour, the current yellow jersey holder is in the midst of a doping controversy, too. News of missed out-of-competition tests and allegations that he tried to have a friend smuggle blood doping products into Italy in 2002 threaten to tarnish his image. If that hasn’t happened already.
Pat McQuaid told The Guardian today that he would rather not see Michael Rasmussen win the Tour. What an awful thing to say.
“From an image point of view, it would be better if it was not Rasmussen but one of the youngest riders winning the Tour,” McQuaid told Reuters.
“But he has not broken any rule so far since two no shows are not a doping offence.”
Other than allegations, with no direct evidence (other than the claims of two individuals), there is no proof that Rasmussen did what he’s being accused of doing. McQuaid would do well to remind people that absent any proof, we should not be assuming the Rasman’s guilt. And for every missed out-of-competition test, there could be a perfectly reasonable explanation.
These days, it seems, there’s a strong desire (at least in some quarters) to tear down any good performance by any cyclist in any race, but especially in the Tour. Are some of the cyclists on this year’s Tour up to no good? Probably a few. The foolhardy who’ve signed on to the UCI’s pledge and are willing to see if they can fool the anti-doping tests.
But the news of Rasmussen’s missed tests, followed by Whitney Richards’ allegations, seems more timed to sully the name of an athlete who’s worked hard to get where he is, and who’s not failed a doping test. At least, not yet.
Rasmussen deserves better. Pro cycling deserves better. And the Tour deserves better than the sideshow that’s distracting people from the beauty of the sport and the guts and determination of all who ride and all who finish the race. Just to be in the race is an extraordinary accomplishment. Ask any competitive cyclist who’s ever harbored that dream and didn’t have the legs, lungs or talent to make it that far.
We should celebrate that and admire that, and all the cyclists who are giving it their all day in and day out for three weeks every July. That’s what the guys duking it out on the roads of France and her neighboring countries every summer deserve.
Memories of Floyd…..that’s what I’m going to think about as I ride out the driveway in 10 or 15 minutes.
Rant, it’s so refreshing to come here and hear logical thinking, not emotional “kick the yellow jersey” because he’s really not that likeable. Rassmussen is riding the Tour of his life, and I admire and respect him and the way he is defending the jersey. That doesn’t mean I’ll put his picture with Floyd’s and DaveZ and George Hincapie on my bulletin board at work. Even some of the cyclists are wasting energy, getting all bent out of shape over the Rassmussen stories. Well, let him win the biggest show on earth, and maybe Floyd Landis won’t be persona non grata in France anymore! He’s far more lovable!
I never thought I’d be doing this, I can actually feel my self loathing raising – but in this case, McQuaid – was not the instigator of this current controversy – it was VELONEWS. McQuaid merely used the opportunity to keep the struggle going with ASO and the Pro Tour – McQ is frustrated because all his attempts since Floyd to besmirch the reputation of the riders has not worked out as he has hoped. McQ has no leverage to force the greatest race on earth to do his bidding. Having said this – let me make it clear, I make a distinction between the race itself and the organizers of it.
You are right on Rant – Rasmussen does deserve better. As does every guy who sits in the saddle and performs epically. Do you still believe that all this stuff is about “clean racing”? That it’s about “cleaning up the sport”?The real sad thing is that the real villains will get away with it if we don’t identify them clearly – we go around arguing about the “rumors” – are they true? are they real are they false? Come on – no matter the “source” an innuendo, an insinuation, a bit of gossip, We make them have life by treating them as we do. The “exclusive” from the VelloNews EDITOR was written for maximum damage to the yellow jersey and sell paper – and we took the hook and got dragged all through another round of mud and character assassination. I respond to your pieces Rant because I think you do your best to be a good journalist. I understand your desire to “give” us a positive spin on the news. this is good -BUT the b *#ß* *’s are getting away with destroying people’s lives, and I for one don’t want to let them get away with it! I want Floyd riding again – I want that his reputation as a human being, as a cyclist as a professional be returned to him! Do you think that this can happen when we are hooked by every rumor and then feed it with our reactions? I don’t think so. As a character in an old film once said: “I’m mad as hell and I’m not taking it anymore!”
Morgan,
Thanks. I try my best to give a balanced presentation to what I cover. It’s tricky covering stories of rumor and innuendo. Just what should be mentioned and how should it be addressed are two things that need to be balanced out, every time one of these stories comes up. To an extent, we can’t ignore them, as that lets the perpetrators get away with it. We need to hold their feet to the fire. That means labs with sloppy procedures, as well as officials who pronounce someone guilty before the accused has even seen his test results. Those who oversee the anti-doping system should be dedicated to creating a system that respects the rights of the athletes and ensures that cases will be heard in a fair manner.
You’re right, the b*&%$rds are ruining people’s lives. We, as a group, need to hold those who run the system accountable. I do the best I can. If I had unlimited time, I’d do even more.
It’s a tricky situation, trying to comment on things that are happening without being a party to the smear campaigns emanating from certain sources.
I wish for Floyd (and everyone else who finds him/herself in the same situation) that he can regain his good name and reputation once the dust settles. Unfortuately, there are some people who will think less of him, just because of all the BS that’s already gone under the bridge.
It’s good to be mad as hell. As a group, we need to keep the pressure on so that change can happen.
– Rant
Rant,
Did you see Vino today? After yesterdays fall from grace he was back with a SUPERHUMAN feat. Must have been doping, no other way to explain it.
Oddly enough, I am inclined to believe Whitney Richards. I think his timing sucks, and I do wish he had had the guts to go on record with Velonews when it first happened (or even later). To me he is clearly in a “get even” kind of rant for the way he was likely disrespected by Ras with the shoe box incident. But people need to call “bullshit” when the bullshit happens, not years down the road when the object of your dislike becomes an object of your jealousy. I honestly think the incident happened exactly the way he described it, but I think he is a spineless rat for not having brought it out before Ras is in yellow.
JBSMP,
I honestly don’t know whether or not Richards is telling the truth, but if he is, then I agree with you about his timing and his motivation. The day job’s gotten in the way of my Tour fixation, so no, I haven’t seen Vino’s feat. But it does sound a bit superhuman, sort of like another incident last year.
– Rant
Why on earth would it be better if a young rider won the TdF?
Conventional wisdom is that it takes years of riding the grand tours to mature into a GC contender. The last young winner was Jan Ullrich, I think. So from a doping point of view, a win by a young rider would be no less suspicious than a win by one of the geezers.
I think McQuaid is bothered that some of the old guys are getting too uppity. They are starting to realize that they aren’t being treated fairly and sometimes speak up about it. Heck they might even form a effective union if McQuaid and his buddies don’t stop them.
The young guys on the other hand, they just want to ride their bikes. They haven’t been screwed over much – not yet.
Hey JBSM – is this your “gut” feeling? Is it? Well then it must be true…
Vino got away – because he was considered out of contention – Shades of doper flashback! – Vino must be doping to ride as brilliantly as he did. I for one cannot believe him when he admits to us millions on TV – “Yesterday – my head was against me!” How dishonest can an “old geezer” get. He’s got to be doping – no other explanation for it! By golly! Forget that this guy did EVERYTHING right in this stage. He knew his opponents. He waited till all of them “showed” their hand. Then – because he knows this course – he attacked. The guy must be doping for goodness sakes. All the years in the saddle couldn’t make him do that!
As to Rasmussen – Tell the truth – you are one of those who thinks “The Chicken” is a name Rasmussen should feel good about…you do, don’tcha? The mere fact that in this tour he has managed to stuff it down our collective throats, isn’t a factor in your gut feeling about it, is it?Hell, he’s a doper for sure man! That’s right – ANYONE who manages to put it together and ride and do what he says he is going to try to do – is obviously – a doper!
This year’s stage 16 has real potential to imitate last year’s stage 17. Vino is still far behind. There are several difficult climbs. What if Vino takes off early in a Floyd-like breakaway? I don’t believe the current crop of leaders will let that happen, but what if they do for fear of burning out? Could be interesting.
I get the feeling (from his comments) that McQuaid (given the power) would throw out all of the current riders and bring in a fresh crop that he would somehow control. Tell me again the purpose of the UCI? Is any organization (supposed to be) representing the riders’ interests?
Keep up the good work Rant!
I just saw the article about Lelangue on TBV. Do you HATE him YET?
I know my feelings are’nt truly rational. I have focused ALL my disgust & despair & anger over what has happened to Floyd on Lelangue, but come on, could it go to a “better” guy? A sniveling, whiny, lame-ass excuse for a man?
BTW, since Floyd & Andy Rihs (owner of Phonak) are still friends & Rihs has gone ON THE RECORD of saying he believes Floyd is innocent, have you read anywhere what JL thinks about THAT & also, what “relationship” do you think there is between JL & Rihs?
DICK Pound should be happy; there is someone more disgusting than he & his name is John Lelangue.
Well, Susie, there’s a lot I could say about Lelangue (none of it positive), but I’ll save it for a future rant.
– Rant
I got this from a post on Main – I think I really like the bad boy speaking – don’t you!
I ask Landis how he responds when people tell him, “I want to believe you, but I just can’t because it’s so hard these days.”
“I’d say, ‘OK, fine. Don’t believe me,'” he says. “But take a look at this stuff in the lab and tell me you’d like to be subjected to that type of testing. It’s fine if you don’t believe me, but just admit that they didn’t prove that I doped. Nobody should be subjected to crappy work like that. If I did my job like those guys did theirs in the anti-doping agencies, no one would have ever heard of me. If I write down in my training diary that I rode for six hours yesterday to make it look good when I only rode for one, I wouldn’t win any f—— races.
“I’ll never convince every single person that I didn’t do it, but I will convince them all that the system doesn’t work, and it needs to be changed.”
So read both sides of the case, and then believe him or not; the choice is yours. Meanwhile, Landis hopes to ride and win the Tour again — “I would have been happy with one win, but now I have to make a point” — but if that doesn’t happen, he has his take on those who would take away his jersey.
“If I never ride another race, I won the Tour de France,” he says. “And if they don’t like it, f— ’em.”
Hey Morgan,
http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/details/articles/12910.0.html
see, told you. it was a super human feat so obviously he was flying with some else’s blood.
i need to know more about this but if they are claiming he was using some else’s blood (thus busted with the Tyler Hamilton test), well, I just don’t know. Doing that is so damned stupid and unsafe it makes NO SENSE. As a scientist I think this test sucks but ……
On the other hand, if they have busted him re-doping with his own blood, then that is a different deal but other than inflated hematocrit I don’t know how they could know this.
I went on a nice ride today of 40 or so miles with about 8,000ft elevation change. And I only used my blood.
You know jbsml – I am really in shock! I was so hoping he was clean – I have no other info – saw the velo peice first heard it on the TV here in Austria.
I actually am making it through my day too – can’t ride sadly – have no joints – but still love ridding – in my head – I dope there a lot – bad coffee habit…I’m old.
Check you later if I have more info – have to surf. But you know what – I still love to watch the tour and bike racing – There are epic rides – even dopeless.
This from NY Times:
“”””The positive test took place after the Kazakh rider’s victory in the 13th stage time trial on Saturday, L’Equipe newspaper reported on its Web site.
L’Equipe said the analysis was conducted by the Chatenay-Malabry lab on the outskirts of Paris. It said two distinctive types of red blood cells were found in the A sample and showed that Vinokourov received a blood transfusion from a compatible donor shortly before the time trial.
A senior French anti-doping official confirmed to The Associated Press that there was a positive test for a blood transfusion taken from a rider at the Tour on Saturday, but said he didn’t know the name of the cyclist involved. He said the test found two different types of blood, one from the rider, one from a donor.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made.””””
I guess it is just IMPOSSIBLE from the frigging french to play by the rules isn’t it? It just is NOT going to happen. They bust, identify and essentially boot a team based upon one positive A test with no follow up B test. Is Astana running ’cause they know Vino doped, or just because UCI got out a big stick with the nail on the end?
And why do these newspapers like the Times publish stuff from “senior french anti-doping official” without actually naming them? Should be unethical to do so.
WHAT A FRIGGING MESS!!!!
Can’t say why ASTANA bolted – but I do know that the UCI has been spotlighting ASTANA way before the Tour. ASTANA – “men in black”…
It makes no sense man. But look at the situation we the public are put in – if we wait for the B sample, we are already half believing the A sample and doubt the rider.
To be honest – I find the “moral” angel that is being played completely unpalatable.
If all these guys are “doping” the simplest and smartest way is to let everyone in the act…then all that is accomplished is every riders ability gets boosted to their personal potential – the idea that the drugs make supermen is ridiculous and just think of the amount of research that can be had from this…I know this sounds cold – but it is a way to solve all these stupid problems.
UCI – 1 – ASO -0 – I don’t like either organization Add WADA into it too.
This mess with Vino is terrible. I was doing some research the other night for another thing I’m involved in, and I ran across an article from the peer-reviewed journal Blood, which takes issue with the test, how it was developed and whether it actually determines what it’s purported to. In the views of the authors, the test used for Hamilton (and Vino, too?) is based on “faked science.”
And even before we scream and holler that Vino’s a doper from the highest mountain, we need to wait and see what the B sample brings. If it doesn’t confirm the A sample, then this is much ado about nothing. Just like with Marion Jones.
Still, being as this comes from LNDD, I’m not sure I’d trust any results. Especially given the sloppy technique highlighted in the Landis hearings in May.
– Rant
Did LNDD do the “B” sample for Marion Jones?
I am not saying that Vino doped – that was the “news flash” I heard. Explain “faked science” please…
And in the end – that it comes from LNDD – makes it impossible to make a judgment call – I am trying to figure out what ASO is getting out of “finding” Vino doping? Here is a quote from Clerq : “”In a period of crisis such as we are living in at the moment, a champion must be a good example,” said Clerc. “His attitude, his lack of respect shown to the administrative rules, which is unacceptable, should be made known to us and we would have refused his participation, because he is not a good role model for the others in the peloton.”
Xcuse me for being jaded – but when exactly are we supposedly as viewers looking upon the pro racer as a role model. Have I been remiss as a parent? I watch the Tour for the racing – I don’t tell my little Betty – “honey, I want you to grow up just like that guy/gal on the bicycle” – I thought them to understand tactics, why what is happening is going down – What percentage of viewers are small children and teenagers – by the time mine were teenagers, only their dad was left watching racing…
Rant – thanks for the calm head – As I see it – THIS situation can actually work for Floyd – if we could highlight the accuracy issues with LNDD – maybe some of the sh*t will clear up – and McQ, the UCI and WADA will have lost some of their teeth.
I’m still going to be glued to the Eurosport channel over here watching stage 16. AND ENJOYING THE RIDERS RIDING!
rant, what issue of Blood? got any author names for a search? I would like to know what they mean by “faked science” versus just plain old crappy science. there are both, you know.
In other news, Petacchi was cleared, although the Italian Olympic Committee will apeal:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/07/24/bc.cyc.doping.petacchi.ap/
Morgan,
No, Marion Jones’ samples were done at UCLA, which is a far better lab than LNDD. What happened was an A sample last year came back positive (I forget for what) and then the B sample failed to confirm the A. It’s rare, but it happens.
JBSMP,
The issue and authors’ names are on my laptop at the place I’m staying while on a business trip. I’ll post the info later, and a full “rant.”
MA Fan,
Thanks for the link. Most appreciated.
– Rant
JBSMP (and everyone else),
My bad, the article I saw in Blood had to do with detection of EPO. That’s what happens when I don’t have the info right in front of me. I’ve seen articles where scientists have taken issue with the test for homologous blood doping, but right when I need to access them, I can’t put my hands on. Argh.
Here’s the pertinent quote about EPO, from an article about the study on Medical News Today, however:
– Rant