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Letters to Cyclingnews - November 27, 2008
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.
Is Kohl kidding?
Lessons from cycling
Why is Basso back?
Frank Vandenbroucke
Vino returns to Astana
Pevenage to Rock Racing
Rock-n-Rudy Racing
Pricey bike reviews
David Walsh article
Lance Armstrong
Cyclocross at the Olympics
Is Kohl kidding?
There was a day when I would become angered at the ongoing coverage of the cheaters in our sport. That is because I understand the concept of there being no such thing as bad publicity. That was, until I read the update regarding Kohl's response to his two-year ban for being a dope head! I am glad that you published his brazen and hubris laden comments for all of your readers to see.
He was disappointed with a two year ban? I think he should feel extremely fortunate that the proper authorities didn't ban him for life, require that he pay for all of the financial losses relating to further tarnishing the Tour de France and the great sport of cycling and prosecute him criminally for using a substance that is legally managed through a prescription-only process.
Kohl's attitude must truly represent the prevailing mentality that seems to be pervasive among the cheaters in the European peloton. I love the idea that the Italian Ministry of Sport is proposing, that we ban confirmed cheaters for life. It sickens me to see that not only are confirmed dopers like Basso, Ulrich, Sinkewitz, Landis, Boonen and others welcomed back in the peloton but that some, like Tyler Hamilton, have the privilege of donning the stars and stripes jersey representing the US Pro road national champion.
To Bernhard Kohl, you are a cheater and you need to go away... period. Your illegal and unethical choices serve only to minimise all of the hard work put in by a true "hard-man" like Vande Velde and all of the other riders who leave their hearts and souls on the road after a race.
Tim Ellis
Port Orchard, WA, USA
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Lessons from cycling
I have kids and would be thrilled for them to be involved in our sport and to see cycling sport for what it is - people achieving amazing feats through dedication, sacrifice and hard work, strength of character and effort. But also people making grave mistakes and being made to pay for them, and in many cases realising their wrong doing and having the balls the get back on the horse.
That would teach my kids (alongside all the obvious qualities clean athletes posses) that no-one is perfect, those that cheat are often found out, that a victory for a cheat is a hollow victory, that you can always improve yourself, etc. You take what you choose from situations, perhaps you should take the positive messages that abound within our sport rather than focus on the negative.
Mark Harrison
Gold Coast, Australia
Monday, November 24, 2008
Why is Basso back?
There is a moral agreement between the Pro Tour teams that convicted dopers would not be hired by them for four years. There is no enforcement other than their own ethical standards. Liquigas has opted out of this 'morals clause' (and the ProTour Council, I think) so they seemingly have no ethical dilemma with hiring Basso.
I was a huge fan of Basso for a while - back when he started going well at the Tour. Then I remember Simoni calling him 'extra-terrestrial' at the Giro in 2006 and that's when my respect lowered and suspicions grew. The pro cyclists themselves are acutely aware of when the field is not level.
My biggest issue with Basso is that (just like Virenque) he denied, denied and lied. Blatantly. He lied to his team of the time (CSC). He lied to the press and his fans. He lied to Johan Bruyneel to secure another contract. All the time smirking, smiling, and bemoaning the injustice of the accusations against him - accepting no responsibility.
I will never read his column, I will not respect his results, and I will feel repulsed when I see his image. Not for having doped (or 'attempted to dope'), but for his terrible character that was exposed by his response to the affair.
Peter Black
Melbourne, Australia
Friday, November 21, 2008
Why is Basso back? #2
Regardless of whether or not Ivan Basso completely complied with officials and disclosed all relevant information concerning his involvement with the Operation Puerto ordeal, he has served his full 24 month suspension issued by the FCI (Italian Cycling Federation) disciplinary commission for his dealings with Dr. Fuentes and is able to race again for any team willing to sign him.
According to my understanding, an additional two-year ban preventing the signing of a convicted rider by a ProTour team is not a UCI stipulation. Rather it was a condition set forth by the AIGCP (International Association of Professional Cycling teams) in their ProTour Code of Ethics, which Liquigas (among many others) had initially agreed to.
In April of this year, when they decided to acquire Basso, Liquigas withdrew its membership because any team violating the Code of Ethics would subsequently be excluded from the AIGCP. That really poses no significant problem since membership in the AIGCP is not required to race the ProTour or Grand Tours.
Essentially, AIGCP is a voluntary membership with no great authority so the teams are under no real obligation to remain bound in compliance with the contract and are free to continue to act in their own interests. Interestingly, Discovery Channel had previously dissolved its involvement with the association in the middle of the 2007 season, so leaving the group was not unprecedented. Signing a high profile cyclist straight off a doping suspension that arguably tainted the credibility of cycling was.
Moral and ethical issues aside, Basso is thus legally clear to race as he pleases.
Levi Baker
Fayetteville, AR, USA
Friday, November 21, 2008
Frank Vandenbroucke
In response to Chris Whiley's letter:
Perhaps you will one day have the opportunity to staff your own team. But for now perhaps we can embrace the illogical notion that there are those out there who are willing to reach out and offer a helping hand to someone who is in obvious need. Frank would not necessarily be taking anyone else's place, for no where is it written that a team MUST spend every last dollar of its salary budget. I can't imagine a deserving rider who is in a position to be offered a contract would be brushed aside in favour of VDB. Chances are there was money left over or a favour cashed in.
Worst case scenario he is being used for the tabloid publicity. If so let's hope that he can make the most of it this time. But maybe, just maybe, someone in a position to help another human being has taken the opportunity to do so. I truly hope that if you, I, or anyone reading this finds themselves in need that someone is there for them. And that when we find ourselves in a position to help another human in such a way that we do so. We are not here to pass judgment or meter out punishment. There is plenty of that without our help. Best of luck Frank. I will be rooting for you, on and off of the bike.
Shane Blay
Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Vino returns to Astana
In response to Ray Chen's letter: Ray if you know the history of the Astana team you would realise that Vino is the one who built that team with his country's money (the Kazakhstan government and big companies pooling together to fund it) from the ashes of Liberty Seguros, which by the way came from the ONCE Squad (all of which left an ugly trail of doping scandals). I realised the audacity of the situation the moment I read Vino was considering riding again; I knew Astana was screwed. I don't think Bruyneel has had a choice.
It's like watching a soap opera with this stuff... it never ceases to amaze me what pops up next in the headlines.
David Baldwin
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Pevenage to Rock Racing
My disagreement has nothing to do with Jan Ullrich, but the fact that the directeurs sportive, team physicians, soigneurs, and/or drug traffickers who actively promote, enable, or look the other way regarding doping in cycling rarely suffer any punishment. The axe always falls on the cyclist. Rudy Pevenage worked for Telekom/T-Mobile cycling team for a long time, which we all now know was rife with doping thanks to confessions from Bjarne Riis, Erik Zabel, etc.
I understand Michael Ball's philosophy of giving people a second chance, but ONLY when they have admitted to their mistakes! Pevenage has not done his penance and shouldn't even be gluing on sew-ups for any team, let alone directing one!
Spencer Dech
Lansdale, PA USA
Friday, November 21, 2008
Pevenage to Rock Racing #2
Get Ullrich back in the frame - he's been through enough, nothing could be better than another show down with him and Armstrong. These two guys have provided years of entertainment through their efforts to win the Tour and a couple more would be awesome.
We're all to quick to start pointing fingers and become unforgiving when the doping suspicions arise, let the courts and subsequent sentences deal out their punishments. Doping controls are getting better - let these results do the talking and the rest of the cycling should enjoy the spectacle.
Let's welcome the Kaiser back!
Nigel Richardson
United Kingdom
Friday, November 21, 2008
Rock-n-Rudy Racing
Is this not the perfect marriage? Jesus Marimba, tell us you're kidding, Michael Ball! Even for a shameless publicity hound like you, this blatant headline grab is truly going too far. What are you trying to create with your 'team'; the cycling version of The Island of Misfit Toys? I truly feel sorry for anyone wearing that kit - what a joke!
David Randleman
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Pricey bike reviews
I wholeheartedly agree. Costly bikes are usually good, so what is the point in reviewing them. They are chosen by pros to ride, they must be above average to say the least. I completely agree with Jeff Schatz, most of us will never spend a lot of money on a bike.
Also, most of us want to have two or three different bikes in our stable, a few extra bikes to involve kids, and the era of big spending has, it seems to me, come to the end. How about encouraging builders (including components' manufacturers) to innovate and provide simpler and more effective solutions? Except for the pros (also questionable), nobody needs to shed 100-200 grams off the bike and pay through the nose for it. It's not about 'an expensive' bike.
Al Bragi
Toronto, ON, Canada
Friday, November 21, 2008
David Walsh article
When Larry Nelson says "In all honesty most of us really do not care if an athlete is doping or not" [/letters.php?id=letters/2008/11-21letters#4] you are totally, utterly and spectacularly wrong. The impact of doping on athletic performance may be of academic interest to you, but it is of no sporting interest whatsoever to many people. We want to see sport that is more than manufactured machine vs machine. We want to be entertained by the human story. The display of character. This is what animates sport, and none more so that cycling, not a dry interest in 'just how fast can we make them go'.
As a medical professional I find your view, and you're preparedness to parrot the failed, flawed and discredited 'right of the individual to compete' argument, extremely troubling. Like it or not you are in a position of authority and should consider moral implication of what you say. There is no absolution in geeky myopia.
Ric Morris
Friday, November 21, 2008
David Walsh article #2
In response to Larry Nelson, I don't think that you are in a position to comment on what 'most of us' really care about when it comes to pro cycling. You certainly don't speak for me or the members of my cycling club. You certainly don't speak for the German broadcasters and public who have voted with their feet.
You also have misunderstood our perception of the number of riders who dope. Most observers of pro cycling do not believe that in any given race that 20 per cent of the peloton is doping. The benefits of doping products such as CERA are of most significant benefit over the course of a three-week Grand Tour and not races such as the Spring Classics.
Given the number of positives recorded in the Giro and Le Tour this year from a limited sample of riders, it is understandable that observers extrapolate a percentage of riders who may be doping at a Grand Tour. It is only through the continued campaigns for a cleaner sport which writers such as Walsh, Kimmage and Whittle have pursued over the last decade that the authorities governing the sport and running the events have finally got the message that we DO care.
Andy Parker
Felixstowe, UK
Friday, November 21, 2008
Lance Armstrong
Lance's raison d'etre regarding his return to competitive cycling could have been far more warmly received had he adopted some marketing 'smarts' and not allowed his ego to run rampant. Here would have been my strategy if I were Lance:
- Yes, I wish to ride again as the media presence at cycling events will allow
me to promote my cancer fight activities.
- I am not here to win, but will repay my personal debt to all those who rode
selflessly for me by helping others in my team to win. If I should win a time
trial along the way, then well and good.
- I hope to attend as many races as I can, but I'm leaving those decisions up
to my team management. However it is my fervent wish that I be accorded no special
treatment and be treated like any other domestique rider
- I hope to be able to meet up with as many fans as possible for autograph signings
and to promote my message
Humility is something Lance really struggles with. His behaviour is quite off-putting to most people. He just does not seem to understand the harm it causes.
Terry Hannan
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Cyclocross at the Olympics
I hope this isn't rehashing an old debate, but why isn't cyclocross an Olympic sport? I understand that cyclocross in August is just wrong, so it would only be natural for the Winter Olympics to host this event. Considering the weather at the Superprestige Hamme-Zogge last weekend, I'm sure that I'm not the only one that's come to this conclusion.
Think about it, in Vancouver 2010 we could actually have something to be interested in - besides speed skating. Granted, it's going to be a medal lock for the Benelux countries, but it's the 'winter' Olympics, what else is new? And it could still be interesting; China is probably training a new cross squad as we speak.
Vancouver 2010 seems like the best place to debut cyclocross. With Vancouver's very liberal marijuana laws, proximity to Portland, OR, and sloppy, muddy weather, cyclocross will surely make 'Couver 2010 an Olympics to remember.
Michael Jacobs
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Recent letters pages
Letters 2008
- November 21: Pevenage to Rock Racing, Pricey Bike Reviews, Bobby Julich column, David Walsh article, Merida release, Chasing Fabian, Gilmore in Colombia, Frank Vandenbroucke, Albert's Tour remarks, Stylin' calendar dudes, Vino returns to Astana, Keep up the good work..., THC suspension, The Museeuw MF-1, Why is Basso back?, Basso diary, Taking it seriously, Moral high-horse, Gerdemann vs Armstrong, Don't do it Lance
- November 13: Taking it seriously, Basso's diary, David Walsh article, Gerdemann vs Armstrong, Boonen, Armstrong and Gerdemann, Germans pull the plug, Lifetime bans, Chasing Fabian
- November 13: Taking it seriously, Basso's diary, David Walsh article, Gerdemann vs Armstrong, Boonen, Armstrong and Gerdemann, Germans pull the plug, Lifetime bans, Chasing Fabian
- November 6: Boonen, Armstrong and Gerdemann, Doping, Germans pull the plug, Lifetime bans, UCI bans skinsuits
- October 30: Germans pull the plug, Doping, Kohl, Lifetime bans, UCI bans skinsuits, 2009 TdF parcours, LeMond's power test
- October 24: Doping, McQuaid's approach, Re-testing samples, Chris Horner, Germans pull the plug, Basso and Liquigas, Does doping work?, Lifetime bans, LeMond's power test, Rashaan Bahati
- October 17: Attitude to cheats, Doping, Lifetime bans, Solutions to doping problems, LeMond's power test, Rahsaan Bahati
- October 10: Enough is enough, Thomas Bach's comments, Recent positives, Riccò confesses to using EPO, Baden Cooke's comment, Holczer to sue Schumacher, Life bans for doping, Advice to Contador, My own comeback, Better Borat than Vinokourov, Lance has a Michael Jordan complex, Armstrong's busted former teammates, Astana, Lance vs Basso, Say it ain't so, Frank!, Leipheimer's best Grand Tour
- October 3: Another Armstrong Special: There comes a time, Guilty by association, Lance Armstrong returning, Armstrong comeback, Armstrong should be applauded, Lance is back, Armstrong and Astana, Mr Armstrong and SRAM, The resurrection of Lance, Armstrong's return
- September 25: The Armstrong Special: Armstrong obligations, Armstrong comeback, Armstrong riding for Astana, Armstrong's return, Guilty by association, Lance Armstrong and Taylor Phinney, The resurrection of Lance
- September 18: Armstrong come back, All round classification, Madiot's need to explain himself, Does doping work?, Exciting racing!, Contador and the Vuelta, Lance on Astana?, Say it isn’t So Lance!, ARD not looking forward to Armstrong return, Guilty by association, Garzelli, Scott Spark project bike
- September 12: Does doping work?, Scott Spark ultralight bike, Cadel stays with Silence-Lotto?, Vuelta, Giro, Tour triple, All round classification, Editorialising / opinion within articles, Do it twice or until you get it right, Olympic mountain biking, Say it isn't so Lance!, Armstrong come back, BMX....That's all?
- September 4: BMX....That's all?, Olympic mountain biking, Cadel stays with Silence-Lotto?, Head tube logos at Olympic Games, Fabio Baldato's premature retirement, Does doping work?, Cadel Evans and the Beige Jersey, Team Australia helmets, British track team's Olympic Games medals Pro cycling sponsorship
- August 29: BMX, Carlos Sastre, NRC Calendar, U-23 Championship road race fiasco, Therapeutic use exemptions - please explain, Phil Liggett encounter, John Fahey and Jacques Rogge on doping, Aussie Allan Davis?, Pro cycling sponsorship
- August 28: US cyclists and masks, Cadel, Cadel Evans and the Beige jersey, Levi Leipheimer’s Bike, Doping, Team Australia helmets, Lance and the doping debate, British Olympic track medals, BMX....That's all?
- August 22: Spanish federation questions Leipheimer's bronze, Hushovd's Look, Cadel's Injury, NRC Calendar, Phil Liggett encounter, British Olympic track medals, Therapeutic Use Exemptions - please explain, Truvativ HammerSchmidt, Carlos Sastre, Cadel Evans and the Beige Jersey
- August 21: Levi Leipheimers Bike, John Fahey and Jacques Rogge on doping, Cycling out of the Olympics, Team Australia helmets, Scott-American Beef excluded from Vuelta, Doping & money, U-23 National Championship RR fiasco, US Cyclists and masks, World Road race championships national quotas
- August 19: Therapeutic Use Exemptions - please explain, Carlos Sastre, Riccò confesses to using EPO, Lance and the doping debate, Cadel Evans and the Beige Jersey, Bring back bonus seconds to liven le Tour, Crank Length formula, Thank you, Confused
- August 14: Cycling out of the Olympics, U-23 Championship Road Race Fiasco, Phil Liggett encounter, WADA chief John Fahey, Moreno, John Fahey and Jacques Rogge on doping, Beijing Road Race, World Road race championships national quotas, Scott-American Beef excluded from Vuelta, US Cyclists and masks, Team Australia helmets
- August 7: Riccò confesses to using EPO, Carlos Sastre, Contador, A question for Susan Westemeyer, Confused, Lance and the doping debate, Accountability and cycling teams, Crank length formula, Bring back bonus seconds to liven le Tour, Yet another...Manual Beltran, ASO, doping and Astana
- July 31: A bike by any other name, Accountability and cycling teams, Andy Schleck "killing moves", Anti-doping chief calls Tour tests a success?, ASO, doping and Astana, Bad blood, Boycott le Tour and Olympics, Carlos Sastre, Bring back bonus seconds to liven le Tour, Canadian eh! Ryder Hesjedal, Cleaning up cycling, a suggestion, Confused, Crank Length Formula
- July 25: Confused, Consistency please, Damages paid, Dave Russell passes away, David Miller on Riccò, Do you believe?, Doping, ASO vs UCI, what is going on?, Evans to wear number one in Tour, How does Andy Schleck "kill all the moves"?
- July 24: Gerrans, One question & two predictions about the Tour, A bike by any other name, ASO, doping and Astana, Beating a dead horse, but..., Boycott le Tour and Olympics, Cascade Cycling Classic accident, Cleaning up cycling, a suggestion
- July 17 - Edition 2: The effect of time bonuses, Cascade Cycling Classic accident, Confused, Boycott le Tour and Olympics, Alison Starnes diary, Is McQuaid interested in Cycling at all?, More involvement needed from CPA, Teams ditch UCI, Yet another...Manual Beltran, LeMond: Cycling doesn't need UCI, Dave Russell passes away
- July 17 - Edition 1: Tour mountain cats, Is Pereiro getting a bum wrap?, Popovych! Where the bloody hell are you?, Evans' team-mates, Evans to wear number one in Tour, Poor quality of competition, Tour climbs, What if…, Riccó uses outdated bike in ITT, Fabian Wegmann's electronic Dura Ace problems?, Hushovd's Look, Stage 10 coverage was a treat!, Tour de France accident, EPO is back on the menu boys!, Consistency, please
- July 15: Tour de France: Stage 3 - The Badger is back!, Thor Hushovd's Look, Riccó uses outdated bike in ITT, Boycott le Tour and Olympics, Astana and the Tour, Romain Feillu, Cascade Cycling Classic accident, LeMond: Cycling doesn't need UCI, Tour de France accident, We Might As Well Win Review, Evans shoe covers, Pure climbers, Why on earth Danielson?, Historical information, Stefan Schumacher loses yellow, Sylvain Chavanel, Yet another...Manual Beltran, Stage 10 coverage was a treat!
- July 10: Stefan Schumacher, LeMond: Cycling doesn't need UCI, Excellent article - ASO v's UCI, Insulting comment, Romain Feillu, Pure climbers are they a thing of the past?, Evans and shoe covers, Evans to wear number one in Tour, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov, Experience with UST Mountain Tires, Boycott le Tour and Olympics, Astana and the Tour, Riders stuck in the middle, Oval bars, Landis decision
- July 4: WADA, Inconsistent Lab Analysis, and Landis, Rabobank and the Tour, ASO and past Tour winners, Landis decision, Teenager mauled by bear in Anchorage, Evans to wear number one in Tour, Experience with UST Mountain Tires, iPods while riding, Erik Zabel, Oval bars, ASO's hidden agenda, Joe Magnani, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov, Giro, ASO's world domination, Ban Boonen?, A Hollow Tour Victory
- June 26: ASO's hidden agenda, ASO's world domination, Ban Boonen?, Gilberto Simoni, Giro d'Italia, iPods while riding, Oval bars, Tour without minimum bike weight rule?, What about Friere
- June 19: ASO and the Vuelta, ASO's world domination, Ban Boonen?, Ban Boonen? Beware the inquisition, Boonen, Boonen vs. Petacchi, Boonen's Tour exclusion, Giro d'Italia, iPods while riding, Oval bars, Road rage incident, Tom Boonen exclusion from Tour de Suisse
- June 13: Tom Boonen and his nose, Apologies from Montreal, Chantal's Philly win, Gilberto Simoni, Boring first week of Grand Tours?, Giro d'Italia, iPods while riding, ASO and the Vuelta, Road rage incident, Astana chain choice
- June 5: Apologies from Montreal, Astana chain choice, Bennati and race radios, Race radio?, Gilberto Simoni, Giro winner, Good result in road rage court case, Helmets in the Giro, Lemond vs. Armstrong, Millar, No, no, you can't take that away from them, Oval bars, Review error, Ricardo Riccò, Road rage incident
- May 29: Bennati and race radios, Helmets in the Giro, Review error, LeMond vs. Armstrong, Losing something in the translation, Millar, Petacchi, Race radio?, Road rage incident, Weight work on the bike
- May 23: Road rage incident, How much will it take?, Paralysed cyclist, Fausto Exparza, David Millar, Basso gets a contract, Weight work, CAS and Petacchi, Shortest TdF, Petacchi & Piepoli
- May 15: Sydney road rage incident, Steegmans lashes out at UCI, Steve Hogg's article, World Cup #3 XC, Where is Chris Horner, Slipstream, Astana and Le Tour, Giro stage 5!, US time trial Champion?, Basso gets a contract, Race radios, CAS ruling on Petacchi, Hamilton's integrity? Dude!, Weight work
- May 8: Race radio?, Ridiculous ruling, What a farce!, CAS ruling on Petacchi, Basso gets a contract, Hamilton's integrity? Dude!, French riders had to give up their jerseys?,
- May 1: Race radio?, Basso gets a contract, Advise needed for Alpe D'Huez, LeMond vs. Armstrong, Bottles, Scars of war, ProTour in Russia! China? Ahem... America?, LeMond's 1989 TdF, Mayo?, Stuart O'Grady Team CSC Cervélo R3 Paris, Have any French riders had to give up their jerseys?
- April 25: Just shut up and ride, ProTour in Russia! China? Ahem...America?, Bottles, LeMond's 1989 TdF, New format for the Vuelta? , Scars of war, LeMond v. Armstrong, No tour for Astana #1, Rock Racing rip off #1, Advise needed for Alpe D'Huez, Stuart O'Grady Team CSC Cervélo R3 Paris
- April 18: Just shut up and ride, USA Track Cycling, Paris-Roubaix, Little Indy 500 - Women's Race Article, Stuart O'Grady Team CSC Cervélo R3 Paris-Roubaix, What's happening to road tubeless?, Thanks Cyclingnews, Bottles, Just think?, Tour of Georgia - Lame, Colavita, No tour for Astana, Clever tactics by McQuaid expose ASO, Suggestions for the little bullies, Rock Racing rip off, LeMond Vs. Trek
- April 10: Suggestions for the little bullies, Pat McQuaid, Clever tactics by McQuaid expose ASO, Just think, Trek vs. LeMond, Rock Racing rip off, Homepage overhaul, Some praise, USA track cycling, Team car order just the first gamble, Come on Greg & Lance, LeMond vs. Armstrong
- April 3: Pat McQuaid, April fools, Carbon Wrap-It System, Sylvain Chavanel, Astana vs. Rabobank vs. Slipstream Chipotle, Cadel Evans, Clever tactics by McQuaid expose ASO, Colavita, Let VDB ride?, Race radios, Rock Racing rip off
- March 27: Riccardo's manner of professionalism, Rock Racing rip off, Chavanel's Paris - Nice shoes, Cadel Evans, Cadel Evans at Paris - Nice, Let VDB ride?, ASO vs. Astana, ASO vs. UCI help me with my memory, Astana vs. Rabobank vs. Slipstream Chipotle, Police kill cyclists,"PRO"cycling teams
- March 20:"Pro"Cycling Teams, AIGCP does have a choice, ASO vs UCI help me with my memory, ASO vs. Astana, Chavanel's Paris - Nice shoes, Kevin van Impe's doping control, Cadel Evans at Paris - Nice, Hamilton, Operacion Puerto, and the ToCA, Paris - Nice: What it could have been, Police kill cyclists, The Astana affair, UCI hypocrisy
- March 13:"Pro"Cycling Teams, ASO vs. Astana, ASO vs. UCI, ASOh well, UCI'll see you later, Cycling fans must let their voices be heard, Denounce ASO's actions for what they are, Hamilton, Operacion Puerto, and the ToCA, Knife between the ribs?, Paris Nice, Police kill cyclists, British track sprinters' helmets?, Rock Racing and Michael Ball, The Astana affair, The real ASO problem, Tour and ASO, UCI - very bad poker players, UCI hypocrisy.
- March 6: Zirbel and the"ride of his life", British track sprinters' helmets, Hamilton, Operacion Puerto and the ToCA, Three grand tours or five monuments?, Rock Racing and Michael Ball, Pro cycling is dead, Paris - Nice, Knife between the ribs?, Doping and the Tour, Astana, the ASO and the UCI, ASO vs. Astana, The Astana affair, ASO vs. UCI vs. AIGCP vs. the non existent riders, The real ASO problem, Denounce ASO's actions for what they are, Sponsorship code of ethics, Where are the other ProTour teams?, ProTour vs. ASO
- February 28: ASO vs. Astana, Passion and sponsorship, Crash or crash through, Pro cycling is dead, Why we must have the ProTour, Rock Racing and Michael Ball, ToC and Rock, The hidden message behind banning Astana, ASO is killing cycling, ASO could be right, The real ASO problem, UCI - draw a line in the sand, ASO has lost the plot, The Astana affair, Astana and ASO/RCS, the Astana decision, Operacion Puerto, Old rider classification
- February 15: Doping controls, Tour of California moving up!, Why I love the Tour of California, Operation Puerto, Astana rejected by ASO, Boycott ASO, ASO - stop the madness, Tour de France, ASO is wrong to exclude Astana, Astana, ASO, and the NFL, Tour de Farce, The hidden message behind banning Astana, Astana exclusion, ASO is killing cycling, Astana out of Tour, ASO has lost the plot
- February 8: Lampre doping controls, Grand Tour Monopoly?, Giro selections, Slipstream Qatar, Allan Davis, Sheldon Brown, Dick Pound to head CAS?, Find out who's leaking lab results, Rock racing
- February 1: UCI vs. Grand Tour war, Best wishes to Anna, The incident, Rock racing & Starbucks, Rock racing Rocks, Rock racing, Landis in NUE, Lance is the best of all time, Sinkewitz logic, Astana for 08 Tour?
- January 25: Rock racing, Time to draw a line in the sand, ASO vs. UCI ProTour, UCI vs. Grand Tour war spills over to European federations, Readers' poll stage races 2007, Cyclist of the year, Team High Road's black kit, Lance is the best of all time, Landis in NUE, Toyota-United abusing USAC team rules?
- January 18: Cadel Evans - returns to training, Cyclist of the Year, DOPING - time to draw a line in the sand, Hincapie in T-Mobile kit, Lance is the best of all time, Readers poll: best stage races 2007, Rock racing, Speaking about Lance, Toyota-United abusing USAC team rules?
- January 11: Armstrong on Landis, Cadel Evans - returns to training, Hincapie in T-Mobile kit, Ivan Basso - why no tough questions?, Reader Poll, Rock & burn racing, Speaking about Lance, Sydor's consistency, The 'Bruyneel philosophy', Toyota-United abusing USAC team rules?
- January 5: Great day for cycling, Sydor's consistency, Hincapie in T-Mobile kit, CA awards misses national series, Thank you, Ivan Basso - why no tough questions?, Cadel Evans - returns to training, Helmets belong on heads, Armstrong on Landis, Will there be a Tour of Missouri?, Roberto Heras, Speaking about Lance, Mayo's B Sample
Letters 2007
- December 27: CA awards misses national series, Armstrong on Landis, Vinokourov's sentence, Vinokourov, Cadel Evans - returns to training, Mayo's B sample to get B test
- December 14: Sydor's consistency, George Hincapie, Helmet straps must be cinched a bit too tight, Will there soon be a sample"C"test?, ProTour, Vino's joke of a suspension, Mafioso McQuaid, Obee and Health Net, Mayo's B sample to get B test, Campagnolo offers its own 'red' shifter, T-Mobile's withdrawal a blow to Jaksche
- December 6: Tschüss T-Mobile, Anquetil, Mayo's B sample to get B test, T-Mobile drop out, Obee and Health Net, Stefano Zanini
- November 30: Anquetil,Mayo's B sample to get B test, Stefano Zanini, Rider's passport, Betting, Jonathan Page, Wake up!!, T-Mobile drop out, Bike design originality
- November 23: Remembering Jacques Anquetil, Done looking back, Mayo's B sample to get B test, Cross crank, Rider's passport, Blood passports and humanity, Fothen's comments on Bettini, Nathan O'Neill , Sinkewitz, Rasmussen blood values, Sponsorship strangeness, Dick Pound better understood, Bike design originality,
- November 16: Nathan O'Neill, Rasmussen blood values, The Crocodile Trophy, Sinkewitz, Drug testing procedures, Rider's passport, The drug issue, Bike design originality , Sponsorship strangeness, Selfishness will ruin cycling
- November 9: The Crocodile Trophy, A little bit of bias here?, Rider's passport, Kasheckin, Positive tests, Drug testing procedures, Marco Pinotti: Engineering a new path, Bike design originality
- November 2: What does this mean?, Le Tour 08, Mayo's B sample, Bike design originality, Trimble, UCI says Mayo case not closed, Drug testing procedures ... and false positives, Kashechkin: controls violate human rights, Drug testing procedures, Mayo, UCI, Kashechkin, et al... Great, now it's coming from both ends, Positive tests, Why even bother with B samples then?, Mayo's positive EPO test, Falling barriers
- October 26: Rider passports & Cadel Evans, Drug testing procedures ... and false positives, Iban Mayo's false positive, Iban Mayo and Landis, Armstrong on Landis, Mayo's B sample, UCI turns Mayo's case into a debaucle, Great...now they hand pick the results, No justice for Mayo, UCI says Mayo case not closed, Bike design originality, 2006 Tour de France, A bad week for cycling, A fitting end to the season
- October 19: 2006 Grand Tour trifecta!, 2006 Tour de France, A fitting end to the season, Armstrong on Landis, Bike design originality, doping in cycling, Doping numbers, Paris-Tours testing mishap, UCI and the lack of testing!, Vino's other Tour stage win, The absolute best?
- October 12: Armstrong on Landis, Bike design originality, Cycling drama, Doping is unfair; but so is discrimination, It’s not doping that's..., Landis case - everyone's a loser, Length and cost of the Landis case, R & R, The Landis decision, Tour of America
- October 5: Cycle drama, It's not doping that's"killing"the sport, Why is VAM a benchmark, Tour of America, The Landis decision, DYNEPO, Worlds, Rock & Republic's CEO Michael Ball, Please explain, Giuseppe Guerini, FICP
- September 28: Tour of America, World champion zany-ness, The Landis decision, ASO v UCI, McQuaid vs ASO vs the riders, Please explain, Why is VAM a benchmark, Giuseppe Guerini, Menchov felt betrayed by Rasmussen, ProTour and Le Tour, Where is the due process
- September 21: Astana's future and Bruyneel, Bruyneel's afterlife, Floyd Landis decision, Why is VAM a benchmark, Lifetime bans, Menchov felt betrayed by Rasmussen, Ungrateful Levi, Spanish cycling, Where is the due process
- September 14: Astana & Bruyneel, Cycling vs. soccer, Cycling will survive, Floyd Landis decision, LeMond's comments, Menchov felt betrayed by Rasmussen, Ungrateful Levi, Why is VAM a benchmark?
- September 7: Cycling vs. soccer, Floyd Landis decision, UCI, ASO, LeMond, et al who cares? Riders, Lawyers in the Landis case, LeMond's comments, Riders taking the fall?, US Postal/Discovery R.I.P.
