Le Tour

[SCarter]

I think that it is good that Le Tour is taking this type of stance with people, it shows the cycling world that you cannot do drugs and if you do you will be caught and no matter how big a name you are you are out. The system is working and I personally think that cycling should be applauded for the fact that they are catching these people.

On Rasmussen he had to go really there has been a massive outcry in France about him still being in Le Tour despite all the speculation surrounding him, Rasmussen was booed with every turn of the pedal yesterday and was even booed as he stood on the podium. It is also believed that the drugs that cyclists are using now shows no sign of use after 21 days so for him to have not been seen for around a month before the tour and being in Italy rather than Mexico which is a place were there have been mass drug scandals in cycling shows massive suspicion for me.

Allez Contador!

[marcgerard]

Too much money and pressure from sponsors etc to get results is ruining sport in general. IMO, it won't be long till we face such problems in football.

Doping doesn't come with all the risks that came with it ages ago ... It's much more sophisticated now ...

The Tour de France for years was protected because it started out as an advertisement for Auto which then became Equipe. It was with the interest shown by Monde in drug scandals that much of this came out. Blood doping, essentially what Vinokourov was guilty of, has been a problem for continental football for years, as has caffeine shots. In the publicized case of Juve and Parma this was done through the club. The difference between the two sports is that cycling has a culture of individual cyclists taking these measures on an individual basis, football does nt. I think you are right in the sense that it would take a brave individual to come forward about doping in football as the sport seems to protect its own.

The long term risks of doping are massive though, this being on top of a career that is physically demanding in the first instance.

[Shaggy]

The Tour de France resumes on Thursday with no-one wearing its fabled yellow jersey following two traumatic days of scandal and withdrawals.

Race leader Michael Rasmussen was sacked by his team on Wednesday night and withdrawn from the race.

Pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov failed a doping test on Tuesday and his whole Astana team pulled out.

And Bradley Wiggins' Cofidis team also quit the race on Wednesday after their rider Cristian Moreni failed a test.

The loss of three riders and two teams has cast a long shadow over a sport still reeling from last year's Tour, which saw eventual winner Floyd Landis fail a doping test during the race.

[Guest]

Add to that the growing speculation that Lance Armstrong may have 'doped' himself into winning 7 straight Tour De France.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Add to that the growing speculation that Lance Armstrong may have 'doped' himself into winning 7 straight Tour De France.

........either way that will never be proved one feels he got out at the right time......or told to get out

[Harv]

Cycling is a joke. Plain and simple.

Im sorry Neil, but it is.

Unbelievably boring to watch, all of them are cheats...they are.........and did i mention how ****ing boring it is.

I understand that its difficult and all...but the fact that they all cheat ruins the sport completely.

****ing weasel

[Shaggy]

I'm not sure dismissing it as boring is fair. Granted, I find it deathly boring, but clearly plenty of others don't. I like cricket but I know lots of people think it's boring.

The sport has been completely discredited though, much in the same way track & field has. A farce.

[Harv]

I'm not sure dismissing it as boring is fair. Granted, I find it deathly boring, but clearly plenty of others don't. I like cricket but I know lots of people think it's boring.

The sport has been completely discredited though, much in the same way track & field has. A farce.

But its sooooo bloody boring....the only time its remotely exciting is when someone ****s up and you get a 40 bike pile up.

I know people who love cycling...and even they think its boring.

Its like golf with me...i love playing it, but i struggle to watch more than an hour of it. (last weeks tussle between sergio and harrington was the first time ive sat down and watched a whole round).

[Helios Creed]

Cycling is a joke. Plain and simple.

Im sorry Neil, but it is.

Unbelievably boring to watch, all of them are cheats...they are.........and did i mention how ****ing boring it is.

I understand that its difficult and all...but the fact that they all cheat ruins the sport completely.

****ing weasel

As Neil isn't around, can I reply on his behalf that you are a buffoon of the highest order who should be whipped to within an inch of his life.

[Guest]

As Neil isn't around, can I reply on his behalf that you are a buffoon of the highest order who should be whipped to within an inch of his life.

He obviously isn't interested in cycling.

It's the hardest sport there is, that's why probably you'll see cyclists indulge in such practices, add to that pressures from sponsors etc ...

[Shaggy]

The hardest sport there is? Nah, not havin' that.

Boxing is physically harder, obviously, and skill-wise there are obviously many sports too numerous to mention that are tougher than cycling.

I'd argue being a National Hunt jockey is far, far tougher than being a frickin' cyclist.

[captainfog]

The hardest sport there is? Nah, not havin' that.

Boxing is physically harder, obviously, and skill-wise there are obviously many sports too numerous to mention that are tougher than cycling.

I'd argue being a National Hunt jockey is far, far tougher than being a frickin' cyclist.

I still think they should have a pedalo leg. Then it would be the hardest sport ever

[Guest]

The hardest sport there is? Nah, not havin' that.

Boxing is physically harder, obviously, and skill-wise there are obviously many sports too numerous to mention that are tougher than cycling.

I'd argue being a National Hunt jockey is far, far tougher than being a frickin' cyclist.

Boxing could arguably be a more difficult sport but I can't see many more difficult than cycling (Specifically the Tour de France). Pedalling for 4/5 hours, climbing the hardest climbs in the world in succession is bloody hard, that's a FACT.

[Shaggy]

I'm not saying it's easy - it clearly must be very, very tough - but I'd sooner be a cyclist attempting the Drugs de France than be a National Hunt jockey riding around Aintree, or a Formula One driver tearing round the streets of Monte Carlo at 180mph, or a boxer getting my face punched for 12 rounds.

[Guest]

I'm not saying it's easy - it clearly must be very, very tough - but I'd sooner be a cyclist attempting the Drugs de France than be a National Hunt jockey riding around Aintree, or a Formula One driver tearing round the streets of Monte Carlo at 180mph, or a boxer getting my face punched for 12 rounds.

Hmmm ... Matter of opinions. Cycling is a noble sport and it's been ruined. I'm sure there could be cases of doping in boxing, football etc ... It's just not been exposed yet.

Everything is relative and should be put in it's proper context anyway. A formula One driver is subject to a great amount of stress during races and his concentration levels must be spot on all the time, whereas Boxing requires huge physical prowess.

Cycling is no contact sport, but I've seen a documentary some time ago about Lance Armstrong (excluding any allegations of doping). Le Tour de France is a race which is prepared throughout the year, and Armstrong did put his body under very very strict regimes as early as 9 months before the race.