Tour chaos

[huw williams]

Heads up guys - seems like everybody who's anybody is about to go out of le tour!

[Grahame]

Pack your bikes guys, maybe we'll get a ride....

[David Lombari]

If ASO stick to their anti doping stance then surely all the teams who have a rider implicated should be excluded from racing the Tour.

[huw williams]

We currently have a situation where teams are giving out press releases sayiing that riders are being 'replaced' - T-mobile have released official cofirmation of Ulrich and Sevilla, others are expected to follow as the list of implicated riders runs to over 50 names.

Lance has not been available for comment - yet

[huw williams]

No - he's gone and his replacement has already been named as Italian Lorenzo Benucci (doesn't have quite the same ring about it doesit?)

[huw williams]

This just in...

Looks like other riders amongst the favourites 'implicated' include Basso Valverde, Menchov, Mancebo and Vinokourov. Expect the worst!

American and Aussie riders (and brits just back from suspension) could be the only one's left at this rate and clean up.

Although Landis isn't mentioned, other riders on Phonak are, and they are threatening to pull the entire team.

Do the they take entries on the line? Perhaps we could get Tim Harris in.

[David Lombari]

Please note that this time it's a 'Spanish' doctor not an Italian.

[huw williams]

Just received the official CSC announcement that Basso has gone too

[huw williams]

Its true

Also CW is going to cover Surrey league races for the next 3 weeks because there are likely to be more high profile riders involved

[David Lombari]

It's a shame not all sports are treated the same though:

Chelsea can spin blood to their heart's content

Duncan Mackay
Saturday June 25, 2005
The Guardian

Blood spinning, the controversial technique used by Chelsea last season, has been officially endorsed by UK Sport.
The government-funded agency, who administer drug testing on behalf of the Football Association, had advised players not to undergo the treatment amid fears it may breach anti-doping rules.
Among the Chelsea players to have received the treatment were the Dutch winger Arjen Robben and German centre-back Robert Huth.
But a meeting last week with Chelsea's club doctor Bryan English has allayed UK Sport's fears and an official statement is due to be released next week confirming the technique is not illegal.
The process involves taking a sample of the player's blood, removing the platelets cells that assist the healing process and then injecting them back into the injured area. It is claimed to speed up recovery.
It was originally developed for use in major trauma injuries, such as in car accidents, but is increasingly being applied to sport.
English joined Chelsea from UK Athletics, where he had been credited with helping Kelly Holmes overcome injury to win the 800 and 1500 metres gold medals at the Olympics last year.
It was while working for UK Athletics that he first came across blood spinning when he learnt about it during a conference organised by the American College of Sports Medicine.

[David Lombari]

[quote]Also CW is going to cover Surrey league races for the next 3 weeks because there are likely to be more high profile riders involved

[Mike I]

Is there any truth in the rumour that Basso's sister is now at a loose end and will be at the Cafe tomorrow?

[higg]

Well we were all looking forward to an actual competetion this year instead of the usual procession. It'll be interesting to see how many teams will change tactics with regard to GC. I've just printed out a start list and put lines through the rides/teams effected.

So far,

Gerolsteiner and Discovery have escaped unchanged.

But then you have the likes of Davitamon-McEwen which also carries Cadel Evans.

Rabobank team is full of possible one stage winners but also has Rasmussen who would have been happy with the polka dots but now with all the mountain climbing TTers gone must fancy a go at the GC.

CSC still has the likes of Carlos Sastre and T-mobile still has Andreas Kloden, both have been there or thereabouts in the past.

Quick Step are also untouched but I can't see them diverting support from Mr. Boonen for anything.

Hopefully the race will go ahead regardless and there'll be none of this rider's protest nonsense.

PS. I also hope the Opertation Puerta "evidence" is as conclusive as it seems. This all seems to have happened very quickly

[Richard (Apples)]

Hows this for front...in tonights Evening Standard


IVAN the TERRIBLE

*Ivan Basso.favourite for the Tour de France,is questioning the wisdom of starting next years race in London.

Basso said"London is a good city but it makes no sense for the riders.Maybe if I come back as defending champion it might seem less crazy."

[Kevin Rynne]

not even sure If I'll bother watching it, its all so disapointing I'm fed up!
To think that last week I was trying to work out a way of getting to the tour, mainly to see Basso, If they are guilty then they should be banned for life, As should David Millar, the swine!