Originally posted by Moldy CrowDrugs or no drugs, I've really gotten caught up in Le Tour over the last 3 years. What phenomenal athletes.
Face it, world; we're No1 !!!! We've got waaay better drugs than the rest of the world.
I find it almost unbelievable that any athlete can compete at such a high level of exersion for 5-6 hours in 95F heat, for three weeks. The pain they clearly endure, the focus, and the drive, are inspiring.
I'm happy that Landis won, but not because it's a USA thing. I found his story re the hip replacement made him the emotional favorite. His fight back from almost 10 minutes down was as courageous an achievement as you'll ever seen in any sport.
Originally posted by RookRAKBreaking the Chain by Willie Voet gives a very interesting insight into the doping in cycling - it's a short book, but is a warts and all account of the doping taking place upto the end of the 90's.
Drugs or no drugs, I've really gotten caught up in Le Tour over the last 3 years. What phenomenal athletes.
The TV pundits all say Landis was low on glycogen on Le Tousiere as he hadn't eaten enough, then managed to re-fuel overnight and destroy his tactically inept challengers the next day - (what they did was akin to if a champ like Calzaghe were to drop his gloves and not box for the entire 10th Round of a title fight) - anyway - I'm sure there was more to it than just a big bowl of pasta and a good breakfast.
That said, it seems they're all at it - so the playing field is almost level still. It does however take the gloss off the event - as it's no longer something us mere mortals could dream of aspiring to.
The big question is how far into other sports does it extend? The investigations into the doping that saw Basso etc kicked out is supposed to have links into Football and Tennis.
On a personal level - I'm just back from a 2hr training ride that included a 20km Time Trial Loop - which I managed in 37mins. That's averaging just over 20mph (32kph). I was busting my gut to go that fast. To go significantly quicker I'd have to take a concoction of amphetamines & steriods. This leaves me happy enough with the level I can train to - who want's to end up like Pantani / Simpson et-al?
Originally posted by rhbI can't disagree that drugs play a part in this. Maybe I'm naive but I am still in totally awe of their achievement.
Breaking the Chain by Willie Voet gives a very interesting insight into the doping in cycling - it's a short book, but is a warts and all account of the doping taking place upto the end of the 90's.
The TV pundits all say Landis was low on glycogen on Le Tousiere as he hadn't eaten enough, then managed to re-fuel overnight and destroy his tactically inept cha ...[text shortened]... ugh with the level I can train to - who want's to end up like Pantani / Simpson et-al?
For most of my life I was quite athletic, even into my early forties, while not at a high-level, still in sports most people my age had quit doing recreationally years ago. I've played soccer, done a fair bit of cycling, even doing several hours of both in the same afternoon. I remember doing an 70 mile ride on a July 4th, in 100F degree heat, at age 41.
That said, I can say that no amount of drugs, even those that haven't been invented, would be able to make me perform at my highest level, in those conditions, for consecutive days.
I choose, maybe blindly, to focus not on whatever drugs they are or are not taking, and realize they are still phenomenal athletes. Their sport takes more than the physical - to endure that level of suffering, and get up the next morning and do it again - tests your character, your drive, your spirit. I guess I choose to be impressed, and still respect them and the event itself.
Originally posted by millermanWell said .
A cheat is a cheat is a cheat,
Can't bring myself to recognise any of his achievements in the tour at all because he was taking illegal substances.
Just another high profile case of "winning means everything"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/default.stm
Poor Show landis, very poor 😞
Its no surprise that he will be stripped of the win ,you just cant cheat and get away with it these days.
