David Millar - Comeback in 2006

[Brett P]

Gee's Rob,
no ones ever gunna want a signed jersey from someone that thinks the only way to win is by taking drugs!

The only way to win is to think that you can... oh & by hard work.
You're lucky enough to be in a situation where you can put in the efforts that are needed to become an elite rider, so instead of wasting time slagging Addiscombe off, get out there & put in the 30+ hours a week & prove that you can do it without cheating.

I've known & raced against Brad McGee since i was 14 & I know for a fact that when his brother Rodney tested positive after winning the U19 national road race, Brad was devastated, vowing never to take drugs & humiliate his family.

I strongly believe that attitudes like yours are damaging our sport & I hope that your views will change when you mature as a cyclist and realise that there are naturally gifted people who can go faster than you without taking drugs!

Yes I use hypoxia, that's not cheating by synthetically altering my body composition though. I also take caffeine tablets before a crit, yet again..... not illegal.

[the muur]

I didn't think I had a go at you, in fact I think I pointed out that there was nothing personal involved at all.

Disolusioned? Moi? With the Pro class? I think not. Just have more respect for the guys that don't dope as opposed tio thse that do. I ain't always been 49, I to used to be a young un, and raced abroad and got my arse kicked big time when I thought I was the dogs swingers!

I have seen and ridden with so many riders sounding similar to yourself Rob. You won't be the last.

And as for the Addiscombe club run...............you didn't mind going on the Calais club run and watching everybody else organise it for you, eh? If it wasn't for the 'dandy' club runners week in, week out mashalling races for others, where would you be? Come on be fair, be magnanimus to those around you too

PS. If Johane Musseuw can get done for evidence about drugs becuase of emails and text messages, then anyone can..............................

[Rob]

good point

sorry

[David Lombari]

Brett, Wasn't it Brad McGee who invited anyone to stay in his flat for a week to prove that he was clean? I think a few journo's took him up on the offer.

[Gavin]

I like cycling.

I like professional cycle races.

I like professional cyclists.

I don't think cheating should be allowed in cycling.
I don't think someone should be banned forever.
I think that riders who are caught should be stripped of all races they have won.

Some people are always going to cheat when there is a good reason to cheat. As previously mentioned one of the best reasons for cheating is money. So really you can blame drugs in cycling on the capitalist mentality and be done with it.

Or perhaps everyone should ride the same bikes like A1 grand prix..........

[David Lombari]

From http://www.cyclingnews.com today:
Sheppard admits doping violation
Chris Sheppard, the Canadian national mountain bike representative given a two-year suspension after he was found to have evidence of recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) in his system, has admitted that after 17 years of racing clean, he "gave in during hard times".

Sheppard stated via his lawyers that, "Point blank I wish to acknowledge I cheated; I'm not trying to raise sympathy, nor have people feel sorry for me. Cycling is a tough sport and after years of racing clean and pointing the finger, I gave in during hard times. I wanted what was taken away from me - years of hard work culminating in a solid season that ended with an accident and my spiral into depression."

Sheppard had enjoyed a strong finish to the NORBA series, where several top-five finishes helped him finish his campaign strongly - that has now been tainted. "I am devastated by the knowledge that I have let down my family, friends, sponsors, fellow racers, and national team supporters. Until last spring, I lived and raced cleanly and with the conviction that Canadian athletes work hard and play fair. I alone am responsible for my terrible mistake."

Sheppard was subjected to an out-of-competition urine test at his home in Kamloops, BC, on May 29, 2005; the presence of rEPO in his A-sample was communicated to the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport on June 15, and confirmed in his B-sample on July 4. The matter was referred to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada as provided for in the Canadian Anti-Doping Program rules, and the final decision of the arbitrator was handed down early September. In accordance with CCES and WADA rules, he was given the minimum two-year suspension for a first-time doping offence.

Sheppard cites his serious injuries following a training accident in July 2004 as the cause of his 'downward spiral' and subsequent drop in performance, which forced him to seek the edge offered by drugs. Sheppard says he is now "reflecting on a career that is tainted. Canada has always bred its athletes to believe that if they work hard and believe in themselves, they can lead a drug-free career. During my career, I lived by this statement while fighting for every mile and every position. This belief in oneself was the foundation for all of us to push our limits. Now I push through one of the hardest parts of a lost career - the inability to spread my passion for cycling to others."

[David Lombari]

Also:http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=features/2005/epotest_problems

You may need a chemistry degree to understand it though.

Picking up on what Brett said, I don't think pure hard work alone gets you results. It always annoys me when people bang on about LA winning so many Tours because he's the hardest working cyclist about, a)because I don't think he is neccessarily and b)even if I trained as hard as he does I still wouldn't be able to do as well. I think it's building on your physical make up rather than making yourself a campionissmo through hard work. It's what some are born with that EPO tries to give others.

[Brett P]

Marco,
I went from 4th to 1st cat. in 9 weeks totally clean. You just gotta ride chippers

[the muur]

Bang on the money Marco, Millar lied through his teeth about how mad Phillipe Gaumont was and that he was just a jealous, unsuccessful Frenchman in a french team, who got caught and was singing like a canary to save his own skin.

Remember, Millar only confessed to doping AFTER he was arrested, he was quite happy to stay shtum before. Wasn't such a big-guy in the hands of the French Anti Drugs Squad was he? And, he cost every cyclist in this country money through the BCF (solicitors fees etc) by taking them to court of appeal over his ban.

I've met the man and spoke at length with him at the 3 days of De Panne, but personally, I'd prefer it if he buggered off back to Hong Kong and spent the rest of his days in a Chinese crack den.

[the muur]

Funny enough, Marc de MeMeyer was a real big hero of mine, part of the Flandria guard of the 70's and 80's. I can still see him churning over 53X12 on the cobbled Paadestraat in the 1976 Tor of Flanders. I was goofy kid with a jaw touching the floor at witnessing his sheer strength. So hero worship counts for absolutely...nout.

[John Cochrane]

Hi Sean

"John, surely the physical demands though extreme for pro drivers do not come close to that expected of pro cyclists?"

I would agree Sean, that the physical demands are probably lower but much higher than most realise. However the mental, emotional and financial pressures are probably greater in motor sport. The cost of a season motor racing would be much higher than in cycle racing, given level for level. For most competitors in circuit racing even in a cheap first entry championship it is very expensive and most drivers or teams require some form of sponsorship. The better your results the more sponsorship you get to improve your car further, within the rules. Although, at F1 level, the drivers have to be exceptionally good they do not necessarily represent the best drivers around at any given time. An F1 driver not only has to be good but the team that gives him the contract will also want to see what sponsorship that driver can bring to the team. Motor racing is big business from F1 right down to the club level championship.

The point I was trying to make in the previous post was the difference in attitude of the competitors themselves towards cheating. Almost universally in motor sport cheating is condemned, in cycling though, a surprisingly large number appear to condone it.

As "the muur" pointed out to regulate in motor sport is a little easier and cheaper. Whilst in cycling most of the cheating is confined to taking drugs that are classified as illigal. To test for this is expensive and has therefore to be limited. This makes it easier to cheat which is why I agree with Rob that it is so important to change attitudes and in particular to set the right example to young riders.

[Conor Cormican]

In my opinion any sportsperson should all be allowed to use any enhancements they wish then the competitors and the spectators will feel there is a level playing field. The spectators can make up their minds whether to watch or not and the competitors can decide if it is worth the risk. Any top sportsman or woman these days not taking drugs is a freak.

[stevefunkster]

well said conor, in bodybuilding they have the pro ranks, then they have the drug free competions, you pays your money you takes your choice, personally paying money to see someone not actually that big compared to someone who looks seriously big to me just does not compete, i enjoy watching all levels of cycling but choice between the 2 i would see a pro race even if i knew they were all on gear.

[John Cochrane]

One possible outcome to having no restriction on drugs use is that I fear the pro teams might start pumping their cyclist full of all sorts of drugs as they try to bring about that result the're after. The cyclist themselves might well be kept in ignorance as to what they are taking and what the consequences might be in the longer term. New and untested dugs would no doubt be developed and "tried out" on the unsuspecting cylist in pursuit of ultimate performance.

I'll not go on. The more I think of it the more it scares me.

[the muur]

you're right to feel scared John, as I said in an earlier post, it's not where it ends or takes us, it's where it starts. Does it start at Pro Tour level but not Continental Pro level? And if it does mean drugs on the Pro Tour, what about the countless races where non-Pro Tour teams take part. Don't forget, Pro Tour races probably take up about 5% of the actual Pro calernder. What about the Asian Pro level where they still have the death penalty for drug supply? The big races like the Tour would become a freak show par excellance.

So if all are allowed to take part on a level playing fiels, albeit a drug induced one, why shouldn't any club rider get himsellf charged up for the club 25 championship?

And what parent would ever want their child to take part in a sport that should he show any promise at all, will be head hunted to become nothing but a drug relient , life gambling sponsorship toy.