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Letters to Cyclingnews - August 28, 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.
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?
US cyclists and masks
Actually Hillary saving face is a Japanese idiosyncrasy, and actually wearing masks for health, weather and pollutant reasons is quite common in several Asian countries. As well as wearing gloves hats and glasses for sun related issues.
Lagartija
Los Angeles Ca, USA
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
US cyclists and masks #2
Your concern for Chinese face and their reaction (or everyone's?) to North American culture clearly outweighs your concern for the Olympic athletes, and I wish I could say that that cracks me up. Let's not allow political correctness to obscure either truth or official hypocrisy. Having been in Beijing on numerous occasions, I concur with Alex that it is common to see Chinese citizens wearing masks in China due to the abominable air quality. Chinese concern with "face" - often exaggerated by officials when dealing with Westerners because they are aware that so many of us are slaves to political correctness - should not excuse the Chinese government from the obvious hypocrisy of their stance in this matter. They SHOULD be embarrassed by the air quality that their citizens live with every day, and which the Olympic athletes must deal with. But you and others would allow "face" to get them off the hook, and they know it, and play it up.
When an athlete has been focusing his entire life in many cases for four years to compete in the Olympics, it is not cultural insensitivity for that athlete to recognize that Beijing air quality can be horrific and do what he can to combat it; it is just common sense. It is also well known that breathing recirculated air on long flights increases the possibility of contracting an illness by several hundred percent when compared to short flights. I have seen non-athletes wear masks on international flights for this very reason. Given that theirs was a very long flight indeed, it seems reasonable to me that these athletes were not making a political statement, nor were they being the insensitive Americans who seem to horrify you. They were simply trying to protect their health prior to a potentially life-changing athletic event.
Kevin Donihoo
Houston, USA
Thursday, August 21, 2008
US Cyclists and masks #3
Hilary,
Knowing both Mike and Bobby a little bit, I'd say both of them are/were a little paranoid about getting a chest infection. If my memory is right, bobby had gotten one the last time he was there. Therefore, they were worried about their athletic performances more so than political sensitivity. This is the Olympic Games after all and getting a chest infection would have killed their chances.
The numbers that were presented by the Chinese about air quality, and then the numbers issued by independent agencies varied greatly. I do believe indeed that there were some serious air quality issues and if Bobby, et al wanted to wear a mask to protect them from the terminal onwards, so be it, it’s a freedom of choice. Politics should never have entered into it.
Russ Blake
USA
Thursday, August 21, 2008
US Cyclists and masks #4
Hilary,
I agree that everyone should be sensitive to "cultural idiosyncrasies" but wearing masks is not an insult to the culture of the Chinese people, it is a statement that highly trained athletes don't want to risk anything going into one of the biggest events of their lives. The gestures made by the Spanish basketball teams (making slit eye gestures) was a true insult to Chinese people and culture. The fact that the Chinese government got angry at these cyclists is absurd. It is an oppressive totalitarian government that was told four years ago to clean up its air and improve its record on Human rights. It did not do either of those things, so they should be happy they still somehow got to host the Olympic Games at all. The Chinese government should be ashamed of itself and it is a travesty that those athletes were made to apologize when the only ones at fault were the Chinese government.
P.S. the air is the same inside and outside. Also, the point of the masks is to limit their exposure to the polluted air in order to give themselves the best chance to perform well, if they wore their masks during their events they wouldn't be giving themselves there best chance of a good performance.
Rob Burnett
Denver, Colorado, USA
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Cadel
I find it interesting to see how many bash Cadel for his riding technique.
Is he the best climber? - No
Is he the best uphill finisher? No
Is he the best time trialist? - No
How about sprinter? - No
Your opinion may differ from mine, but I think most of us would agree with the
previous statements.
So, tell me what happens when you are not the best at one particular discipline? You ride as hard as you can, as long as you can. Cadel is guilty of riding as hard as he could with the physical talent he has. I find it interesting how many praise Valverde, yet criticize Cadel. The only difference is that Valverde sucks wheels long enough so he can win the sprint. Prior to him jumping and winning the first stage, where was he? Ah yes sucking the wheels of the others; so let it go already. OK, I get it. Wheel sucking winners are using tactics, and everyone else is a wheel sucker. I will submit the new definition to Webster's.
Let us not forget that Cadel tends to ride many of the races in the spring and fall (although injury will prevent the later this year). He doesn't beat his chest claiming to be the best, or try to taunt others. He is a nice guy who has great talent, and sadly, has finished second twice in the greatest cycling race. I wish I could put that on my resume!
Michel
Buford, GA, USA
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Cadel Evans and the Beige jersey
A good point David
Naturally, we are attracted to riders who are the best at what they do - climbers who can mount spectacular attacks; time trialists like Cancellara. The fact of the matter is that Cadel isn’t the best time trialist, nor the best climber - his talent is that he’s pretty good (top 10) at both. And like all of us would in that position, he rides to this strength.
I’d like to see Cadel bag a few more stages too, but I don’t think the bloke deserves to be criticised for playing to his strengths, particularly when it is obvious that he is working his guts out in doing so.
Nick Johnston
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Cadel Evans and the Beige Jersey #2
What an idiotic debate; the only unworthy winners are the dopers. Anyone who wins a Tour otherwise is the best of the best, period! Who cares about style? It’s a race not a gymnastics competition.
Also, Greg LeMond won the Tour in 1990 without winning a stage, and if memory serve correctly he never actually raced in yellow. And it was still pretty awesome.
Cory Thompson
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Friday, August 22, 2008
Levi Leipheimer’s Bike
John,
Levi’s bike passed the UCI pre-race inspection, just like everyone else’s. End of story. Let it go...
Steve Greene
Colorado, USA
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Doping
Athletes cheat by doping because the rewards outweigh the risks (at least in their opinion). The number of people engaged in doping or trying to figure out how to dope and get away with it will easily overwhelm any anti-doping effort. If you combine this with the fact that dopers often rely on the legitimate research and development of the pharmaceutical industry which spends billions of dollars per year then the budgets of anti-doping efforts begin to look paltry and hopelessly overwhelmed.
Given those circumstances I don't think it is entirely unreasonable to expect less than 100% certainty that someone has cheated. If you have ever had a conversation with someone who knows how to administer EPO or Testosterone in micro-doses then the chances of catching a cheat are based on luck as much as scientific certainty. Someone hoping to recover from bonking with the aid of testosterone may fall asleep and leave the patch on a little to long and trigger a positive result. This statement is not meant to say that we should lower our expectation that labs adhere to the highest principles in testing protocol and practice. It is meant to say that they need to cast the net wide to detect signs of doping so that other tests can be conducted to find more evidence of cheating.
The people that run WADA and other anti-doping programs know that they are up against a silent, well funded and diverse campaign to subvert fair sport. I liken it to a police effort. You identify suspicious behaviour and then you look for evidence of a crime as you build a case. If you find the proverbial smoking gun then great. Otherwise, we will have to accept the fact that many cases will be built on what is largely circumstantial evidence. The process for adjudicating these cases needs to be fair and the organizations responsible need to be consistent. Nothing can be more troublesome that watching a cyclist registered in Monaco get more favourable treatment than one registered in Italy.
I believe that big pharma needs to be on the hook for helping to develop tests that can identify their drugs in an athlete's blood or urine. Drugs are made and sold under state license with the basic assumption that they benefit society. If the drug can be used in anti-social way then the company should be responsible for helping to identify and remedy that.
The maker of Oxycodone was pressured to change the way their drug is manufactured in order to reduce its value as a street narcotic. The co-operation between WADA and French Anti-Doping Organizations and the manufacturer of CERA during this year's Tour is a great example as well. I believe that this co-operation should be taken a step farther. The state should make it a requirement for drug companies to develop a test to identify their drug when used illicitly will eliminate the ability of cheater to stay on doping's cutting edge whilst the testers struggle and strive to catch up.
It may add to the cost of developing the drug but that cost is already being born by other people. It should however cost less to develop a test for a drug at the same time the drug is developed. The test can then be sold to anti-doping agencies which will either further defray the additional cost of development or actually create a new revenue stream.
Robert Roop
Grayslake, IL, USA
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Team Australia helmets
According to Mr. Hinsliff, "If a person doesn't have sense enough to wear a helmet then I don't think their brain is worth protecting."
Why are bicycles special? If car passengers were to wear helmets we could save 1000 times as many head injuries or more. And yet my guess is that Mr. Hinsliff never wears a helmet in his own automobile.
Tom Kunich
San Leandro, CA
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Team Australia helmets #2
Yeah tell it like it is brother as there was pictures of other teams without helmets as well!
Max
Perth, Western Australia
Friday, August 22, 2008
Team Australia helmets #3
Helmets have nothing to do with "cycling safely".
They do have something to do with injury reduction once you have ceased cycling safely and have progressed to an accident.
Unfortunately no helmet will suffice with the standard of driving exhibited in Australia; many drivers are uneducated, ignorant, selfish and sadly aggressive.
Mark Harrison
Friday, August 22, 2008
Lance and the doping debate
Yes Steve is right; Lance's performances show a consistency throughout his career which is atypical of doping. Here's a bloke who had always been strong. In a powerhouse performance that really stood out, he rode the field off his wheel to win the Worlds [2003 in Oslo, Norway - Ed].
Yes he did bonk and recover in 2000 which was either like Landis or like Indurain in 1996 take your pick. Granted he did recover remarkably well but generally his form hasn't had the variations of say Riis who in 1995 was lucky to come 3rd and looked utterly finished but came back to flatten everyone in 1996 or Rasmussen's long-term up and down form (as remarked on by Cadel Evans who's ridden against him for years). I remain open to the possibility that he did dope but hopeful that he didn't. On balance (especially as NO ONE has produced any evidence that Lance did dope and I like those quaint principles like innocent till proven guilty) I think Lance is probably one of the most phenomenal athletes I have ever seen.
As to the back and forth around Evans, can anyone remember a rider coming down so hard (over the bars and onto his back hard enough to crack his helmet) and still finishing 2nd? Given the known physiological affects of a bad crash it was a remarkable feat.
David Thompson you are quite right Miguel Indurain won 5 Tours without once winning a road stage.
Justin Larkin
Friday, August 22, 2008
British Olympic track medals
Ahhh, well done to the British cycling team, and indeed to their entire Olympic team. But what's your point, Andy?
Australian cycling doesn't have access to the Lottery-level funding of the British, which has enabled you to buy Australian and other coaches and technical staff. That the AIS was set up in response to Australia's lack of medals at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 doesn't detract one iota from the fact that the British have unashamedly modelled their Olympic program on Australia's highly successful examples in cycling, swimming and other sports, and just added more money.
It is also neither ironic nor whinging to point out that, based on population, Britain should have roughly three times Austalia's total Olympic medal count.
Good luck in London in 2012.
Rick O'Brien
Sydney, Australia
Friday, August 22, 2008
BMX....That's all?
As a track cyclist, I was steamed that the Kilo was dropped in favour of BMX. Track cycling got zero coverage on primetime USA TV (there were a few highlights on early morning minor channels). But when 'BMX men's final next' came on the screen, I decided to watch.
First let me say, there were adults on kid's bikes. The gears looked like kiddie gears as well. The 'acceleration' came from a steep downhill start ramp, not from rider power. One rider bragged that he has more power than Cavendish or Hoy. Has he even seen these men blur by?
When the riders got to the end of the first tiny lap (maybe 1/4 kilo) that was the finish line. Victory in 35 seconds? I thought they were going to do 50 laps or so, like the men's Madison. This looked more like an X Games commercial to sell kids BMX bikes. (I do realize that not many people run out and buy a track bike. I will grant you BMX guys that). I cannot believe they built that entire course for basically two 30 second races. What a waste. Winning was more about not getting knocked over by people who were out of control on the tight turns than anything to do with being an athlete.
So I will leave BMX 'racing' in the category of badminton, gymnastics with a long piece of tissue paper, and perhaps the canoe race on one-bended knee finals.
Timothy Shame
USA
Friday, August 22, 2008
Recent letters pages
Letters 2008
- 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.
