…in terms of the various attitudes of riders and fans in Europe since Parkin was riding.

He’s right that the puritanical moralism at stake in American judgements is missing, along with anything like the redemptive and salvific storyline that Armstrong was presented within, but I really think the idea that this round of CERA positives are no different from Festina is utterly bizarre.

Also, he completely goes along with the American perception that, really, the races outside the Tour de France are second rate at best. Sure, the TDF is the most important Grand Tour, but hello, Grand Tours are not the end all be all of the sport for European and otherwise informed fans. Ugh.

but i find the whole "innocent american" notion a bit odd. I mean our olympic athletes are doped up and the usoc has always turned a blind eye. Then there’s baseball. I mean! What’s that got to do with europeans – and oddly enough, baseball is still quite popular in the u.s., despite the widespread doping.

Then too people here are not quite as acceptive of doping as he says – so many times i’ve heard people express their disappointment about all the doping in cycling. And i think anti-doping efforts in europe are way ahead of what’s going on in the u.s.

At the same time there really is much more of the shoulder-shrug here. People know it – and well, what can you do? Shrug your shoulders is about all. I think americans are more into total denial. They can’t stand the cynicism of the shoulder shrug, so they refuse to see what’s going on. And when they’re forced to see it, they express outrage and make a big fuss, and then go back to covering their eyes.

I think european culture is just a bit older and bit less idealistic, is all.

(have to agree with some of the other criticisms posted here too)