Schumacher Positive: Tour de France
Apparently, today is the day. Or, at least, sorta the day.
L'Équipe reports that Stefan Schumacher has tested positive for CERA. Schumacher won both cronos during this year's Tour de France and wore the Yellow Jersey for two days. During the Tour, French anti-doping authorities placed the German, riding for Gerolsteiner, under tight scrutiny. Until now, they proved unable to confirm their suspicions created by anamolous blood value readings.
The positive test result comes as a result of testing carried out at both Chatenay-Malabry and Lausanne using two different testing methods to detect CERA in blood samples.
Schumacher has had several previous brushes with the doping authorities. In 2005, he tested positive for the stimulant Cathine, but was subsequently acquitted. In 2007, he recorded a high hematocrit on the eve of the World Championships, and showed traces of amphetamine use in a police test following a car accident.
No word just yet on which stages Schumacher tested positive.
(News is flying fast. If you see something, post up a linky here!)
Comments
More soon we wonder?
Should I sit here pressing refresh or should I go shopping? Decisions decisions!
by Albertina on
Oct 6, 2008 12:34 PM EDT
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my thoughts exactly,
though in my case it’s should I make dinner now or stay here
by amarone on
Oct 6, 2008 12:36 PM EDT
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my choice
is hit refresh or pay attention on my conference call – easy choice.
by Katiek on
Oct 6, 2008 12:44 PM EDT
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I want new brown boots for winter. I think I'll go shopping.
I’ll be back later on to catch up on the day’s developments no doubt. Have fun kids!
by Albertina on
Oct 6, 2008 12:54 PM EDT
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Did you find anything good?
to cheer you up before the rest of the bad news (maybe) hits us?
by amarone on
Oct 6, 2008 7:32 PM EDT
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No. Zilch.
Boots are very poor this year.
by Albertina on
Oct 7, 2008 4:42 AM EDT
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Bet you're glad you went shopping, eh?
Considering no other people were named after Schumacher today.
by marian on
Oct 7, 2008 12:58 AM EDT
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Bettini must be laughing about Lefevre
by King of Doping on
Oct 6, 2008 12:42 PM EDT
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Quickstep
signed Schumi at the expense of Bettini.
by australopithecine on
Oct 6, 2008 12:50 PM EDT
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The negotiations between Bettini and Lef
Bettini felt that Lefevere had betrayed him by hiring Schumacher instead of resigning him. Lef said Schumacher was less money than Bettini and worth more to the team. I suppose he’s right about the less money part – QuickStep won’t have to pay him, assuming the positives stand up to the lawyers.
by gavia on
Oct 6, 2008 12:50 PM EDT
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I write a poor little post and Gavia in the meantime has produced one ten times better!
I have much to learn before I secure a top job in your HQ ;-)
by Albertina on
Oct 6, 2008 12:53 PM EDT
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Thanks to you both
and Australopithecine. I had completely forgotten the connection.
by NE Observer on
Oct 7, 2008 12:31 PM EDT
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Lefevre signed Schumi to Quick Step
as one of the riders to replace Bettini. He though his few new signings would give him better value for money. Woops.
by Albertina on
Oct 6, 2008 12:50 PM EDT
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So could Bettini now join the ranks of the unretired?
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 6, 2008 12:53 PM EDT
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Ha Ha, I'll believe that when I see it
Capodacqua has a piece up highlighting a few things that Stampa journalist Paolo Ziliani said on his blog. He was the guy who printed that interview with Fanini a couple of weeks ago (“The winner of the Worlds will be a doper”), and one further point that wasn’t in the print version was his (Fanini’s) belief that Bettini was the point man for tip-offs from the vampires.
by Monty. on
Oct 6, 2008 1:10 PM EDT
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bettini is probably 10lbs overweight already
he gained 12 kilos in 2 months after lombardy last year. imagine what he will look like retired?
by humbug1 on
Oct 6, 2008 1:15 PM EDT
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Yay Mikhail Khalilov
cleans up in yet another non-VDS race. Shame that he never even got to start a VDS one.
by Monty. on
Oct 6, 2008 1:27 PM EDT
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We barred him
for excessively ugly shorts.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 4:34 PM EDT
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Aren't you thinking
of that team of Swedish ballet dancers?
Must be a new team kit. I’m sure he wasn’t quite so spotty earlier in the year.
by Monty. on
Oct 6, 2008 6:12 PM EDT
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Lefevre must be happy it happened before he was in a Q-S kit.
by brunopitton on
Oct 6, 2008 1:00 PM EDT
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Yeah, wouldn’t want any drug scandals ruining his reputation.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 6, 2008 1:06 PM EDT
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Hans-Michael Holczer
I’m sure there’s a lot of love for Holczer for how outspoken he was about doping. And some may even regret his inability to gain a new sponsor for next season. But that fact that this is yet another doping scandal involving one of his riders does make you wonder how close an eye he was keeping on his team.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 6, 2008 12:45 PM EDT
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good question
interestingly, radsport-news doesn’t have either of these stories up yet.
and gazzetta is now frantically re-editing their piepoli story to add schumacher. entertaining to watch how fast everyone can edit…
by gavia on
Oct 6, 2008 12:48 PM EDT
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my first post on PdC was on Schumi winning the TT
I got scalded for questioning the “shocking” performance. It never made sense, at least in the margins he won by – now we know why. He is still a great interview though and I kinda liked the guys personality despite the suspicions.
by humbug1 on
Oct 6, 2008 1:02 PM EDT
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Well
credit where credit is due. In truth, all we knew then was that he hadn’t been flagged, despite an outlier performance. I guess a lot of people’s first reaction to suspicions is resistance, if only because we don’t wish to have that conversation again. But Schumi… there were flags.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 1:20 PM EDT
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Seems like
there were plenty of others that shared your skepticism.
by dheadrick on
Oct 7, 2008 12:16 AM EDT
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So what is the next
undetectable drug?
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 6, 2008 1:16 PM EDT
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a little drug called common sense...
so far it has been undetectable in the riders and directors.
by humbug1 on
Oct 6, 2008 1:42 PM EDT
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Comment of the Week
You can close the competition to entries now.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 4:34 PM EDT
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ohhh - what do I win?
given I was just at interbike and still have a cupboard full of free gel samples and the like, I am thinking you will have to give me some top shelf shit!!!!
by humbug1 on
Oct 7, 2008 2:25 AM EDT
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violating the laws of economics
It suffers from both short supply & low demand.
by JFS_PGH on
Oct 6, 2008 6:53 PM EDT
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Silly Question maybe
but why can’t ANY rider sue a caught doper for lost wages
because clearly the cheaters reduce the earnings of the on cheaters
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 6, 2008 1:18 PM EDT
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What I want to know
is why can’t I sue them for VDS points lost?
by Hons on
Oct 6, 2008 1:42 PM EDT
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I'm not a sports lawyer or knowledgeable about European law,
but in the US, you have to “standing” to sue another person/entity. Part of this concept is that one cannot have a generalized greivance, and must be harmed in a “different” way than the rest of society. All of the other riders are all harmed in the same way, i.e., the sport in general suffers. The most common example is that a taxpayer has no standing to sue the government for waste, because he/she suffers the same harm as every other taxpayer. It is a constitutional policy aimed at decreasing litigation. At least, this is what I would argue if I represented a doper. ~:-)
by dheadrick on
Oct 7, 2008 12:33 AM EDT
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sounds like the counter
would be to form a “class”—
by R Mc on
Oct 7, 2008 9:11 AM EDT
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Ok little quiz.. How many stage have been won by riders how doped?
2006, 2007 and 2008?
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
by Frinking on
Oct 6, 2008 1:20 PM EDT
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scary question
although in fact I think you mean who were “caught” doping
as any answer seems (sadly) understated
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 6, 2008 1:21 PM EDT
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yes indeed
But I meant only the Tour.
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
by Frinking on
Oct 6, 2008 1:25 PM EDT
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One stage in 2006, four in 2007 and so far five in 2008?
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 6, 2008 1:39 PM EDT
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Wasn't it 5 in 2006?
2 times Honchar
1 time Rasmussen
1 time Kessler
1 time Landis
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
by Frinking on
Oct 6, 2008 1:45 PM EDT
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But
Honchar and Kessler never tested positive.
by Monty. on
Oct 6, 2008 1:49 PM EDT
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Rasmussen
never tested positive did he?
just assumed guilty for eating burritos
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 6, 2008 1:50 PM EDT
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C'mon
We can assume they did. Kessler teste positive.
Rasmussen and Honchar were machines. Both guilty.. Or maybe only in mine opinion
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
by Frinking on
Oct 6, 2008 1:56 PM EDT
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I don't think that many people have any doubts at all
just saying technically, for the record, etc.
by Monty. on
Oct 6, 2008 6:36 PM EDT
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This year alone
It means that of the Tour’s 21 stages, five were won by riders who have subsequently tested positive. They were stages four and 20 (Schumacher at Cholet and Saint-Armand), stages six and nine (Ricco at Super-Besse and Bagneres-de-Bigorre) and stage 10 (Piepoli at Hautacam).
by Hons on
Oct 6, 2008 1:41 PM EDT
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I'll bite on 2008
Stage 4: Shumi dopes, Kirchen wins stage and yellow jersey (David Millar has same time as Kirchen). Due to the dopin, Kirchen gets two more days in yellow than planned. He would take over on Stage 6.
Stage 6: Ricco dopes. Valverde wins
Stage 9: Ricco dopes. V. Efimkin wins the stage
Stage 10: Piepoli dopes. Cobo wins shoe drops. F. Schleck wins shoe may drop? B. Kohl wins.
Stage 20: Shumi dopes. Fabian wins stage.
by PopUp Rolen on
Oct 6, 2008 1:43 PM EDT
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see Peeps post concerning possibility of Kohl
who was next?
Its like the 97 tour when Ulrich won you had to go to 12th to declare someone who was not mildly involved in anything
by humbug1 on
Oct 6, 2008 1:46 PM EDT
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Valverde wins.. If I have question marks by some rider (expect Schumi)
It is Valverde. Valv Piti. His battling with Lance. Stage 6 Evans?!
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
by Frinking on
Oct 6, 2008 1:46 PM EDT
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Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaait
Fränk has been caught red handed? :O
by OctaBech on
Oct 6, 2008 1:47 PM EDT
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no...
He said “shoe may drop”
But me, I think Kohl is more likely to get nailed than Schlecky. We’ll see anyway.
by gavia on
Oct 6, 2008 1:48 PM EDT
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and i used a question mark
i know how precious Schleck the senior is to some, so I made sure to qualify it with the “may” and “?”
:)
by PopUp Rolen on
Oct 6, 2008 1:50 PM EDT
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Nah forget Fränk
I’m more worried about him being a bad influence on his younger brother
by OctaBech on
Oct 6, 2008 1:58 PM EDT
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For the record
I never listen to my older brother.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 4:42 PM EDT
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That would be Drew right?
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Oct 6, 2008 10:57 PM EDT
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Pfft
He’s at least three weeks younger than me. No, Mr Van P is my flesh and blood. He’s also been chained to his desk for about 6 weeks.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 7, 2008 12:31 AM EDT
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While I do love Chris like a younger brother,
he’s older than me – but not wiser.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
by Drew... on
Oct 7, 2008 12:28 PM EDT
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Well at least you proved his point
The younger brother doesn’t listen to the older brother. :D And now you must have me excused, I’m going to beat up my brother for lying about listening to what I say.
by OctaBech on
Oct 7, 2008 12:36 PM EDT
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Thanks, my nerves can't take this
I hope that none of the riders from teams with independent anti doping programs have doped :( Wouldn’t know where to find light for the sport then.
by OctaBech on
Oct 6, 2008 1:53 PM EDT
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Stage 10 Looks Most Fun
1. PIEPOLI Leonardo
2. COBO ACEBO Juan Jose
3. SCHLECK Frank
4. KOHL Bernhard
5. EFIMKIN Vladimir
Could it stretch all the way back to Efimkin inheriting his second stage win?
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 6, 2008 1:48 PM EDT
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except...
weren’t 2 riders from AG2R among the pool of re-tests?
gah, i’m so confoosed.
by gavia on
Oct 6, 2008 1:49 PM EDT
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Digging deeper into stage 10
6. Ricco
7. Sastre
8. Cadel
9. Menchov
10. Christian Van de Velde
by PopUp Rolen on
Oct 6, 2008 1:53 PM EDT
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Digging even deeper
On stage 10, Ricco took over the mountain jersey from teammate David de La Fuente. He would have held it for two more days until Sebastian Lang took over on Stage 12
by PopUp Rolen on
Oct 6, 2008 1:58 PM EDT
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Yeah they were. Valjavec confirmed. Other possible Efimkin
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
by Frinking on
Oct 6, 2008 1:57 PM EDT
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Frank
may have doped two years ago. Doesn’t mean he did this time.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 4:42 PM EDT
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Woow. that's the hope of a fool..
(Mean nothing bad with that)
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
by Frinking on
Oct 6, 2008 4:58 PM EDT
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Just saying
innocent til proven guilty. Evidence is coming in about 2006. But not 2008. Times have changed a little.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 6:29 PM EDT
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Can I sneeze...
Ahh.. ahhh. ahhh… pologist!
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
by DemonCats on
Oct 6, 2008 8:57 PM EDT
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jess kidding man!
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
by DemonCats on
Oct 6, 2008 8:57 PM EDT
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yeah yeah
and what happens when I pronounce someone guilty without evidence? Anyway, I spent too much on law school to go down that road.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 10:45 PM EDT
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i know, i know...
but if you was a gambling man, instead of a lawyer, what would your gut instinct tell you?
Plus, haven’t we heard the “attempted” story before? At least he could have been creative.
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
by DemonCats on
Oct 8, 2008 10:38 PM EDT
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What attempted story?
You must have Fränk’s testimony mixed up with someone else’s. (:
by OctaBech on
Oct 9, 2008 2:07 AM EDT
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the question is far worse
if one considers Schleck as he played a huge role in Sastre’s victory
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 6, 2008 1:48 PM EDT
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I hope it's all for today *chills*
I know the French can be kinda French, but this time the French approach paid off. :D
by OctaBech on
Oct 6, 2008 1:35 PM EDT
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This has been one crazy season
I think these two were probably expected, at least by most of us.
Not sure i wanna hear who the shocker is going to be.
If you don't have time to do it right the first time, when are you going to have time to do it again?
by CannonDowell on
Oct 6, 2008 1:39 PM EDT
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I haven't seen this yet today:
“we are glad the dopers are getting caught and we are finally cleaning it up”
or some such nonsense. blahhh
by humbug1 on
Oct 6, 2008 1:55 PM EDT
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Complicated one, even for the fans. On the one hand, it is great that the jukies are being caught, escpecially after they thought they’d got away with it before new retro tests were deployed to catch them. It does show that we are making progress in altering the balance of doping int he peloton.
However, on the other hand, you have to ask – why the hell is this being done by the ALFD? What have the UCI been doing since the first CERA test was revealed? Sitting in meetings trying to decide whether LA has to abide to the letter of the six month rule? Why the hell hasn’t the passport caught any of these riders? Stung the UCi into acting on any of these riders?
So given that doping controls for the 2009 Tour revert to the UCI you would probably, on balance, have to say it’s not clear whether we’re on a step forward or a step back.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 6, 2008 2:08 PM EDT
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Yes that doesn't bode well for '09
Unless ALFD and ASO will insist on helping out for old friendships sake.
by OctaBech on
Oct 6, 2008 2:14 PM EDT
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If it's just these two
I’m glad the dopers are gettting caught and we are finally cleaning it up.
Piepoli we basically already knew, and Schumacher was very far from a surprise.
by William H on
Oct 6, 2008 2:10 PM EDT
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I hate days like this...
… everyone now feels compelled to treat me like ass for being a fan of the sport… while overlooking the gross doping negligence inherent in EVERY GODDAMN MAJOR SPORT IN THE UNITED STATES!!!!! So we get raked over the coals by nailing our heros (ok… I don’t think Ricco, Peeps or Schumi were necessarily anyone’s heros) while everyone else puts the blinders on when it comes to their line backers, striker, 1st baseman, power forward, etc… etc… etc…
Someone hold me… and by someone I mean Sarah Duester or Christiane Soeder…
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 2:08 PM EDT
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Perhaps I'm lucky
that nobody in my workplace follows cycling and is likely to ever hear about Piepoli or Schumacher.
by Katiek on
Oct 6, 2008 2:12 PM EDT
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I wont hold you ... high 5 work?
Sure … US sports like football and baseball have gloried in their denial of drugs
No answer for you ….. but let me clear what I really like about cycling: MY RIDES …. By that I mean participating.
I am in awe of the Tour guys …. but more in awe of my little wife climbing Alpe d’Huez in a heavy touring bike.
And all dopers piss me off as much as the do you. Fuck
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 6, 2008 2:12 PM EDT
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Sorry but here is what I mean
It took her over 2 hours without stopping smiling …… this is cycling …..
<img src=“”http://www.flickr.com/photos/willj/2826010162/" title=“Alpe d’Huez Doreen by will_davies, on Flickr”>
"/>
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 6, 2008 2:18 PM EDT
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On the plus side,
She’s a lot prettier than Schumacher or Piepoli.
by Katiek on
Oct 6, 2008 2:20 PM EDT
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sorry in anger I
threw my wife at the problem
the doping just makes me so frustrated ….
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 6, 2008 3:13 PM EDT
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And yet
we hear nothing of the wine bottles you made her carry in that saddlebag.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 4:46 PM EDT
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He didn't tell her about them either :D
by OctaBech on
Oct 6, 2008 4:52 PM EDT
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lol yeah
the bag is FULL – brave
true story: first time I cycled Alpe d’Huez i stayed at the top. Descending down I hid a water a bottle about half way up behind a curve to minimize weight …. I was quite scared.
the psychological benefit of saving a pound of weight early on was huge
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 6, 2008 5:22 PM EDT
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Oh my god... stop the presses...
There… (shock, horror) is a grey sky in one of CyclingChallenges photos! The only way I know it’s REALLY from him is because there’s a marmotte in the photo.
Seriously though… that’s a very cool perspective… I appreciate it :)
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 5:27 PM EDT
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:)
yep fake sky … it was true blue
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 6, 2008 5:33 PM EDT
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PS
it’s a relatively famous shot as when you climb the Alpe there is always a pro photographer at this point making the steepness seem steeper than the already crazy reality.
of course if I was him the sky would be blue ….
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 6, 2008 5:37 PM EDT
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Come on... that's one photo out of the dozen or so you've posted?
You own weather control equipment, admit it. Which, by the way, will be helpful when civilization ends here in about 3 or 4 weeks.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 5:46 PM EDT
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I am the world's worst photographer
But ride on some of the most beautiful places ….; it’s a nasty conflict that occasionally leads to nice photos
to be clear I started taking lots of photos because I usually need a rest on the big climbs :)
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 6, 2008 5:51 PM EDT
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"Nice Photos"
Understatement post of the week right there… you take “nice photos” like former Yokozuna Musashimaru is slightly overweight.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 6:12 PM EDT
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Now, now.
“Overweight” is relative. Musashimaru is about Tom Boonen’s height and outweighs him by about 153 kilos, so it’s true he probably wouldn’t be much good in a sprint finish. Then again, I doubt our Tommeke could win over 700 sumo-wrestling bouts.
All that aside, cyclingchallenge’s photos are indisputably lovely.
by majope on
Oct 6, 2008 6:23 PM EDT
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Never know what Tommeke's might be able to do...
… he’s 1.93m and 84kg while Yokozuna Asashōryū is only 1.84m but 148kg. Asashōryū can bring the power, but Torpedo Tom has the speed. Furthermore, would you EVER bet against Jens! even in a sumo wrestling match? I would pay serious money to see Jens! participate in this…
On mounting the dohyō the wrestler performs a number of rituals derived from Shinto practice. Facing the audience, he claps his hands and then performs the leg-stomping shiko exercise to drive evil spirits from the dohyō as the gyōji, or referee, who will coordinate the bout announces the wrestlers’ names once more. Stepping out of the ring into their corners, each wrestler is given a ladleful of water, the chikara-mizu (“power water”), with which he rinses out his mouth; and a paper tissue, the chikara-gami (“power paper”), to dry his lips. Then both step back into the ring, squat facing each other, clap their hands, then spread them wide (traditionally to show they have no weapons). Returning to their corners, they each pick up a handful of salt which they toss onto the ring to purify it.
Finally the wrestlers crouch down at the shikiri-sen, or starting lines, each trying to stare the other down.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 7:03 PM EDT
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You did read past the
“Squat facing each other” bit right?
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 7:08 PM EDT
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those sumos need to work
on their power to weight ratios for the big climbs
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 7, 2008 4:25 AM EDT
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Well... as I recall Musashimaru and Takanohana...
… had a body composition more suited towards the one day classics. Ardennes types…
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 7, 2008 10:18 AM EDT
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They could be the Ardennes for chrissakes
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
by Jens on
Oct 7, 2008 11:47 AM EDT
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Maru
made quite a living off that belly. Doesn’t “overweight” imply some sort of intent to be otherwise?
And yes, don’t get me, or Drew, started on Sumo.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 6:31 PM EDT
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No... I merely meant "overweight" in the whole BMI, generally accepted...
… “that’ can’t possibly be healthy in the long term” sort of thing.
That said, I always, always waited and hoped with baited breath for the inevitable Musashimaru v. Takanohana bout. These young Mongolian whippersnappers just don’t quite bring the thunder in the same way.
Is Kirin-Ichiban with Chanko-nabe considered performance enhancing?
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 6:56 PM EDT
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Hm
Kirin sucks. But chanko-nabe, in something less than 5000 calorie servings, is bound to help.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 7:03 PM EDT
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Well... I figured the malt liquor aspect would help with the caloric stuff...
… I’d prefer Sapporo m’self with the stew. Maybe start off with some of the Rihaku Nigori Sake I have sitting on the shelf here. Apparently one “Rihaku” might mean “Dreamy Clouds”
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 7:07 PM EDT
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OK
new policy: all Podium Cafe official gatherings will feature a pot of chanko nabe. As an experiment.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 7:35 PM EDT
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Personally
I’d prefer the pork version.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 7:37 PM EDT
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CrashDan scratches chin thoughtfully...
… looks around his apartment… at the Super Ninja hotpot stove and pot…
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 11:44 PM EDT
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Oh and
Somewhere along the way I found old Sumo basho video online. Really, it was the entire basho, as highlights. Can’t remember if it was on the sumokyokai.co.jp site or youtube or what have you. It was a quiet day when I made this discovery. and a very happy one.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris... on
Oct 6, 2008 7:05 PM EDT
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Someone hold me… and by someone I mean Sarah Duester or Christiane Soeder…
Wow, going for the sympathy hug. Classy guy.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 6, 2008 2:14 PM EDT
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At this point...
… I’ll take the hugs anyway I can get ‘em. I dare any man here to foreswear a hug from Christiane Soeder for any reason beyond … hell, I don’t know… leprosy.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 5:28 PM EDT
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She's nice & all, but...
I dunno, Boonen’s more my type.
by marian on
Oct 6, 2008 6:07 PM EDT
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Hey!
I said “dare any man”
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 7:04 PM EDT
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So you did. I got carried away.
It happens often.
by Albertina on
Oct 6, 2008 7:08 PM EDT
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I didn't know if you were using the term "man"
as a false generic or as “person with mismatch sex-chromosomes”.
Sorry.
And I never said I wouldn’t take a hug from Ms. Soeder, I was just saying that Mr. Boonen was more to my liking.
It’s just a little ironic that I’d take a sympathy hug from yayoh party boy in the Schumacher positive for CERA thread given yayoh party boy’s non-attendance at the race in question b/c of yayoh party boy habits.
Whatevs. I’d still take a hug.
by marian on
Oct 6, 2008 8:40 PM EDT
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Yayoh Party Boy...
Classic!!
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 11:45 PM EDT
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Totes.
While I’m not trying to marginalize doping in cycling, I kind of believe that the stuff cyclists are doing would look like little league bull malarky compared to say, oh, pro football, baseball, etc.
I haven’t been able to find anyone to hold me so I think I’ll just start drinking.
Heavily.
by marian on
Oct 6, 2008 2:28 PM EDT
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yup
300lb men doing the 40yd dash in sub 5!? Yeah, right!
"Race radios in Cat 4?"
by gravel road on
Oct 6, 2008 2:51 PM EDT
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Lock your office door
Cancel all your meetings. Ignore the phone. Put on your centaur costume and head for Venice.
by Jimbo... on
Oct 6, 2008 3:14 PM EDT
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Venice has a mighty herd.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 5:28 PM EDT
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and by someone I mean Sarah Duester or Christiane Soeder…
ummm can I have a crack at the one that you decide you want to pass on? :D
by Fred Marx on
Oct 6, 2008 7:55 PM EDT
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Buddy...
…if it should ever happen in my live that I get a CHOICE… well… you’ll be too busy fighting off one of the four horsemen…
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 11:46 PM EDT
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life... not live...
dammit
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 11:47 PM EDT
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VeloNews has information and a sense of humor
I love the picture they chose to highlight their story. Pic and words here. Schumi’s first response:
“This is the first time I have heard of all this. All I can say is that I have not undertaken doping. This is nonsense.”
by PopUp Rolen on
Oct 6, 2008 2:36 PM EDT
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Also
Holczer told SID: “The director of the Tour, Christian Prudhomme, has confirmed it and I have no doubt that it (Schumacher’s positive test) is true.”
He was the heard muttering…
Have we sold that team bus already? Dammit….
by Hons on
Oct 6, 2008 3:18 PM EDT
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“We were cheated. I will use the last cent in my pocket to take legal steps against him. I had no suspicions,” he said, adding that Schumacher has already been tested 13 times this year by the sport’s controlling body UCI.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 6, 2008 3:22 PM EDT
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"We have been fooled by this man."
Holczer being Holczer. On VN.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 6, 2008 2:50 PM EDT
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No more pre-Tour betting
on who wins which stage. From now on, we bet on which stages will be won by riders subsequently shown to test positive.
Also, Tour results will in the future only be preliminary, because a month or two following the end of the race will be needed to determine who is positive, and another week or two for all the results to be fed into a computer to determine who really won such-and-such stage, who really held the jerseys that day, etc. When the computers get really powerful, the effect of dopers on peloton tactics will also be subtracted out.
What a brave new world we’re entering.
by OMJ on
Oct 6, 2008 2:52 PM EDT
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Since the 1904 Tour, the results have effectively been provisional.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 6, 2008 2:53 PM EDT
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Thank god, no changes then?
I was afraid I’d have to watch helicopter-shots of cathedrals for two months before each podium presentation.
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
by Jens on
Oct 6, 2008 2:55 PM EDT
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Two months? Here's a glimpse of the future.
PARIS, July 23, 2017
Andy Schleck was today declared the provisional winner of the 104th edition of the Tour de France. The 32-year-old Luxembourger held the winner’s trophy aloft in triumph for a few seconds before handing it back to Tour officials. Schleck will take permanent possession of the trophy in 2025, once the WADA’s statute of limitations for doping runs out, providing his subsequent blood tests remain negative for any currently-known or yet-to-be-discovered performance-enhancing drugs.
"I dedicate this win to my brother—Frank, we miss you!" Schleck said on the podium. Former cyclist Frank Schleck was ejected from the sport earlier this year after a checkered history of doping near-misses. In 2008, he admitted to paying almost 7000 Euros to Puerto Doc Eufemiano Fuentes ("I thought I was paying for a training program"); in 2011 cell phone records documented that he had contacted the notorious Dr. Michele Ferrari on several occasions ("What? I thought I was buying a sports car"); and in 2015 he was photographed sitting on the lap of Dr. Carlos "Ali the Chemist" Santuccione ("Okay, but it never went beyond first base").
In March, Frank Schleck was finally nailed for gene-doping after it was discovered in random testing that up to half of his genes matched those of one of his teammates. Given his previous history, his protests ("Hey, he’s my brother—of course half our genes match!") were discounted and he received a lifetime ban.
Once Andy Schleck stepped down from the podium today, his place was taken by the newly-certified winner of the 2009 Tour, Lance Armstrong. "Here’s to all the non-believers," he said, "and anyone who laughed when I rolled into Paris eight years ago in 14th place." Since that day, the top thirteen finishers have all been disqualified, the last being Frank Schleck in March.
by majope on
Oct 6, 2008 3:44 PM EDT
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Kohl Called
"I spoke to Stefan on the phone today and he should really be the first one to hear of these matters. I want to say nothing until it is official.
"
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 6, 2008 3:23 PM EDT
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Doesn't CERA last for a month with one dose?
If he tested positive for say the first TT that he won, wouldn’t he then also test positive for every subsequent test during the rest of the Tour? Also, I’m not saying that Kohl was or wasn’t doing anything, but he did fly up the mountains and in the TT far beyond what he’d ever done before. Anyone taking bets on the possibility of him popping positive also? Same team, both had outstanding Tours…
If I just had one more gear, I...
by SpunOut on
Oct 6, 2008 3:31 PM EDT
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We have an article about this and other doping scandals on my website as well. I tossed a link in this sites direction, but I am not sure if the trackback worked. Here is our article on Schumacher :
by CheatorBeat on
Oct 6, 2008 3:47 PM EDT
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With all this doping talk, it's getting depressing, i think the Ladies should start the rear of the year thread..
Reminding us of one of the reasons we enjoy watching the cycling LOL…
Just my thoughts LOL…
by CycleGirl on
Oct 6, 2008 4:02 PM EDT
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My head is still spinning so please feel free to start up a new thread.
Just trying to read up tonight is enough for me.
Dan might get some laughs from this… the doc called what I have – labyrinthitis. I can only say that this is like the worst hang over ever. Everything spins, totally dizzy, and the topper is the loss of balance. I am all for a hang over like this, but who was so damn mean in creating it with out letting me enjoy the party first?
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Oct 6, 2008 11:14 PM EDT
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Labrynthitis?
You have an irritation of one of these things???

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 11:48 PM EDT
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Oof... that sounds horrible!
I’ve had tinnitus before from taking too much aspirin while I had a fever… but that was just a dull ringing in the ear… this sounds like a massive nasty.
This just isn’t your year… have you considered taking a nap and not waking up until 2009?
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 11:50 PM EDT
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Smiles :-)
I’m almost annoyed with this round as… if I had known about it, I could’ve used it for next year’s Tour and I’m sure I could’ve stretched it for a good 2 weeks if I tried. LOL.
Getting better. At least I’m down to taking just a 1/2 box of motion sickness pills a day now. The first couple days it was a box a day to make rooms stop spinning. Doc said tonight that it should be gone in another 2-3 days? I’m ready for it to go away now.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Oct 7, 2008 11:21 PM EDT
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poor nikki... i've had that before... so bad that even my own breathing made me dizzy
and the cure was almost as bad…
as long as i don’t eat any ginger, the labyrinthitis doesn’t recure
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
by umwolverine on
Oct 7, 2008 7:59 AM EDT
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ginger? strange because that's what I used for seasickness
by lyne on
Oct 7, 2008 11:06 AM EDT
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That's what I thought too.
And Ginger tea & ginger laced foods are often touted as helping to soothe upset tummies.
Weird.
by marian on
Oct 7, 2008 11:26 AM EDT
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ginger works for me - I use it when I go scuba diving
don’t want to take drugs then
by lyne on
Oct 7, 2008 11:33 AM EDT
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How exactly do you consume this ginger?
Since I"m going to be taking a refresher course before a few boat dives out by Catalina before going diving on Cleopatra’s palace in Alexandria. I’d prefer not to puke my وف all over the Mediterranean
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 7, 2008 2:52 PM EDT
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crystallized ginger or really good (ie lots of ginger content) ginger snaps
Basically, I eat a few as I get on the boat and then a few more if I start feeling queazy. But if it the water is very choppy, well puking might be the only option (been there, done that, not a pretty sight)
I was very dubious about these when the dive master gave me a cookie to help but it worked! amazing…
by lyne on
Oct 7, 2008 2:58 PM EDT
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You can also get ginger capsules at any health food store
I took them on a cruise last year, but admittedly as backup to the Bonine (meclizine) I took every night before bed. Bonine is sold as a motion-sickness drug, but you can find generic meclizine sometimes sold really cheaply as an antihistamine. If you take it at night, you’re over any drowsiness it might cause by the time you wake up.
by majope on
Oct 7, 2008 3:34 PM EDT
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The generics are wonderful and like 1/2 price of the Bonine.
Working well for dizziness and all that comes with that and the combo of no center of gravity. But the doc was a bit concerned so many were needed. When I asked if I should try something else, she said nope, keep taking them if they are working. Working? Well I guess so as I can walk almost straight line again.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Oct 7, 2008 11:24 PM EDT
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in large doses they can cause disequilibrium instead of curing it
Just FYI, if the cure stops heading in the right direction at some point.
by JFS_PGH on
Oct 8, 2008 3:07 AM EDT
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Crystalized ginger, ginger tea
A thai place I know makes a plate of veggies & tofu with a mothaload of ginger.
I think you can also make your own tea, of sorts, by finely slicing some fresh ginger & the steeping the ginger slices in hot water for a while.
by marian on
Oct 7, 2008 3:29 PM EDT
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Well...
My friend and I are leaving on the 16th of November from LAX to Paris… meet my Dad and his fiance at Charles de Gaulle and catch a connecting flight to Cairo then Alexandria. Spend four days in Alexandria where my friend and I will go diving on Cleopatra’s Palace and the Pharos of Alexandria (if you can’t see the pyramids, might as well dive on one of the other Ancient Wonders), then take a train from Alexandria to Luxor. Spend a week in Luxor going to the Luxor Temple, Hatshepsut’s Temple, Valley of the Kings and maybe a Felluca cruise on the nile. Much time will also be spent in cafe’s drinking الشاى الأسود with the locals, playing تحرير, smoking شيشة and people watching.
In preparation for that, I’m planning on taking a Diver’s Refresher course at a local shop here, then at least one if not two boat dives to Catalina so that I’m familiar enough with diving again not to do stupid shit like hold my breath on ascending in an emergency, practice buddy breathing, make sure I know how I’m supposed to be weighted now that I’m 40lbs lighter and six inches skinnier than I was last time I went diving.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 8, 2008 2:15 PM EDT
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Pharos has to be really shallow, right?
which is of course where you do the greatest damage to your ears and lungs in the shortest ascent. (greatest change in pressure per foot, naturally). Except for the safety stop, they don’t usually emphasize until advanced courses that you need to be most aware popping up and down over terrain in the shallows.
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do this. Warm salt water architectural diving has got to have deep and cold wreck diving actually beat hollow (and I’m pretty fond of deep wrecks). Pharos and the statues over the pyramids? Any day.
BTW, with less fat (sorry, assuming you’re not shedding muscle) your buoyancy will depend much more on your breathing, especially in a thin wetsuit. And if you do Catalina at this time of year (actually, it’s not THAT cold yet, I guess) it’ll be a lot more neoprene than you’ll have in Egypt.
Which local shop, BTW? Ocean Adventures have pretty clean gear and good attitude. Scuba Haus has good gear. I think the really scummy shop (on Santa Monica, maybe?) finally went under.
by JFS_PGH on
Oct 9, 2008 2:44 AM EDT
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Ecodivers on Sepulveda...
They just did an inspection on my friend’s octopus and reg, replaced the O-rings and cleaned out her BC (had some dried salt crystals in it). Refresher is $95 and a two (maybe three tank?) dive on Catalina is also $95.
All the dive locations permitted in Alex are shallow so I’m not REALLY worried about safety. I just want the practice before hand so I’m not fumbling with how to vent the BC, how to purge the reg along with the buddy breathing primarily. Better safe than sorry.
Of course anything below 30’ and you start talking about having to do real dive plans too and measure your surface time, decompression, etc and it’s been years since I horsed around with that stuff.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 9, 2008 8:56 PM EDT
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They just did an inspection on my friend’s octopus
wow … that got my attention
by lyne on
Oct 10, 2008 12:28 AM EDT
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Really? inspecting her octopus gets your attention...
… but not that they cleaned out her BC?
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 10, 2008 2:23 PM EDT
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Me too.
it doesn’t always work, but for anything under 4+ foot seas it’s pretty reliable, even in a smaller boat. Of course, tainted ginger was one of the big no-nos from China a few months ago, and the good, cheap crystalized ginger I get is usually the chinese stuff, so… I’ll probably still use it. In moderation.
by JFS_PGH on
Oct 8, 2008 3:05 AM EDT
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very allergic to ginger... mushrooms, however, are deadly to me
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
by umwolverine on
Oct 7, 2008 11:53 AM EDT
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all fungi, yeasts included, or just basidiomycetes?
sorry, bio curiosity, feel free to not answer.
by JFS_PGH on
Oct 8, 2008 3:08 AM EDT
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not a problem with yeasts... but keep me away from decaying leaves...
thankfully my house is surrounded by pines and red oaks (wear a hard hat outside… the acorns are bombing away)
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
by umwolverine on
Oct 8, 2008 8:02 AM EDT
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Another shoe drops
Apparently they’ve also caught Riccardo Riccò. Again.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 6, 2008 5:21 PM EDT
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The depressing thing is
…all three of the first three retests were positive. We were told to expect the other results by the end of this week. Advice? Don’t look up.
by majope on
Oct 6, 2008 5:32 PM EDT
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I'm praying this isn't true...but I'm not naive enough to be shocked if so
“According to the Dutch newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen five teams are implicated. The paper alleged last week that two are at the forefront of the fight against doping, running internal anti-doping programmes.”
by Albertina on
Oct 6, 2008 6:40 PM EDT
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this one?

http://pro.corbis.com/images/CB067871.jpg?size=572&uid=7B82B80F68-0AC8-482A-A3DE-B576FD2B885E7D
by JFS_PGH on
Oct 6, 2008 7:08 PM EDT
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all the French speakers, here is a studio
today at France 2 TV, can someone make a short recap in English?
Kim A. looked a bit annoyed, though I have no idea what he was saying..
http://sport.france2.fr/stade2/index-fr.php?date=2008/10/5&id_article=1144
oh, and not surprised at all by Piepoli and Schumi, we knew that all along….
by Bruce Suomi on
Oct 6, 2008 5:35 PM EDT
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Thanks for the link..
..I read quite a lot about this broadcast on the French forums but just now had a chance to see it.
First part was a couple of sport doc and DS wondering:
1/ If we were not coming back to the old era of sprinters (read Hincapie) leadind the train up to the top of the mountains. This was directly concerning Cancel and Voigt.
Both of them in great shape and having clearly stated their ambition for the world. Also noting that both of them DNS for the WRR within days of the race.
2/The F. Schelck perf at l’Alpe seemed very suspicious to the doc. Huge power here at the end of a tough stage.
Kim Andersen (CSC assistant) told the journalists “Doping at CSC? plain impossible. We’re not scared”
IMO, the funny part of the interview. lol.
After that Bordry denied all the names (Cobo, both Schleck, Cancel, Voigt, Arvesen, O’Grady, Kirchen, Piepoli and Schumacher, lol again), BUT he also said that for the sake of fair tests, since the samples were # and not names…he could not say more. His (implied, not said) PoV was that the fact of revealing who were the riders under suspiscion might create a legal vice toward the lab people. At this point the journalist came back to Bordry’s statement that some riders not showing up for the WRR would not sleep well. He asked him if it was concerning Cancel, Kirchen, and Voigt. No answer and a bit red in the face, the head of the AFLD.
Bordry explained that the riders with abnormal blood values were told before the TDF to consult their doc because the values were abnormal and they might be sick (lol a lil’ bit again). That was a good point, he made sure to let them know that he understand that it might be some kind of illness but he also told them that they would be under special scrutiny during the TDF.
The most interesting part of the interview IMO was the following.
It seems like the Lausanne lab (UCI) was doing the same kind of research on the new CERA’s blood test and came out with a reliable test at the same time than Chatenay-Malabry. So in fact BOTH LAB have a CERA’s blood test using the same criteria but slightly different in the procedure.
The most intriguing was that for a rider to be declared positive, THE SAMPLE HAS TO BE POSITIVE AT BOTH LAB. In other word if a positive shows up in France and not in Switzerland (or the other way around), it will be a negative. It has to be both.
Finally, he got a bit mad at the bold guy (French secretary of the sports) regarding the Bio passport. “How come Ricco and Beltran, that were supposed to have had 6 blood test for the passport slipped through the net? They were part of teams having signed the agreement”.
That seems a bit odd to see HIM saying that, he MUST know that the all thing desintagrated for this year. IMO, he wanted to have a statement on record from the Secretary regarding the passport.
He also stated that he would personally contact each and every positive to let them know.
On a more personal note, I found pretty funny to see the main TDF journalist st F2 (JR Goddard) wearing the yellow wristband. He clearly stated in the past that he knows for a fact (ha, what’s new) that Armstrong was jacked to the bones when he won the races.
I understand now why the French forums bashed the journalist so much. The guy is a DH anyway. Nothing to do at that place.
Long post, sorry about that.
by Celestn on
Oct 7, 2008 3:11 AM EDT
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Thanx for your work. Appreciate it
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
by Frinking on
Oct 7, 2008 3:52 AM EDT
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Adding my thanks
for your translation and report :)
by Katiek on
Oct 7, 2008 9:36 AM EDT
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Thanks for the translation
I wonder if they only inform the riders about the odd blood values or if they did the also informed the teams? Because then the sport directors got some explaining to do.
It’s a little odd that UCI hadn’t put the riders on 15days health break as they should according to the biological passport, perhaps they do not perform enough tests?
by OctaBech on
Oct 7, 2008 11:24 AM EDT
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Cool, thanks :-)
The bit about the double testing was reported at l’equipe – that the sample had to be positive in both labs to be declared a violation. Nice bit of work there from the authorities.
by gavia on
Oct 7, 2008 11:41 AM EDT
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At least one comment there is flat out wrong
Jens! did not withdraw from the worlds within days of the race. He clearly stated right after the olympics that he was NOT going to Varese. We had a discussion of it right here. He motivated it with a long season and lacking motivation.
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
by Jens on
Oct 7, 2008 11:55 AM EDT
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I only knew about Fabian the 09/09, but is ~16 days a short warning in cycling? I do not remember if the re-testing had been rumoured/made official at that time.
by OctaBech on
Oct 7, 2008 12:17 PM EDT
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It could be fun if we could make a list of when the riders withdrew. I only remember Fabian’s date because I made a thread at the official CSC board.
by OctaBech on
Oct 7, 2008 12:20 PM EDT
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Agree with you..
..It’s not a late DNS.
I only translated the program though, did not interpreted it .
by Celestn on
Oct 8, 2008 8:40 PM EDT
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Are those 2 of the 3 testees supposed to be..
..the first wave?
The second wave (7 I believe) was said to be released by the end of this week, right???
Confused here…
by Celestn on
Oct 6, 2008 6:57 PM EDT
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yep, seems so
the tests are not over yet
by King of Doping on
Oct 6, 2008 7:20 PM EDT
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I'm guessing yes...
Which means we’re due one more positive pronto. I haven’t seen it yet, though I got me some guesses ;-)
The second wave should be later this week, if all the pre-publicity is correct.
by gavia on
Oct 6, 2008 7:26 PM EDT
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Go back up to "Another shoe drops"
The third positive is supposed to be Ricco.
by majope on
Oct 6, 2008 7:31 PM EDT
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lol, yeah
that’s it, it was disbelief ;-)
actually, i was confoosed that they bothered to re-test him, when he’s already done and over.
by gavia on
Oct 6, 2008 9:16 PM EDT
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Confirms that the test works. And helps explain why he passed before.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 7, 2008 5:20 AM EDT
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yep
Makes sense. Reportedly, his new positives are from the same days as Piepoli’s positives. Fancy that. He will not face new sanctions, though, they’re treating this as one doping incident because it was all at the same race.
by gavia on
Oct 7, 2008 11:36 AM EDT
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He will not face new sanctions,
That’s the bummer, I feel. Every incident should be a new case :)
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 7, 2008 11:38 AM EDT
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meanie ;-)
lol, yeah, he’d be out for life then.
by gavia on
Oct 7, 2008 11:39 AM EDT
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Way I see, it ought be like speeding. If I’m tooling up the motorway and get snapped five times breaking the speed limit, I get five tickets. In cycling, if a junkie gets caught five times, they get one ticket. Since Anquetil they’ve been demanding to be treated like the average man in the street – let’s start here.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on
Oct 7, 2008 11:45 AM EDT
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If it's caused by one act of dopage
the parallel would more properly be, two cops, 5 yards apart—both clocking you and writing you tickets. Or two cameras at one intersection. That stuff hangs around, you know?
by JFS_PGH on
Oct 8, 2008 3:16 AM EDT
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So Ricco is a double positiver hu..
..Well, more coming according to velo101.
by Celestn on
Oct 6, 2008 10:34 PM EDT
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Just hope that the long overdue(s)..
..will be invited to the party. Would be about time.
by Celestn on
Oct 6, 2008 10:35 PM EDT
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si....
Schumacher was, for me, one of the long overdues.
by gavia on
Oct 6, 2008 11:12 PM EDT
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mmm a few others to add to my list, but we'll just have to wait and see
by lyne on
Oct 6, 2008 11:15 PM EDT
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If Cav, Tony, Jens!, Carlos or Paolo show up positive...
… I will become a fervent fan of Curling overnight.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 6, 2008 11:52 PM EDT
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That's an interesting question
Who would it take getting busted for YOU to turn away from the sport?
by dheadrick on
Oct 7, 2008 12:57 AM EDT
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Interesting question..
..I’m not naive and I’ve been following (very closely at time) the pro world for a while.
So answer is nobody I guess. I just hope that they catch as many as they can.
Although, I do understand the disgust of a younger, especially non European, crowd.
As for me, It all comes down to the sound of the wheels and derailleurs, the screams and curses and the smell of salve. Hooked to the end.
by Celestn on
Oct 7, 2008 2:10 AM EDT
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I'm with Celestn
I think it would be hard for a single positive to turn me off completely. Certainly there are names that would disappoint more than others but I’m ok with the fact that there are no riders today that you can trust 100%. The biggest disappointments come more from being lied to my face. If we play with the idea that Jens! , Lövkvist or Vandevelde would be busted in this latest raid (not for something from 1998), I would be pissed but not because they doped but rather because they are so vocal about not doing it. That´s how I felt about Basso once.
If it over time became obvious that it is impossible to catch the high level cheaters I suspect my enthusiasm would fade to the point where I casually followed the big races only. I think we are a long way from that though.
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
by Jens on
Oct 7, 2008 2:27 AM EDT
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I already think the entire peleton is on something whether its their own blood
or PED’s. I still love the sport at every level and follow the protour now more than ever.
I have posted this before but if Dutch and Italians dying in the early nineties didn’t force me or others away, knobs like ricco and Shumi certainly won’t. there is no one that would shock me – even the CSC and Garmin riders.
by humbug1 on
Oct 7, 2008 3:26 AM EDT
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if sylvain tested positive
i might consider not being a fan anymore. but i did last through my former favorite cyclists just up and quitting (though he probably would have eventually tested positive).
Today, I raced à la Chavanel, and I succeeded.
by callmecayce on
Oct 7, 2008 7:58 AM EDT
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curling is a great sport
for beer drinking
by cyclingchallenge on
Oct 7, 2008 4:30 AM EDT
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The whole of Britain went curling mad when we won the Olympic gold.
Then we all slowly realised how boring it really is.
by Albertina on
Oct 7, 2008 4:55 AM EDT
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sacrilege... curling is NOT boring...
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
by umwolverine on
Oct 7, 2008 9:49 AM EDT
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Obviously you haven't attened the great Gaelic-Italian tradition...
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 7, 2008 10:25 AM EDT
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Clearly your team is not as exciting as ours

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
by Jens on
Oct 7, 2008 12:06 PM EDT
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Thanks for causing me permanent eye damage
That pic is too tiny, how can I report this?
by OctaBech on
Oct 7, 2008 2:07 PM EDT
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So, when will the Giro or Vuelta retest?
by dheadrick on
Oct 7, 2008 12:53 AM EDT
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don't think they took pre-race blood samples since they were under UCI rules
AFLD were the ones that came up with the pre-tests and occasional blood tests to supplement the piss test.
Pathetic when you think about the UCI’s vocal stance against doping – usurped by a national federation.
by humbug1 on
Oct 7, 2008 2:34 AM EDT
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Well I do..
..Having seen the Bordry TV interview, he clearly stated that this was/is a team effort from both organisation and lab. I 100% believed him, I also had other reliable personal contact stating that. The samples have to be positive at the UCI and the French lab to be positive (with 2 similar test, but with slightly different procedure). See the longer post above.
Thay used the pre-race samples (UCI lab sent them to Paris last week) and the massive amount of blood test they took during the rest day. Not sure if they occasionally sampled blood after stages, they usually don’t do that, but don’t quote me on that, I dunno really.
by Celestn on
Oct 7, 2008 3:17 AM EDT
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post-stage
I think taking blood post-stage is a ne thing – within the last season or so. Usually it was only in the pre-race/rest day checks.
The Vuelta claimed it was using the same checks as the Tour, but I’m very skeptical of that claim.
by gavia on
Oct 7, 2008 11:43 AM EDT
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"No word just yet on which stages Schumacher tested positive."
Bordry says Brest (start) and Toulouse (end of stage 8/beginning of stage 9).
by majope on
Oct 7, 2008 7:27 AM EDT
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Sebastian Lang comment
He says that when it became known at the Tour that there was a new test for CERA, everybody on the Gerolsteiner bus was happy…well, almost everybody:
The entire team, except for Stefan. He was suddenly very quiet and withdrawn.
link here (with headline of the day)
by majope on
Oct 7, 2008 7:51 AM EDT
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How interesting....
I hope this isn’t creative licence after the event on the part of Herr Lang though!
by Albertina on
Oct 7, 2008 7:55 AM EDT
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CN is saying he same thing… Telling quotes there.
… we and the team management openly asked him whether there was something we should worry about." The response? “He just openly lied in our faces and said that everything was OK.” …
by Fred Marx on
Oct 8, 2008 12:38 AM EDT
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Meanwhile in the Duchy of Luxembourg
On the same page the Schleck inquiry gets more serious
by Fred Marx on
Oct 8, 2008 12:46 AM EDT
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Translation...
Essentially as follows…
TT.com: Is it true that you almost became a Tirolean?
Kohl: My personal trainer, Werner Zanier, is from Lienz so I thought it would be practical to live close by. In the long run it didn’t work out though because of traffic problems and because the nearest airport is half an eternity away from Lienz.TT: The season is over, when will it start up again?
Kohl: Starting from in the middle of November, I will only have one goal: the Tour de France. I’ll put some time in with coaches, but in the end, you have to lay the foundation by yourself in the winter. A lot of personal responsibility is required. I’m not going to rely so much on a strict training plan though, so much as I’ll rely on my gut and how my body feels. Anyway, as soon as the first snows hit, I’m going to be going cross country skiing.TT: How much does a professional bike racer have to be able to suffer?
Kohl: There are always moments when you think to yourself “Why am I trying to pull this shit?” [Was mache ich denn für einen Scheiß? It’s a German idiom, sorta hard to translate directly]. When you’re training in the rain at 4ºc for hours, you look around and ask yourself whether it makes any sense. But as soon as you’re standing under a warm shower, all of that is forgotten.TT: With Lance Armstrong, an old face is returning to racing. How do you feel about that?
Kohl: It would be an honor to compete with him in the Tour. I’m inclined to think he can win the Tour again. He never stopped training.[Not to sure about this next question and the response. It’s an Austrian talking to an Austrian and I’m not entirely sure about the phrasing. For instance, the question is literally translated as “Will they lay cat-o-nine-tails on his route: keyword ‘old doping controls’? Or does he provoke the theme?” ]
TT: Will they lay obstacles in his [Armstrong’s] path: meaning old doping allegations? Or does he provoke it himself?
Kohl: To speak honestly – and I hear this from the fans on the road – the topic is overblown.TT: Rumors are running around about the retesting of doping controls from this year’s Tour de France. You’re name may be abused by these rumors. Can you make a concrete statement?
Kohl: Actually it is a scandal that anyone will be produced from these tests. The WADA codes is completely clear: B-samples are frozen for an indefinite time and are allowed to be used later for scientific purposes. Some gentlemen would be well served to familiarize themselves with the WADA code. The lab doing the work shouldn’t even know whose sample they are working on. I find it unfair that we, the athletes, must provide notice of where we are 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, while others won’t hold to the rules.[This whole next question is a mess of official and formal German language that I’m not at all familiar with… but I think I’ve got the taste and color of the response correct]
TT: What does the WADA Code have to say about this?
Kohl: Well, in this specific case, of course they can retest; an athlete gives up any rights when he hands over his blood or his urine, and that might lead to conviction, even if they find something [joking?]. It’s ok with me if they test and retest my controls, my problem is more with the principle of the thing and watching my sport get dragged-through-the-mud.TT: Austria has been criticized as a “Land of Dopers”. Do we only have ourselves to blame?
Kohl: I don’t think Austria is any better or worse than any others. However, there was a lot of damage after the last two winter games. We definitely brought that on ourselves. The fact is, that we do a lot of testing and we have a lab in Seibersdorf that is always at the forefront [of testing methods?].
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on
Oct 7, 2008 2:33 PM EDT
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