Re HighRoad, I have nothing but sympathy for the whole set up, riders and staff. They're doing their utmost to change and be as clean as possible, and after all the signs were that RCS would have them in the Giro they then don't. If the Tour follows suit thats very very bad news indeed. What do you have to do to get in these races? Almost every team has some dodgy connections. Can't see Agritubel not being in the tour because Moreau is an ex-doper can you? I feel most sorry for riders like Cavendish, who aren't really anything to do with the doping past (and perhaps present in some cases), yet they still pay the price. I was really looking forward to him kicking Pettachi's ass. We also share our birthday during the Giro, but oh well. Bet Pettachi will still be in the Giro despite his recent asthma/inhaler issues.
Re Astana, Not so sympathetic to them. Although at the same time, like I said before every teams got problems. I almost cannot see the justification in singling out one or two teams when they're all as bad as each other. What would really send out a clear message is to either not hold the race at all as a protest, or to run it/them as amateur events for a year to see what happens. Bet they'd be exciting races to watch.
No ASO races at all!? Where they gonna race then!?