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Letters to Cyclingnews - November 17, 2006
Here's your chance to get more involved with Cyclingnews. Comments and criticism on current stories, races, coverage and anything cycling related are welcomed, even pictures if you wish. Letters should be brief (less than 300 words), with the sender clearly identified. They may be edited for space and clarity; please stick to one topic per letter. We will normally include your name and place of residence, but not your email address unless you specify in the message.
Please email your correspondence to letters@cyclingnews.com.
Saiz and Tinkoff
Countdown to the 2007 Tour
Improving the reliability of testing
Basso to Discovery
Basso to Discovery #2
Basso to Discovery #3
Cycling and DNA testing
Cycling and DNA testing #2
Forgetting Tom Simpson
Forgetting Tom Simpson #2
Operación Puerto and national federations
Refusing DNA testing - an admission of guilt?
Refusing DNA testing - an admission of guilt? #2
Reverse blood doping
Reverse blood doping #2
Richard Virenque
What's going on behind the scenes?
Saiz and Tinkoff
The suggestion that Tinkoff might use Manolo Saiz' free ProTour license is hilarious. It sounds like the kind of cockamamie evil scheme that James Bond might be assigned to: a Russian billionaire is plotting to use his wealth and power, with the help of a Spanish assistant and a small army of athletes, to take over the sport of cycling! Watch as the indefatigable Bond goes undercover in the peloton with his tricked-out Trek Madone, fully equipped with rocket launchers and the latest in two-wheeled flight technology! James Bond 007: Cogs of Justice, coming to a theater near you in summer 2007.
Jeffrey Jones
CA, USA
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Countdown to the 2007 Tour
I know there is a lot of excitement in the air for the first world cup event of the indoor velodrome season. So why am I already thinking of the 2007 Tour? It must be winter training or my new diet. Maybe I am just sick of waiting to find out if history will remember Landis with an asterisk next to his victory.
London's prologue will no doubt be flat with a number of technical turns. So, because this will require not just speed but the ability to re-accelerate quickly, I have to go with Cancellera. I feel he will race and win in Switzerland, then follow up with a full assault on the Tour. He may fall flat and quite short in the GC list, but I expect him to show his form is top notch. Hincapie too, will want to have one last shot of glory in the Tour. He has proven he can be fast, but his finishing sprint is what cost him the prologue in 2006. Hushovd being fast and muscular will do well in third, with the best chances of gaining time bonuses for the yellow jersey in stages 1-6. Millar will follow in fourth (unless the course is straight as an arrow).
I expect Millar and the British to do everything they can to have the jersey in the following stage, but the course I was shown (unofficially) was not designed for this specialist. Nor should it be. Maybe Millar will be riding in downtown London all spring. Still, great track speed does not always measure into a victory on a course full of turns and accelerations.
That's how I see it,
Timothy Shame
USA
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Improving the reliability of testing
A simple procedural change could improve the reliability and public perception of accuracy of doping tests: Have the A and B samples tested simultaneously at separate labs certified by different licensing organizations. I am sure that potential lab errors including chain of custody issues, transposed tracking numbers, machine calibration, and concerns about tampering would all be reduced with this change.
If these tests are indeed scientific and reproducible, then it stands to reason that independent testers at disparate facilities should return the same results. An added benefit of this scheme: there would be no lag time between A and B sample testing. No more silly leaks or public relations maneuvering by governing bodies or riders.
Michael Randers-Pehrson
Reston, VA
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Basso to Discovery
This is in response to John Pickens letter against Basso and Team Discovery. Don't you think you are a little quick in condemning them? You don't know if Discovery has required Basso to take a DNA test or not. If not, what circumstantial evidence has been gathered against Basso. A phone conversation between two people saying he did well in a race and notes referring to someone named Brillo, which his lawyer says isn't even his dogs name.
How would you like to sit a home without income for the next two years based on someone talking about you in a phone call? He may be guilty of something, but until due process has been served, nobody has a right to condemn any rider on such weak circumstantial evidence. Can you say "European Witch Hunt?"
Todd Tuengel
Los Angeles, USA
Friday, November 10, 2006
Basso to Discovery #2
We can't help but wonder why so many people are upset by Basso being signed by Discovery after the Italian Federation closed his file. While the UCI may not have cleared him yet, he obviously was going to be signed by some team. Johan Bruyneel had tried to sign him for Postal in past years, so if he can ride next year why shouldn't Discovery get there first. They have a no-doping clause in their contracts, and I'm sure he will be expected to do whatever the UCI deems necessary.
As far as DNA tests are concerned, I read that Bruyneel said that he believed the teams should wait on that until the legality of it was confirmed. From what I've read, the only connection to Ivan Basso was a code name that was supposedly his dog's name--then I read an article by a journalist who interviewed Ivan at his house. He said there was a dog, but he had a completely different name. So many don't seem to want to give anyone the benefit of the doubt.
The riders we really feel sorry for are the ones who were supposedly implicated by the Spanish reports, and after missing out on the Tour de France and other races, they were later cleared with no comment at all, as if it was just a big mistake. To have teams fold up, sponsors pull out, and then to find out that almost all the riders have been cleared, it seems as if a big injustice has been done.
How much better it would have been to only release the names of those who were arrested and to have not released the other names until they were ready to charge them with something. We hate to read so many letters where people seem to still believe that everyone who was originally named is guilty, even though they have apparently been cleared.
Joe Alden
North Carolina, USA
Monday, November 13, 2006
Basso to Discovery #3
In response to Jason's letter about Ivan Basso, I can only assume he is an ex pro who is prepared to turn a blind eye to what goes on in the peloton.
Are the biggest team in the pro peleton (arguably),CSC, going to pull Basso out of the Tour on hearsay only? Would they terminate his contract and let him ride for another rival team without some evidence? I very much doubt it.
Also I don't remember Basso arguing too much about having his contract terminated - surely their must be a case for claiming loss of earnings and defamation of character, unless that is, he wouldn't want anything else to come to light as a result.
Puerto is far from over and we could have the scenario of Basso being excluded from next years TdF as well when the case goes to court next June. If he really is innocent and has no links to Dr Fuentes - take the DNA test to dispell all doubts.
Eddie Humphreys
Loughborough, UK
Monday, November 13, 2006
Cycling and DNA testing
No one is forcing these individuals to submit DNA samples. If they don't want to submit, I am sure they can find employment doing something other than riding a bicycle. We really need to define what is a ‘human right’ and what is a ‘privilege’. Riding a bicycle for a living is clearly the latter and not the former!
Trying to make a comparison to athletes and their employers to a country under a fascist leader (hitlarian controls) is beyond ridiculous.
Jay Westfall
Ohio, USA
Friday, November 10, 2006
Cycling and DNA testing #2
I am writing in response to Rob Huber's letter. He states that, "Forcing cyclists to provide their biological profile is a gross violation of workers' rights in any democratic system of the West. Which other occupation, of any union backing, would stand for such an intrusion?"
As a matter of fact, most employers, who deal with workers' unions, require drug tests from their prospective employees. They even reserve the right to randomly test any and all employees after hiring. Is this a violation? No. It signifies the fact that the employer is willing to take measures to ensure that his company or the company he manages has a good public image and even more importantly healthy employees.
Secondly, working as a professional cyclist, or as an athlete in any other professional sport, is nothing like working in any other unionized field such as mining coal, teaching, or being a postal worker. It is a unique situation that deserves an objective approach.
Thirdly, I would rather have no doped athletes, in any sport, with stricter anti-doping measures implemented than having "a few more doped athletes.” Are you serious? It's apparent that people haven't learned anything from Tom Simpson's death.
Having riders submit DNA is the quickest, most effective, and most objective method of proving that their blood wasn't among the bags of blood found during the investigation. While it is certainly unfair that riders are found guilty until proving their innocence, I cannot understand why the majority of the riders implicated in this affair are not more willing to help their own situations.
I'm aware of the fact that nobody likes to urinate in a cup so that other people can examine it. It is necessary to ensure a clean sport, however. I don't see how DNA testing is anything different.
Aaron Gottlieb
Indiana, USA
Friday, November 10, 2006
Forgetting Tom Simpson
Roy,
I totally agree with the sentiments expressed in your letter. To not commemorate Tom by staging L’Etape over Mont Ventoux in 2007 is very shortsighted. How many more people would have been encouraged to participate in this grueling event if they felt they could also pay their respects to “Mr. Tom” when they passed his memorial on the climb up Mont Ventoux?
Isn’t this event supposed to be a way for all less gifted than the professionals to feel the challenge, exhilaration and pain of completing one of the epic stages of the Tour? If you make L’Etape less of an emotional event by just following the route it takes away a lot of the spirit that gets most of us through to the end.
Therefore I will take you advice and hope to see you on the 13th of July in Provence!
Brian Hall
Toulouse, France
Friday, November 10, 2006
Forgetting Tom Simpson #2
Tom Simpson was indeed a fantastic rider, and died in the most awful circumstances so it’s fitting that Brits should want to pay tribute to him; especially on the 40th anniversary of his death. Let them do so, but on their own terms - I do it by visiting the museum set up in his memory after riding the Tom Simpson Memorial race in his home town of Harworth, Doncaster.
However, no one rider is bigger than the sport as a whole, and Tom Simpson died in circumstances that were at best 'mysterious'. There is no 'supposed' about the events leading up to his death - amphetamines were found on him, and its pretty clear from all the evidence that he had taken on more than his fair share of other intoxicating substances too. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence, recorded on film and print, to suggest that Simpson was far from being squeaky clean on these issues.
So, with all the current controversy surrounding cycling in general and the Tour in particular, why would the Tour organisers want to draw attention to the most high profile, if tragic, drug related episode in the whole history of the sport? Whilst his life and career can be celebrated, the manner and timing of Tom Simpsons death is best left out of the cycling spot light.
Keith Richards
Leeds UK
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Operación Puerto and national federations
I found one part of Mr. Finch's letter top be quite interesting, "Yes, national federations have jumped the gun, but may yet get the chance to act once the trial is completed. It would be wise to hold back the castigation and haranguing of every cycling official under the sun until this trial is over."
It is not just cyclists that have been implicated by Operacion Puerto. Several other athletes from multiple sports have also been implicated. For some reason, we do not know the name of even a single athlete outside of cycling. With allegations of fraudulent documents, circumstantial evidence (including dog's names), and a swarming rumor mill, one thing has become clear: The UCI has made a laughing stock out of itself.
How much better would it have been for the UCI, along with every other sporting federation to wait until the case was closed and then proceed with concrete evidence to sanction those riders who were actually guilty. Instead we have the UCI acknowledging that many riders are innocent, but it has done nothing to clear any of them. Whether you look at this problem from the judiciary side or the rider’s side, Operacion Puerto has been little more than a display of grandiose incompetence.
Either move forward with real evidence, or let the riders ride.
Eric E Greek
Columbus, Georgia
Friday, November 10, 2006
Refusing DNA testing - an admission of guilt?
I am amazed at the number of people who think it is fine and dandy to let investigators go on fishing expeditions, not only in regards to cycling, but as a citizen.
Were there a rape in my neighborhood and were the police as a result to try to coerce every male to give blood or other samples to prove our innocence, I would tell them where they could go. Midnight searches, strip searches whatever. The answer would be no. Get a warrant signed by a judge after you have shown legal probable cause.
Of course this could confuse those who would assume a refusal equals guilt, as I am quite certain there would be a huge number of such ‘guilty’ folks. And here I thought that it was supposed to be only in the US where everyone had gone bonkers and was letting the government run wild with the excuse of ‘national security.’
I suppose that professional cycling could condition a license on submitting to a DNA test. Refusal simply means that you give up your license, similar to refusing a blood or breathalyzer test when suspected of driving under the influence in the States. Prosecution by the state would still require evidence obtained under a search warrant. A judge could issue one to force a test. But the two should remain entirely separate.
David Hufford
Tokyo, Japan
Friday, November 10, 2006
Refusing DNA testing - an admission of guilt? #2
Mr. John Picken doesn't seem to understand the difference between accusations and guilt. Mr. Rob Huber on the other hand seems to have a grasp of the situation when he writes, "Forcing cyclists to provide their biological profile is a gross violation of workers rights in any democratic system of the West."
For cyclists to hand over DNA would assume that it would be handled safely and in a legal and expert manner. But we are presently witnessing a horror story for Floyd Landis in which supposedly his samples were reported to be 14 to 1 when the fact is that the original test showed 4.5 to 1 and the lab deviations weren't supposed to exceed 30% errors.
This demonstrated an irrefutable case of contamination of the sample and yet not only were the subsequent tests performed but the results were treated as above dispute! To say this is shocking is an understatement.
In any sane scientific atmosphere, the presence of such overwhelming contamination would have signaled that any further testing would reveal nothing of truth or accuracy.
Further, let's look at the actions of the so-called ruling body, the UCI: We find that there is a close connection between the laboratory, ASO and l'Equipe. So close that l'Equipe was suspected of receiving confidential information and was about to print it and so the UCI released test results to the press completely against their own rules and before they even informed Mr. Landis.
It took many months to discover that the actual results aren't just questionable but if the lab results reported by Landis publicly are in fact correct, should have invalidated every result of that lab and removed them permanently from the UCI approved list.
Then Landis had to wait and ponder many months before obtaining the lab results which he should have had immediately upon such outrageous charges. This looks designed solely to force Landis and his staff to make all sorts of ‘what if’ statements that could only make him look guilty. This is a level of outrage that I hope leads Floyd to take civil actions against the UCI if at all possible.
Mr. Picken, would you be willing to hand over personal and private information about you to be used, abused and misused by what appears to be a completely uncontrolled access?
If the rider's union allows DNA testing, which would presently only allow a testing lab to 'positively' identify a specific person from a blood sample, they are simply opening themselves to great abuse.
We have also seen Lance Armstrong being accused of EPO use and somehow it never seemed to make it into print that at the time of supposed EPO use his hematocrit was 38%. After all, wouldn't that tend to discredit the tests?
I helped develop laboratory instruments that are used for these sorts of tests. During that time I worked closely with chemists who used these instruments. During this time I found that many laboratory technicians and scientists were more than a little lax at following procedures to the letter. Saying that you can detect something with great accuracy and actually believing those results are two completely different matters.
Or to put this into the perspective of the audience here, owning the bicycle that took Lance Armstrong to victory will not produce race results for anyone else.
It is becoming clear that we can no longer trust those who have been running this sport. There are political motivations behind the actions of these people and they are no longer worthy of trust.
Tom Kunich
Friday, November 10, 2006
Reverse blood doping
I have no problem if an athlete donates blood for the performance benefit. It is for the benefit of society. The key word is donate. The donation is free in a controlled medical setting and available almost anywhere in the U.S. The main issue that I see is defining the level at which this is acceptable.
Obviously, there are medical limits to donating blood they could be crossed by an athlete trying to gain an advantage. Perhaps a hematologist or other MD could chime in on this topic. I am sure that Dick Pound will soon give his opinion.
When I was competing, I was concerned that blood donation would hurt my performance.
Steven G.
Virginia, USA
Thursday, November 9, 2006
Reverse blood doping #2
I applaud Nathan for his sense of fair play but we are talking about professional athletes, not boy scouts. What is being suggested is fortunately unenforceable and more than a little naive.
Try this one on. I like to train in the heat of summer during the off season. I can afford to fly myself and a trainer across the equator and set about building form for my next season and also have a little holiday. My competition doesn't. The summer days allow me to warm up faster and stay riding longer. I come back to the season stronger and primed.
Am I cheating? Should my passport be impounded with my bike? Am I forever banned from holidays in sunny locales as long as I'm competitive?
Mark Chen
Australia
Friday, November 10, 2006
Richard Virenque
It’s true there seems to be some hypocrisy in the French organizations, but let’s not forget that Virenque came back clean and finished his career strong where others in the same situation crumbled under the pressure. I respect that. This is exactly what other riders who have been cheating need to do. So if the ASO wants to put their picture boy on the stage as an example of how to overcome doping, then let them.
Mac
Washington, USA
Saturday, November 11, 2006
What's going on behind the scenes?
I must thank Mr. Barclay for his letter clarifying the Spanish investigation. Now that makes sense, and affects my opinion. On the other hand, do we really know what will happen, or exactly what evidence they have?
I'm excited about Basso's transfer to Discovery, but if found empirically that he has doped, I will be the first to help kick him out. If someone fails a drug test, is caught possessing, or transferring doping products, I personally think the UCI should instill life-time bans. But they first must start testing more, my understanding is that it is currently the stage winner, race leader, and two other random riders, and how many cyclist are tested during the off season. 4 riders out of a peloton of 200 or more is not statistically significant.
Plus I think they need to reform the testing procedure, allowing several locations to double blind test, having only one lab test a certain sample is asking for trouble. If there are protocol errors, or incompetent technicians, the errors are exacerbated.
The UCI need to keep quiet until someone is actually indicted before releasing opinions, or information to the public. If they don't have a case, for one reason or another, they shouldn’t be passing judgment or sentence prematurely! I believe that handling of the doping allegations, this year, have hurt cycling more, then even the alleged doping it's self.
And finally, I think it is very dangerous to consider donating DNA samples. Sure, indirectly riders that have given blood for testing have donated DNA, but to start systematically collecting samples of what makes each of us, who we are - it's our identify.
I have undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry, a graduate degree in neurophysiology, and am currently in medical school, so I would not consider myself ignorant on DNA testing, but I would definitely think twice about donating my genetic identity. I think the UCI and WADA have plenty of testing procedures, and should focus their efforts on producing new tests, and perfecting testing protocols.
Jason Kilmer
Friday, November 10, 2006
Recent letters pages
Letters 2006
- November 10: Forgetting Tom Simpson, Tour Route, Basso to Discovery, Cycling and DNA testing, What is DNA testing?, Refusing DNA testing - an admission of guilt?, Jan Ullrich, Operación Puerto and national federations, Reverse blood doping, What's going on behind the scenes?, Comments on McQuaid
- November 3: Tour Route, Return of a real good guy, Cameron Jennings, Future Australian ProTour team, Neil Stephens, 2007 Tour Intro Video Snub, Richard Virenque, Reverse blood doping, Comments on McQuaid, Marc Madiot, Who’s more damaging?, What’s going on behind the scenes?, Wada & Cycling's Governing Body, UCI and Doping, The Pope of Cycling and the Spanish Inquisition, Refusing DNA testing - an admission of guilt?, Put up or shut up!, DNA, its so ‘easy’, DNA Testing In Cycling
- October 27: Tour Route, Fiorenzo Magni, Landis' presentation, Dr, Ayotte is Biased, Operation Puerto, Sample quality assurance protocols, Marc Madiot, Man on a mission, Comments on McQuaid, McQuaid Lunacy, Continental over ProTour, Just a Simple Thank you, Cycling deaths, Ullrich to Discovery, Ivan Basso and CSC, Reverse blood doping, Future Australian ProTour team, Saiz ProTour license,
- October 13: Guilty or not?, Forget about whom?, Innocence and DNA testing, Sporting fraud, Ullrich to Discovery, Landis in the court of public opinion, Women's track events, Cheating redefined, Cycling deaths
- October 6: Guilty or not?, Innocence and DNA testing, Women's track events, Cancellara, Cycling deaths, Is Dick Pound credible?, A load of Grappe?, Cheating defined, Floyd's turbo bottle, T-Mobile
- September 29: Bravo Paolo, T-Mobile, Shortened grand tours, Floyd's turbo bottle, Basso's DNA test refusal, Is Dick Pound credible?, Basso cleared, Natural process possible?, Cycling deaths, Frankie Andreu, Double standards, Cancellara
- September 22: Is Dick Pound credible?, Frankie Andreu, Millar's hollow victory, Cycling deaths, Go Chris, go, Tom's OK, Basso's DNA test refusal, Easier racing?, Floyd's turbo bottle
- September 15: Andreu's admission, Millar's hollow victory, Basso's DNA test refusal, The big ugly open secret, Dick Pound, Discovery's Vuelta double-standard, Doping tests and subjective evaluation, Fitting punishment, Hermida is clean, Floyd Landis' motion to dismiss, Easier racing, Operation Puerto, Thank you Chris Horner, The testosterone test, Mano a mano, Turbo bottle
- September 8: Turbo bottle, Discovery's Vuelta double-standard, Hunger Knock, Basso's DNA test refusal, Eneco, DNA testing, Fitting punishment, Natural process possible?, Operacion Puerto etc , Response to 'No Doping Control is Insane', Stage 17 water consumption, The Testosterone test, The Tour, What's up with Sevilla?, Mano a Mano
- September 1, part 1: The Eneco Tour controversy: Details, Reporting, Eneco vs doping, Time bonuses?, Who was at fault?, One of those things, Discovery behaviour, More barricades, No way for Schumacher to stop, Hard to stop, Officials to blame, The rules, Schumacher amazing, Hincapie's 2nd Place Trophy
- September 1, part 2: Dick Pound, Devil is in the detail, Diane Modahl and Floyd Landis, Dick McQuaid?, Fitting punishment, Floyd Landis and polygraph, Jake to play Lance?, La Vuelta coverage, Natural process still possible, likelihood uncertain, Protour rankings, Hour Record & Tour, Response to 'No Doping Control is Insane', Ullrich's trial by media
- August 25: Eneco Tour, Bring on an Hour Record, Cycling needs a dictator, Diane Modahl and Floyd Landis, Natural process still possible, likelihood uncertain, Response to 'No Doping Control is Insane', Testing procedures must be understood and public, A German Pound?, All winners dope?, Change the things we can, Track the testing, Cycling is not flawed, Defamation lawsuit, Dick Pound, How did the testosterone get there?, Julich: "No one is able to cheat anymore", Floyd Landis, Patrick Lefevere follow-up, Systematic doping? Where is the evidence?, Ullrich's trial by media, Unfair dismissals
- August 18, part 1: Natural process still possible - likelihood uncertain, Denial, Dick Pound, Oscar Pereiro, UCI - ProTour drug solution?, The problem with legalising doping, Changing the rules won't stop cheating, Scandal reduces respect, Blood tests, Corruption, A couple of questions, A couple of questions, A German Pound?, According to WADA: Who isn't doping?, Collect samples every day from everyone, Corruption in the system
- August 18, part 2: Does the dope fit the crime?, Doping and the death of pro cycling, Change the things we can, Doping, Landis, tests, Dufaux?, Floyd, dope, and cycling, Floyd's only way out, It's the jersey, Julich: "No one is able to cheat anymore", Landis affair, Landis and faulty test equipment, Landis and what he leaves behind, Lefevere, Phonak, and cycling's future, Stand by Our Man Landis, Only one positive, How did the testosterone get there?, Patrick Lefevere, Please help with these questions, Case thrown out, Stage 17 bad tactics or dope?, What were the actual results?, Wouldn't it be great, Zero tolerance
- August 11, part 1: Patrick Lefevere, "The media knew before I did", A couple of questions , Distribute the testing, A possible scenario for Landis, A real Tour, Anti-doping transparency, Anyone hear Jack Nicholson?, Are we fighting doping or not?, Bad for cycling - are you kidding?, Best way to deal with doping, Can some one please tell me... , Case thrown out, CIR and T/E tests, Collect samples every day from everyone, Complaining about drugs in cycling, Corruption in the system
- August 11, part 2: Cycling's reputation, Distortions in the Landis case, Does the dope fit the crime?, Doping, Doping in general, Doping, Landis, tests, Doping - the whole sorry mess, Drug testing for cyclists, Drugs & the Tour Down Under, Enough already!, Flawed process?, Only one positive, Unrealistic expectations
- August 11, part 3: Floyd Landis Affair, Floyd, dope, and cycling, Robbie Ventura, Hoping Floyd soon shows HIS evidence, I will prove it, Is this true (and if so, what's its import)?, Landis, Landis and Merckx, Legal black hole, Media circus, Operacion Puerto Victims, Pat McQuaid and doping... , Penalize teams, organizations
- August 11, part 4: Players, Post race reunion, Robbie Ventura, Solutions are there, Stage 17 Bad Tactics or dope?, T-E testing and Oscar Pereiro, Testosterone cheating, Testosterone Gremlins, The "System", doping, and so on, Who do you believe?, Time to level the playing field, UCI - ProTour Drug Solution?, Ullrich, Why process matters, Worse than VDB, Wouldn't it be Great!
- August 4, part 1: I will prove it, Doping, Landis, tests, Why process matters, Robbie Ventura, Rubbish!, Leadership & cleansing, 21st Stage, A few minor thoughts, Stage 17 water consumption, Was it a recovery prep?, Anti-doping transparency, Bad for cycling - are you kidding?, Best way to deal with doping
- August 4, part 2: Case thrown out, Center podium, Collect samples every day from everyone, Complaining about drugs in cycling, Confidence in the testing system, Courage off the bike, Who is Cowboy (2003)?, Crime and punishment, Nothing without the cyclists!, Davis and four others, Does the dope fit the crime?, Doping & money, Doping in cycling, An examination, Drug testing for cyclists, From a fellow pro, In Floyd ..., Do the right thing, Floyd's steroids, Grow Up and Get Real!, Future of testing, Idea for a clean Tour, Landis vs Periero TT, I'm done with cycling, I'm retired as a fan of the pros, Feel like a fool, I'm so disappointed
- August 4, part 3: Team management & doctors, It appears the dope does fit the Crime..., It was the whiskey, It's all a sham, It's everywhere., Nothing is conclusive, Worse than VDB, Cycling needs our support, Of all the tests…, Doesn't add up, Test timing, Players, Legal black hole, B-sample & Marco Pinotti, Landis is guilty of something, Former Phan, Landis Ordeal, Landis Situation, Landis, drugs and cycling, Landis: lab accreditation, The question, Laughingstock, Lawyers in tow, Leaks, Learn from NASCAR, Letter to Editor
- August 4, part 4: Losing hope against the dope..., Mitigating factor, No doping control is insane, One toke over the line, Keystone Cops, Operacion Puerto Victims, Raise the stakes, Something not right, Exhuming McCarthy, Testerone testing, Testing procedure, Landis has been caught, The Jack Daniels defense, The Landis Situation, French testing: a leaky boat, What a positive A sample means, The sieve called doping control, Time to level the playing field, US Perspective, WADA, UCI ruining sport, What about Pereiro?, What's the hold up?, Who's watching the henhouse?
- July 31, part 1: I will prove it, Stop the complaining, Public perception, The process - flawed?, Courage off the bike, Dallas on wheels, Surely not, Sick & insulted, Mitigating factor for Landis, Landis... it is a shame, Landis' abnormal (supernormal) results, Travesty, Who's watching the henhouse?, Could it have been the result of the bonk?, I'm sick of this!, One toke over the line
- July 31, part 2: Why does McQuaid make a bad situation worse, Why does the UCI make a bad situation worse, How one-off testosterone helps, Why risk it? Here's why., Must be natural, Sick of hearing about doping!, Previous reading?, If Landis turns out to be doped, Cycling on trial, All that is gold does not glitter, The science on testosterone, Maybe I am a fool, Loons, Results not yet known, Surely not, Cheated
- July 31, part 3: Who to believe, A slightly inappropriate Landis defence and proposal , Gut feeling, Jaded, Landis, Latest doping allegations, Tired of the system!, Cheating or not, Hard landing for the sport if Landis issue turns sour, Another Landis comment, Why?, Elevated T levels in Landis, Crucified, Floyd Landis, What is happening to cycling?
- July 31, part 4: Testing testosterone, It was the whiskey, Does the dope fit the crime?, Results not yet known, Landis - Say it ain't so!, Doping, Landis, tests, Landis - guilty until proven innocent, T/E ratio and treatment of Floyd Landis, Bad science and a possible solution, Testosterone is a natural substance, Confidence in the testing system
- July 28: Landis - Say it ain't so!, Surely not, The science on testosterone, Results not yet known, Jaded, Leave Landis ALONE!, "Everybody cheats." , Fairness of testing, Crucified, Who to believe?, Landis doping, The A and B test., Why does McQuaid make a bad situation worse?
- July 21, part 2: Legalising doping, Full transparency, Basso and DNA, Doping, lawyers, and Basso, Ullrich's Innocence, Tyler Hamilton, Did Millar come clean, Ullrich's doping plan, Doping and still suffering
- July 21, part 1: Stage 17, 2006 Tour, And the winner is?, Chicken!, Rasmussen not a "team player"?, Enough Lance, Floyd's bad day, Is Discovery really a true U.S. ProTour team?, First-time winners' past records, Kudos to Leblanc, Landis' aero bars, NORBA Nationals, Floyd's not "photogenically challenged", Respect the yellow jersey?, US Nationals, Very unsatisfying
- July 14, part 2: Landis' aero bars, Wide Open Before the Cols- An Average Fan's Predictions, US Nationals, Cipo @ the Tour, And the Winner is?, Boring spots, Disco Boys?, Enough Lance, Is Discovery really a true U.S. ProTour Team?, Kloden by default, Millar's new TT position, Photogenically Challenged Champions, Segregation is not the solution
- July 14, part 1: Legalising doping , Small world, Hamilton's fax, Cheats, Come clean, Simoni, Doping and the double standard, Dopers don't affect love of riding, Greg LeMond, Vino, Lance & LeMond
- July 7, part 2: Legalise it!, Doping, Greg LeMond, Plenty of riders don't dope, What I will do, Phonak, Come clean, Hide & Seek, The Early Signs coming True, Doping and sponsors, Santiago Botero not on the list, An alternative
- July 7, part 1: Are we paying these guys enough? Cardiac hypertrophy and sudden death, A cycling scandal? A sad day for cycling fans, Discovery's team leader, Easier racing won't help, Simoni, Cheats, Vinokourov, An open letter to Ivan Basso, Are we alone?, Sharing the road, Searching for an old book
- June 30, part 1: Easier racing won't help, Communidad Valencia and the ASO, Doping & fans, What a Shame, Sunny side of pro dopers, Tyler Hamilton: how long can he deny, The new "performance" enhancer, Greg LeMond, Armstrong's letter to IOC, Armstrong, L'Équipe, WADA & Pound, A call for one more test
- June 30, part 2: Ullrich and the Tour, Mancebo: The Unsung Hero, Hincapie to lead Disco, Jane Higdon, USA junior development, Voigt vs. Hincapie, Operation Puerto, Where there is smoke, there is fire, Watching the wheels come off, Why only cycling?, UCI request for riders to submit signed statements, UCI leadership questioned by reporters
- June 23: "Next!", Hincapie to lead Disco, USA junior development, Jane Higdon, A call for one more test, Armstrong's letter to IOC, Defending Landis, Doping, The Armstrong/L'Équipe/WADA/Pound affair, Spanish doping allegations, Team consequences, Voigt vs. Hincapie
- June 16: Pound should resign, Now I’m really confused, Vinokourov, Saiz, doping and the TdF, The Spanish operation, Misplaced sympathy, Name the suspects, Spanish doping, Opinions from France, ASO, Simoni vs. Basso, Voigt vs. Hincapie, Jens Voigt vs. George Hincapie, Voigt and Hincapie, Jane Higdon, Jeremy Vennell diary
- June 11: Simoni vs. Basso, Basso and Simoni, Simoni versus Basso, Simoni's smile, Sour grapes Simoni, Sarcastic, disgruntled fan?, Congrats to Jan, Non-round rings, Sport, Voigt and Hincapie, Jens Voigt, Three cheers for Jens Voigt, Jens Voigt vs. George Hincapie, Voigt vs. Hincapie, Thanks to Voigt and Manzano, Champion in countless ways, Chapeau Jens!
- June 9 - Special edition: Vino’s position, Astana-Wurth and the TdF, Vinokourov, Saiz, doping and the TdF, Spanish doping allegations, WADA, Vrijman's findings, That Report, WADA and Armstrong, WADA vs. UCI vs. the riders, WADA's double standard, WADA and Pound missing the point, Pound should resign, A Pound of what?, The role of the AIGCP, The Spanish operation, Botero interview, Say it isn't so, Manolo
- June 2: Simoni versus Basso, Simoni and Basso, Simoni, Simoni's smile, Simoni is a crybaby, Basso and Simoni, Sour grapes Simoni, Gibo Si-MOAN-i, Blood, drugs, cash and corruption, Sickening double standard, Spanish federations' reaction to Saiz, Don't be surprised by drug use, Giro d'Italia, Thanks to Voigt and Manzano, Chapeau Jens!, Jens Voigt, Three cheers for Jens Voigt, Jens Voigt is the man, Voigt 2006 vs Boogerd 1999, Voigt and Hincapie, Discovery’s Giro team, Altitude tents and EPO, Not just name-calling, Say it isn't so, Manolo, Spanish doping allegations, Armstrong and L'Equipe, CSC is a class act, Basso and CSC, Jimenez memories, Markers in drugs, Discovery Channel's Giro performance, Pound should resign, Giro live reporting, Banning of altitude tents, Bettini is consistent
- May 26: Their A-game's at home, The Tour and the TT, Jan's good form, Jan bashing, Congrats to Jan, The diesel, Double or nothing, Ivance Bassostrong, Bravo, Basso!, Discovery Channel's Giro performance, Bettini is consistent, Banning of altitude tents, When disqualification isn't enough, WADA should ban intervals
- May 26 - Special edition: Say it ain't so, Manolo, Say it isn't so, Spanish Federations' reaction to Saiz, The doping scandal to end them all
- May 19: Bettini is consistent, Banning of altitude tents, Hypoxic tents, WADA and altitude tents, Latest WADA crusade, WADA bans another, Congrats to Jan, Criticism of Jan Ullrich, Jan bashing, Jan ready for the Tour, Jan's good form, Armstrong - the New American Idol, The same old Lance, Defeatism in Discovery, Giro reactions, One of Savoldelli's secrets, Rasmussen's time trial position, Riders under helmets, Difference between following and leading, The Tour and the TT, Bruyneel's Giro comments, When disqualification isn't enough
- May 12: Marion Clignet, Bruyneel's Giro comments, Criticism of Jan Ullrich, Jan bashing, Jan's weight, Defeatism in Discovery, Lance talking up Basso, The same old Lance, Rasmussen's time trial position, Giro team time trial, Hincapie in Paris-Roubaix, Riders under helmets
- May 5: Criticism of Jan, Criticism of Ullrich, The Ullrich-bashing bandwagon, Ullrich in 2006, Jan dramas, More Jan dramas, Bruyneel's Giro comments, Team helmets, Volunteering at bike races, Hincapie in Paris-Roubaix
- April 28: Working for the team in Georgia, Ullrich's thick skin, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Jan Ullrich racing, Ullrich and THAT wheel, Jan Ullrich, Jan dramas, Paris-Roubaix technology, Hincapie in Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix controversy, Paris-Roubaix comments, Paris-Roubaix tech, Team helmets
- April 21: Paris-Roubaix final say, Paris-Roubaix controversy, Paris-Roubaix and technology, George and the fork issue, Quotable quotes, Cycling technology, Behaving like a champion, Paris-Roubaix: UCI Code of Ethics
- April 14: Continuing to behave like a champion, No curse of the rainbow jersey, Tom Boonen, Hang in there, Saul, The gods of cycling, Trek and Paris-Roubaix, Looking out for George, Paris-Roubaix and technology, Broken forks and broken dreams, Jan Ullrich, Jan dramas, Disqualifications, So you know, Paris - Roubaix, THAT railway crossing incident, Need for consistency, Paris-Roubaix - poor Cancellara, Paris Roubaix disqualification, Paris-Roubaix: setting a good example, Roubaix disqualification decision, UCI Roubaix disgrace, Paris Roubaix disqualification, Paris Roubaix affair, Paris-Roubaix fiasco, Paris-Roubaix sham, Racing's railroad crossings, George's bike failure, Let them race, Roubaix controversy
- April 12 (Special Paris Roubaix edition): Paris-Roubaix disqualification, Disqualification on the pave, Level crossing in Paris-Roubaix, Rules are rules, Paris-Roubaix, McQuaid's reasoning, Pat McQuaid and train barriers, Railway crossing at Paris-Roubaix, Disqualifications in Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix crossing, Roubaix controversy, Grade crossings, Railroad crossings, Safety at Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix sham, Paris-Roubaix safety, Paris-Roubaix rail crossing, Boonen and friends cross the tracks, McQuaid's explanation, Roubaix disqualification decision
- April 7: Hang in there Saul, De Ronde parcours, Edwig van Hooydonk, Discovery’s American riders, Tom Boonen, April fools, Hair care product line, Brave new world, Commonwealth Games time trial, Photo of the year
