“What I've watched for the past 15 years has been almost robotic racing. I used to gasp for air and had to think about when I could take a sip of water – my sport drink – I'd try and time it for a flat section on the switchback of a climb.
“[Now] I see people talking on the 'phone' [radio] riding a climb at the front of the Tour de France. For me it's surreal – I don't recognise the sport anymore.”
— Three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond giving one example of why thinks there's widespread doping in cycling. He was speaking at the anti-doping Play the Game Conference at Coventry University in the UK. He went on to offer solutions to the problem, according to a report in CyclingNews, that uses statistics and analytical data.
Expect to hear more about doping as we head into the Tour de France, which runs July 4 through July 26.
First, UCI president Pat McQuaid says several cyclists under suspicion for doping will be outed next week. Officials will use evidence acquired from the biological passport program started this year. More at VeloNews and CyclingNews.
Meanwhile, the simmering feud between Lance Armstrong and LeMond is heading back to the public. The Wall Street Journal, for instance, ran a piece reporting that the LeMond lawsuit against Trek is set to go to mediation next week.
In that lawsuit, LeMond alleges Trek neglected his line of bicycles at the suggestion of Armstrong. Armstrong is angry at LeMond for suggesting that the 7-time Tour winner used performance-enhancing drugs in his career.
[Update: June 19 — Armstrong's response to the Wall Street Journal article; published at LiveStrong.com]
Recent Comments