Armstrong charged and banned

[ColinJ]

For those of you who just shrug your shoulders and say "They are all at it, it's a level playing field, just shut up and enjoy the racing!" - read this article, and pay particular attention to the 'Goldman Dilemma', research which shows that over 50% of elite athletes would take a drug which would guarantee them a gold medal but kill them within 5 years, if they thought that it would not be detected!

 

[MacB]

It's simply wrong to say \armstrong beat Ullrich so he was better - Ullrich was often left isolated, Armstrong never was for 3 weeks

that's taking a slightly different tack but I agree and I remember being quite dismayed when I saw stats for energy use etc. I hadn't realised just how much difference team protection made and how much fresher a protected rider was when they made their big moves.

But apart from time trials I struggle to think of situations where it really is one against one. Actually the above realisation took a lot of the shine off the big races for me.

 

[Andrew_P]

For those of you who just shrug your shoulders and say "They are all at it, it's a level playing field, just shut up and enjoy the racing!" - read this article, and pay particular attention to the 'Goldman Dilemma', research which shows that over 50% of elite athletes would take a drug which would guarantee them a gold medal but kill them within 5 years, if they thought that it would not be detected!

It is a mindset and goldfish bowl effect. You grow to your surroundings and peer group.

 

[Alun]

It looks like Armstrong is preparing to fight the allegations, rather than just accept them, I presume that would include Bruyneel et al as well. http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...o-be-named-in-its-reaction-against-USADA.aspx

 

[ColinJ]

that's taking a slightly different tack but I agree and I remember being quite dismayed when I saw stats for energy use etc. I hadn't realised just how much difference team protection made and how much fresher a protected rider was when they made their big moves.

Road racing is a strange sport in that respect. It doesn't matter how good (s)he is, a team leader can't cover every attack by 20 different rivals by her/himself, but having a strong team isn't enough, it still takes a great rider to actually win the race. Cavendish must be the ultimate example of that - he needs to be delivered to the last few kms in good enough shape to stand a chance of winning and be given a good leadout too, though he sometimes manages to win by sprinting off riders from other teams.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Has this all come about because he turned pro for the Ironman and Triathlons?

I would think that had a lot to do with it, yes. If he had just kept his head down and gone into something else, then probably USADA would have let it go. But I don't think they can accept him going back into pro-sport still claiming he has never doped. And quite right. They don't want triathlon, the fastest growing participation sport in the world, tainted as well.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Well, Bruyneel's world is all falling apart. There are rumours that Radioshack-Nissan are broke, that they will have their TdF invite rescinded and that the Schlecks are on the point of leaving. Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.

 

[smutchin]

Armstrong and Bruyneel took that to a new level.

Don't forget there was Gewiss before them, who famously took all the podium places in Fleche-Wallonne one year, and set a ridiculously fast team time trial record that wasn't broken until Discovery came along. And were all swimming in EPO.

Surprisingly enough, there's a link between Gewiss and Lance in the form of a certain doctor with a penchant for orange juice.

d.

 

[raindog]

..... and that the Schlecks are on the point of leaving.

I've got a theory that the Schlecks knew this bombshell was about to break and have tried to distance themselves from JB and that's the root of the recent 'performance problems'. The Schlecks and Cancellara must be looking back at their time with Riis as 'the good old days'

 

[smutchin]

It would be odd, though, if the Schlecks distanced themselves from Bruyneel's taint by going back to Mr 60 Percent, as is rumoured.

But then they've never struck me as the brightest sparks...

d.

 

[smutchin]

The arch obfuscator "demands transparency":
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ot...om-USADA-before-answering-doping-charges.html

 

[albion]

What people forget is cycling is a team sport...
All his domestiques used to fly up hills with Armstrong just wheel sucking, before Heras, Hamilton etc etc pulled out 100m from the top.....It's simply wrong to say \armstrong beat Ullrich so he was better - Ullrich was often left isolated, Armstrong never was for 3 weeks

I was putting what is often visible in the 'he must certainly cheat' argument'.

Armstrong was always meticulous in getting the top or correct selection of riders into his team to pull him along.
It is sad that cycling gets it all when cheating is far easier in many other disciplines.

 

[Alun]

The arch obfuscator "demands transparency":
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ot...om-USADA-before-answering-doping-charges.html

I wouldn't laugh, if USADA don't play this by the book, it could provide Armstrong with valuable ammunition for his defence.

 

[Silver Fox]

The arch obfuscator "demands transparency":
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ot...om-USADA-before-answering-doping-charges.html

Although it's not looking too good for Armstrong at the moment I'm retaining an open mind over all this.

That aside, considering the consequences if these allegations are proven surely he and his team are entitled to full, detailed disclosure. Regardless of what you think of the man, if the identity of his accusers is being withheld it hardly seems fair.

 

[yello]

It looks like Armstrong is preparing to fight the allegations, rather than just accept them, I presume that would include Bruyneel et al as well. http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...o-be-named-in-its-reaction-against-USADA.aspx

An interesting article. Moves the subject on nicely!

"I'm exploring all my options," the Texan told the Associated Press yesterday. "They're not limited only to arbitration with USADA."

"arbitration". Is that an option? A confession for a reduced punishment? He doesn't want to be banned perhaps? Yes, I took drugs but can't we just, you know, move on? Tri is where it's at now.

They are trying to compel USADA to reveal the names of the witnesses who gave details of what they said were doping actions carried out by Armstrong, Bruyneel and others. "We cannot protect Mr. Armstrong's rights without knowing who is saying what and what events that allegedly occurred over the course of a decade and a half," Luskin wrote in the letter

(My bold)

I'm not sure why they need to know names. I can hazard a guess why they WANT to know names but that's another thing! Besides, I would have thought Armstrong et al have a pretty darn good idea already so I'm figuring the desire is more for the names to be in the public domain.