Letters to Cyclingnews - November 24, 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.

Graeme Obree
What about Leipheimer?
French anti-doping laboratory #1
French anti-doping laboratory #2
French anti-doping laboratory #3
Basso agrees to DNA testing #1
Basso agrees to DNA testing #2
Basso agrees to DNA testing #3
Basso to Discovery #1
Basso to Discovery #2
Richard Virenque
UCI are the problem
What's going on behind the scenes?

Graeme Obree

Graeme Obree is one of the most interesting riders of the 90's. I read his autobiography and it is riveting. He holds nothing back and I encourage others to read it to learn more about this man. His life is not a "made for Disney" story. Obree swings between genius and self-destruction.

When he was "on" he was truly inspiring. When he was down, it was surprising that he survived. He was every bit the technical innovator that Greg Lemond was. Both of them benefited from new handlebar designs. Lemond pioneered the professional use of the Scott tri-bars to win the '89 Tour. Obree took the concept one step further and set the cycling world on its head with Hour records and pursuit championships.

The Hour record he set was one that Lemond and Hinault, among others, never attempted. I am anxiously awaiting the film debut of The Flying Scotsman.

Mark Hopkins
Newark, Delaware, USA
Saturday, November 18, 2006

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What about Leipheimer?

I think Discovery signing Basso is risky, but I can see why they jumped at the chance to grab him. Assuming he was clean, his previous TdF performances along with his crushing '06 Giro prove he's a star.

But what about Levi Leipheimer? He was a big signing for Discovery at the end of the summer who also has some great credentials. I am a bit of a biased fan towards Leipheimer, I admit. I'm from Montana and crossed paths with him in our youths on the alpine ski race scene.

I was pumped that he was going into next year's TdF with a serious team to back him up. I think adding Basso to the equation will relegate Levi to 1st lieutenant and ruin his chances at the podium. It seems like the "dual-leader" scenario never really plays out, there can be only one. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be Leipheimer if Basso is in the picture.

Ed Warner
Helena, Montana USA
Friday, November 17, 2006

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French anti-doping laboratory #1

I have to agree with the Pierre Bordry, head of the French anti-doping agency.

It's not right for Floyd Landis to publicize his legal defense, which is heavily critical of the laboratory's procedures, without first notifying the laboratory in question and giving them a reasonable opportunity to respond.

That they should have to find out about this criticism through the media is totally unfair. Suppose some of the criticism turns out not to be true? Irreparable damage will have already been done to the lab's reputation and credibility.

Even if it is allowed to continue its anti-doping work, the lab will always be tainted by these unfair allegations.

Joe Eckhart
Tustin, California
Thursday, November 16, 2006

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French anti-doping laboratory #2

So the French lab in question complains that Landis has conducted his defense via the media and correct procedure has not been followed and they should be given an opportunity to refute the acquisitions – is it me or is this all deeply ironic and slightly sickening – at least they haven’t had their careers ruined (yet).

Craig Mitchell
Friday, November 17, 2006

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French anti-doping laboratory #3

It is interesting to note the recent defensive nature of communications coming from the laboratory which performed the testing on Mr. Landis' samples. They are now convinced that information has been obtained in a nefarious manner and that the security of their server has been compromised. Given the plethora of security lapses and leaks which have surrounded this lab, is it a surprise that there would be leaks in such a prominent case?

Perhaps the individual or individuals who have leaked information in the past regarding various issues and riders have an interest in finding out the truth and believed that their wrongful disclosure of confidential information was in the best interest of the public and cycling. Perhaps that individual is a member of the staff at the lab and has access to the various documents that are claimed to have been obtained through hacking into the lab’s server. Perhaps the server was never hacked into. Perhaps this person on the lab’s staff cares more about truth, justice and accuracy than protecting the labs reputation or pursuing an agenda against a rider or group of riders.

Perhaps disclosure of the labs record regarding the mishandling of samples, history of false positives, and failure to follow accepted testing protocols should be made know to the public and the entire cycling community in a full and complete disclosure from the lab, after all they do not wish to have anything but the truth come out, right?

P.W.C.
San Diego, California
Friday, November 17, 2006

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Basso agrees to DNA testing #1

Now what does everyone have to say about Basso? Do they still think he's guilty even though, if requested by the courts, he will submit a DNA sample? In the dark times you really find out who your friends and foes really are. I believe the Disco team and Basso had this planned from the beginning but decided to see what wolves would rear their ugly heads before he publicly agrees to submitting his DNA.

I know the nay-sayers will still say he won't give it up voluntarily but the fact that he is willing to give it per the law/courts then it proves he is willing to clear his name, but on his terms, not for public opinion.

Case closed. Basso to ride for Discovery with Levi and George! Can't wait to watch the butt-whoopin' next year!

Gary Lee
San Francisco, CA
Friday, November 17, 2006

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Basso agrees to DNA testing #2

I just read that Ivan Basso accepted to take the DNA test as part of his contract obligations with Team Discovery. He'll officially announce it on December the 2nd before gathering with his new team in Austin (TX).

Basso will take the DNA test not only to clear his name after the 'Puerto' operation accusations but also in any future National and International official disciplinary investigations.

I have to say that this is a great relief to me as a supporter. I still have a huge poster of Ivan climbing the Mortirolo waiting to be hung in my office and even though I was not that quick to think he was guilty 'just' because he was 'accused', as many others were instead, I couldn't help feeling extremely disappointed and in doubt about the whole question.

It would be wonderful to have him back on the roads of the Giro and Tour as absolute protagonist. Now I'm just curious to see what the reactions of the other BIGS (Valverde, Bettini and Ulrich) will be, along with the UCI.

Andrea Correani
Portland, USA
Saturday, November 18, 2006

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Basso agrees to DNA testing #3

According to Discovery, Basso has agreed to provide a DNA sample 'if this is requested in a national judicial or disciplinary investigation.'

So he's willing to give a DNA sample IF one is required by the Spanish authorities. This is a pretty safe bet that he will never be asked to do so in Spain because Puerto is coming unhinged. This because Spain had no doping laws on the books at the time of the raid. This has given the Spanish judges cause to dismiss case after case since no law was broken.

The Italian authorities have already refused to pursue this and he has been cleared by the Italian Cycling authorities. No sample will be requested there either.

If you read the statement, it's clear that he has no intention of giving a sample to the UCI. So, you see, he's stated that he's willing to submit a DNA sample but only to those who have already made it evident that they don't want one.

Anyone that reads between the lines and knows a parsed statement when they see one can see that for Basso and Discovery to say that they are willing to submit a DNA sample is disingenuous at best.

Other teams are taking steps to clean up the peloton and showing this by their actions. It appears that Discovery prefers to issue carefully worded statements to try and fool the public into believing that they're being above board when they have no intention of submitting any evidence except to authorities that no longer have any interest in it.

Don Lowe
Rockford, Illinois
Saturday, November 18, 2006

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Basso to Discovery #1

In response to Eddie Humphries letter on Basso to Discovery, I would like to point out to him that CSC did in fact pull Basso from the tour on hear say. They were required to do this by the Pro Tour charter that required all teams to suspend riders under investigation. Basso was under investigation hence he could not ride. The tour organizers would also not accredit him even if CSC wanted to still have him ride. He is no longer under investigation hence there should be no problem going forward unless of course new facts come to light.

It really amuses me (in a bad way) that people are so prepared to condemn riders with little or no proof of wrongdoing. I am all for guilty riders being treated harshly as far as penalties go but they must be guilty and proved to be so. Hear say and circumstantial evidence is not good enough. Procedural fairness is a must.

I hazard a guess that these people calling for the heads of Basso, Ulrich etc would be the first be howling in protest if the same tests of evidence were used on them. That being someone saying that they had done something wrong and not producing concrete evidence of that wrongdoing and as a result they are precluded from earning a living and undertaking their profession. The general public would not stand for this in their jobs why then should it be the case for professional sportspeople.

Evidence is required to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; if it does not exist there should be no impediment to these guys plying their trade.

Matthew Tognini
Friday, November 17, 2006

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Basso to Discovery #2

I would like to congratulate and thank Discovery Channel Cycling for being the leaders in their field. Perhaps it is because I'm an American that I generally follow the, "innocent until proven guilty" modus operandi, but it is the opposite mentality that is creating these extremely dragged out and damaging scenarios to pro cyclists careers' from around the globe.

Now that it is for certain that Basso will be supplying DNA, it may or may not be retroactively used to confirm or deny any involvement in the debauched Operacion Puerto. My guess would be the international courts and sporting bodies will ultimately determine if the DNA profile is used to further build or destruct a case against Basso.

If Basso is then cleared of all suspicion and for good, Discovery will be regarded as geniuses and other teams will be left enviously wishing they had the courage and foresight to go through the same process.

If Basso is then further implicated, then so what, he's kicked off the team, banned for what will probably be 4 years instead of two, and his career is over and all previous results are tainted with a "?" and an "*" next to it.

Either way, at least the cycling community that follows and supports racing stand a better chance at knowing the truth about Ivan Basso and Operacion Puerto. The fact that Ivan's giving the DNA goes a long way in telling the world he had nothing to do with it and should silence the critics for a little while and hopefully for good.

Kudos to Discovery Channel for taking the bull right by the horns.

Jon Speer
Chapel Hill, USA
Friday, November 17, 2006

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Richard Virenque

I wasn't going to respond to this one but those last comments of Mac have prompted me. You have got this wrong. First, Richard Virenque was there because he is French. Second he was there because the French public still loves him.

The question is why? First you have to understand the French mentality and French society. Here it is not unusual for around 50% of the population being in some state of illegality.

I'll give you just a few examples one sees every day in my village: non-conformity with the building regulations, pulling water from the river without authorisation, no hard hats on building sites, the mairie (town hall) has an illegal dump. The last one is important to note - the administration is involved as well.

My local police station is 100 metres from some shops which are 10 metres from traffic lights. There must be 300 parking offences a day there. Nothing gets done.

The president ran a corrupt system when mayor of Paris. His party passed a law giving him immunity. A député (congressman, MP) got sent down for false witness. He got re-elected afterwards. I could go on forever but you get the message.

So, the French have a different attitude. And if he happens to have a baby boy face and be a 'chouchou' (pet) of the public then he is good publicity. So he is invited to the tour presentation.

The Tour is a business and it is in France and it is run by the French.

Probably the main reason that doping is a bigger problem in cycling than elsewhere is that there is no controlling body that actually controls.

Norman Winn
Rennes les Bains, France
Friday, November 17, 2006

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UCI are the problem

With all of the issues surrounding the Puerto riders and Pro-tour teams trying to impose there own guidelines on the sport, where is the guidance from the UCI? They have been particularly poor in communicating good advice to the teams about how to proceed.

Here are my thoughts on how to proceed.

At the moment the Spanish authorities have said that the Puerto evidence cannot be used for sanctions against any riders, lest not forget, who have not been officially named, implicated and requested to come before a court. So the UCI should state that all riders named should be allowed to ride until the Spanish authorities allow the use of any files and then name the riders that they wish to proceed against when they have all of the details in front of them and are allowed to use them and are convinced of the facts, 100%. This is fair and democratic, it appears that the riders have been sufficiently scared by the drug issue that they may behave better now.

Now for the blood/DNA issue, simply state that all riders who wish to ride for a pro-tour team for the next year, submit blood to the UCI, it should not be DNA profiled or even tested, it should just be stored securely away for possible use if needed.

Then in any case of any suspected doping infringement that may involve blood, the UCI would then be in a position to get the riders sample from storage and use that to confirm whether any blood found belonged to the rider or not. The blood is in the ownership of the UCI for as long as the rider remains on a Pro Tour team. Once the rider retires or leaves the Pro Tour, his blood is then destroyed, untested. The riders would at least know where they stand then, blood dope or get implicated and the UCI will prove whether it’s your blood or not, how much more clarity would a rider need?

Remember it’s not for riders or teams to make the rules, it’s the governing body, and at the moment the governing body is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard!

Ian Partridge
Birmingham, England.
Friday, November 17, 2006

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What's going on behind the scenes?

I have just read Mr. Kilmer's letter and while I agree in spirit with his positions, I do believe they're a little naïve concerning "increased testing".

Just how invasive should this sport become? Presently athletes are commanded to put themselves at the disposal of testing any time of the day or night, in or out of competition. I'd warrant all of the top athletes in the sport are tested many times a year. And as reported in Cyclingnews.com plenty of lesser riders have been tested and failed the tests indicating that testing per se must be pretty extensive.

It would be interesting to discover cost of the individual testing. If it is as expensive as when I was working in the field I would say that there was plenty of motivation for labs to request "more testing". Can we say that increases in testing will make significant increases in positive findings? Or will this money simply go on to enrich laboratories that are connected to the UCI or l'Equipe?

Let's recall that we've heard preposterous stories denoting that the entire peloton was doping and yet only tiny numbers of positives have shown up. At the very least, hundreds of thousands of Euros have enriched the testing laboratories.

There is no doubt that doping needs to be strongly controlled if not stopped altogether, but WADA and the UCI seems to have lost all perspective. They have assumed the position not of governing body but prosecuting attorneys in my view. And it certainly doesn't help the case that there seems to be untoward connections between the testing laboratories and the governing bodies. How else explain the sloppy work from the French lab and them retaining testing authority?

I am beginning to support Floyd Landis' belief that there needs to be a major house cleaning at both the UCI and WADA if we are ever to have a sport governed properly.

Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.

Tom Kunich
Friday, November 17, 2006

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Recent letters pages

Letters 2006

• November 17: Saiz and Tinkoff, Countdown to the 2007 Tour, Improving the reliability of testing, Basso to Discovery, Cycling and DNA testing, Forgetting Tom Simpson, Operación Puerto and national federations, Refusing DNA testing - an admission of guilt?. Reverse blood doping, Richard Virenque, What's going on behind the scenes?
• 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

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