Ask me if I care anymore
Thu, May 26, 2011 What a week it has been for the sport of professional cycling. It started off with the Tyler Hamilton interview on 60 Minutes; now we hear that Alberto Contador’s Clembuterol appeal will now not be heard before the start of this year’s Tour de France.
The joint appeal by the UCI and the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) is against the Spanish Cycling Federation’s finding that Contador is innocent of clenbuterol use. The case to be heard by the Court for Glacial Arbitration in Sport (CAS) has been delayed at the request of Contador’s lawyers. Apparently they need more time to gather evidence.
This is ridiculous, cycling fans had been promised, and it was expected to be settled one way or another before the TDF. The man I feel for is Christian Prudhomme the man who puts on the Tour de France, what does he do now, let Contador ride or not? He is screwed either way.
I am to the stage where I don’t care anymore, and I think that is exactly the tactic being played by the UCI. The UCI failed to ban Contador when he tested positive for clenbuterol, but instead turned the responsibility over to the Spanish Cycling Federation.
When Spain found Alberto innocent, the UCI has to go through the motions of an appeal. But it is a half assed appeal, one they don’t really want to win. I don’t hear any loud protests from the UCI at this latest delay, and if you remember one of the reasons this case has gone on this long is because the UCI waited until the very last minute to launch an appeal.
I predict that the whole matter may resolve itself; I think Contador will voluntarily withdraw from this year’s Tour de France. The reason; this year’s Giro d’Italia has been brutal over a route that has had an exceptional number of tough mountain stages.
After last Saturday’s stage 15. 143 miles (229 km.) featuring five big climbs over the Dolomites from Conegliano to Gardeccia Val di Fassa, Contador said it was the “hardest day of racing in his life.” (Video above.)
I don’t believe he was expecting to ride both Grand Tours. Remember he only has a month to recover before the start of the TDF. If he rides he will not be on top form, and he will have stronger opposition than he has had in the Giro. Could be interesting.
Another interesting tid-bit of news emerged today. Switzerland has more than 50 World Sports governing bodies based in its country. The UCI is just one of them. The Swiss Government is investigating corruption in those sport’s governing bodies. Good timing, I hope the UCI is up there on their list.
Reader Comments (16)
"The uploader has not made this video available in your country". Nice!
ditto
Can you watch on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58kjSsNI9Zk&feature=player_embedded
Or go to http://www.steephill.tv/giro-d-italia/ Scroll down to stage 15, there are videos in English and Italian.
I wish AC all the best.
I wish AC would along with his doppie mates, Take up ping pong. If they have the BALLS!
While I dislike AC as much as the next person, I have to throw the blame squarely upon the UCI's shoulders. They have created what the doping monster is today and the dopers are only taking advantage of the loopholes the UCI has graciously provided them.
Cheats! Crooks! Ban the BUMS! Now I know why A/C wins,(or takes 2nd in stages ) Its all in the phony band he has on his NOSE! Thats how he gets his fix! like all the other druggies. bet he throws that band away before doping control.
@ John Crump, While I sympathise with your general displeasure at doping in pro bike racing, as someone who has obviously followed the sport for many years, you must realise that your heros of the past (Coppi, Anquetil, Merckx etc) all doped. It is just that the available potions in those days were less sophisticated and less effective. The best guy still won. If you want (and wanted in years gone by) the complete elimination of PED's you need (needed) a tough independent regulating body which is determined to clean house. We have never had that and we still don't. This would also require a medical research capability which kept on top of potential new drugs as cheats will always be one step ahead. It's unfair to pick on AC. He is maybe only doing what he has been conditioned to do.
@JW, I agree with you, except for one thing...everyone is responsible for his actions. No excuses. It's true that when UCI leaves fertile ground for PEDs, eventually the guys who want to win have no other choice than to use PEDs (unless everyone is intelligent enough to stay away from them). There is no use in blaming anyone. If someone would want to chart a trail of blame, it would be an endless circle. I believe the best is not "not to care", but to withdraw all support for that circus, and keep on exposing it, especially to the young people that may be interested in prof. cycling. Thank you, Paul Kimmage, for the book.
If people are using drug to enhance preformance then you have to also. You won't get sponsored. You won't get podium finishes. That is what drives it. The previous comment stated what would have to be done. Athletes always want an edge and if they see someone they could regularly beat who is now whipping them they want to know why or failing that get their edge back with what ever is available.
All sports have the problem. Just how are we getting so many 300LB high school football players?
Corruption in sports? What is happening in the world? Too bad we all have instant access to all of it.
Investors cheat with insider trading; the Fed prints money without any backing when it isn’t even needed but it goes to investors who have to put it somewhere so into stocks it goes to give companies money they don’t even need.
Apparently life would be boring for what are now disconnected humans if sports didn’t have dope, investors didn’t have inside knowledge, and companies didn’t have too much cash.
Humans are disconnected from what used to be venerated: honesty, hard work, respect and Johnny Cash.
You need dope to keep up.
dave,
do you care any more?
POOR OLD A/C he just did what he was PAID to do, Win at any costs. If you want to be on the podium you have to do what the other chaps are doing RIGHT? something very wrong with THIS picture. Reading all the comments this seems OK to most. BUT then maybe A/C is NOT guilty, MAYBE he IS just BETTER than the rest? How will we ever know? Any way the scenery in the Giro WAS worth looking at, almost as nice as Colorado! Going for a 40 mile bike ride in the beautiful Colorado mountains, maybe a coffee to stimulate! Crumps on dope again! Cheers.
Dave (This is adressed to you). Reading the comments, apart from mine. Where is the Outrage, Disgust over this state of Cycling and sports, PLUS the world in general. What are we becoming? We spend big $ on the things that the sponsors sell. Then we have to put up with this.WHY? OUR forfathers would never have tolerated this. I was taught to be honerable and trustwothy do the best I could and be proud of my works. John Crump OldBrit and proud of it!
Special favors from government leads to corruption, what a surprise. Then these favored entities tend to favor some over others? Doubly surprised...
Yes special carve outs lead to double standards and then fans lose interest (a form of dissonance reduction). But the bigger problem is PR especially when all cyclists are seen "cheaters", whether at the pro level or street level. "Don't Be a Jerk" becomes "Don't Be Like Cyclists".
"50 (sport) governing bodies based in Switzerland that currently benefit from favourable legislative and tax arrangements, including exemption from Swiss anti-corruption legislation." Sort of like numbered accounts?
I think I'll go back to Lawn bowling and beer.