Letters to Cyclingnews - January 30, 2009

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.

Erik Zabel
Erik Zabel interview, please
Unrepentant cheat
Armstrong Results
Armstrong and Landis
Armstrong talks Landis
Rider pay
Kloeden and Leipheimer
Armstrong? Hold on there a minute!

Erik Zabel

Let's all sing high praises for Erik Zabel, the consummate professional of pro cycling and very much a gentleman. Every fan of pro cycling no doubt has a favourite Zabel moment, and mine is when he admitted to having used EPO. My reasons for this being the favourite moment, though, might be a bit different from other people's, assuming anyone else would have picked this as the favourite moment! A person's accomplishments are one thing, but his/her character can be quite another. For instance, Richard Virenque. He accomplished much, but, alas, much of what he accomplished is suspect due to drug usage. And, when it came to time acknowledge the drug usage, mostly what one got from him was a big whine.

What is noble about Zabel's confession was not just that it was the right thing, it was seemingly unprovoked. But I think he confessed in a big part to support his good friend and teammate, Rolf Aldag, who had earlier confessed to using the drug and was being decried for having used it. Zabel, in other words, I think, came to the aid of a friend; he decided that this was more important than keeping his legacy intact. What was more important to him was his self-dignity and his loyalty to a deserving friend, and for that, Erik Zabel, you deserve high esteem.

Aldag, by the way, is famous for his wreck in the Tour when he slammed into a post at speed at the side of the road and fractured ribs, while still finishing the stage. He also wore the climber's jersey a day during the 2003 Tour and struggled valiently not to dishonour it up l'Alpe d'Huez. Watch the film 'Hell on Wheels' about that Tour. It's one of the great videos of cycling, and has an astonishing bit on the Luz Ardiden stage as the camera, at the side of the road, captures Armstrong blasting his way past spiteful, drunk Basques, whose favourite son, Iban Mayo, later to bring shame upon his own head for drug usage, falls away from the storming American. The film follows Zabel and, by association, Aldag; one can see the deep respect and affection they have for each other.

Cheers to you, Erik Zabel. Thanks for all the years of hard work and abiding courage. And thanks for popularising a haircut only you and Gene Krantz managed to make look decent!

Scott Phoenix,
Newberg, OR
Monday, January 26, 2009

Respond to this letter

Erik Zabel interview, please

Now that Erik Zabel has completed his career - ending on a high note with a win in the Berlin 6 day event - I would love to see a retrospective/in-depth interview with him. He has consistently impressed with his professionalism and humility (unlike many other sprinters), and of course his hard work and winning ways.

If he decides to reflect on that career and produce a book about it, I for one would buy a copy. Bravo Erik for a job well done!!

John Rider
North Carolina, US
Thursday, January 29, 2009

Respond to this letter

Unrepentant cheat

Your recent interview with Floyd Landis, like most interviews with him, was a big disappointment.

Two things: (a) he still won't address the fact that he cheated, and (b) the butt-kissing tone of the interview lets him get away with it. Floyd still wants to make it all about whether the agencies technically followed all of their procedures, and he won't admit that - even if that is so - the fact is that he cheated. And, apparently, will go to his grave without ever admitting it.

Like so many public figures he thinks he should get to say, "it's time to move on". But it isn't for those who break the laws to decide that - it's for the public, the people to decide. And before we can forgive and forget and move on, the person has to be honest and acknowledge their wrongdoing.

Personally, it pains me to see this dishonest, self-centered ass back in the peloton. I am glad to see that in the interview he didn't think other, younger riders could or should learn from his experience, although I disagree about the reasons - I think there isn't anything good to learn from Landis' actions or experience. He was, and is, an unrepentant cheater.

Kevin McGown
Oakland, CA, USA
Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Respond to this letter

Armstrong Results

Yes, Lance is back. Can we please move on now? Where are the transparent, non-biased, independent doping test results? Weren't we supposed to have them available prior to the Tour Down Under. Down Under is Over.

Until Lance posts a top ten finish I think we have all heard enough about him. His every move is reported, meanwhile teammate Contador, who is considered the best current cyclist, gets little of no coverage.

Claus von Bauer
Hudson, Quebec, Canada
Thursday, January 29, 2009

Respond to this letter

Armstrong and Landis

I'm very excited and can't wait to watch Lance and Floyd ride up my home climb, Mt. Palomar here in San Diego county on the final day of the Tour of California. I'll be camped out on hairpin turn #9.

But something is wrong with Lance if he can't understand the difference between Floyd and David Millar, and the circumstances under which they each served their suspensions (see article: Armstrong welcomes Landis' return) and why the latter is a lot more popular than the former even in Floyd's hometown.

It all comes down to admitting your mistakes and taking personal responsibility for them to help clean up the mess (or not). David's a guy who made a terrible mistake and confessed to it and dedicated his life to living it down and showing you can compete clean. Floyd is a guy who tried to make us believe (among a whole bunch of other possible silly excuses) that maybe there is a lot of testosterone in Jack Daniels.

Allan Snavely
San Marcos, CA, USA
Saturday, January 24, 2009

Respond to this letter

Armstrong talks Landis

It's strangely comforting to know Lance Armstrong hasn't changed one bit. He's just as willing to insult people's intelligence as before. His suggestion that Floyd Landis is no different than David Miller and should be welcomed back with open arms is ludicrous.

Miller fully owned up to his drug use and on return was hugely supportive of drug-free racing. Landis has done nothing but lie for the last two years. I guess Armstrong just recognises a kindred spirit. So, in the spirit of things let me just say: I am thrilled to have both of them back in the peloton!

Dan Sprague
Victoria, BC, Canada
Friday, January 23, 2009

Respond to this letter

Rider pay

I was reading with interest the article about riders' power, but nowhere do you or much of the press discuss the actually wages riders are paid.

I can understand the need for privacy, but why not at least show something that gives us an idea. We all see the huge contracts, with guys like A-Rod/Beckham getting 125 million over eight years, etc. And I have a feeling that other than a few top guy the income for most is fairly modest by the standards of F1, baseball and football.

So what does a top star such as Alberto, Cadel or Cavendish earn? Or a top performer such as Hincapie, Levi, Millar or Gusev earn? What about an up-and-coming rider such as Taaramae, Duggan, Rojas or Roche? Finally, what does a hard-working domestique take home each year?

Dan Belling
Monday, January 26, 2009

Respond to this letter

Kloeden and Leipheimer

I think it's great that there's isn't much hype about Andreas and Levi. This means no one touts them to be contendors for a victory when they are riding alongside Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong. Come February at the Tour of California, everyone will be watching LA to make a move whilst Levi sneaks in for the victory. Even though Andreas is an accomplished rider I haven't seen him up there in the Grand Tours for some time. I hope this changes at the Giro.

Stephen Mudehwe
Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Respond to this letter

Armstrong? Hold on there a minute!

Hugh states: "He [Armstrong] remains essentially a one-race cyclist. Therefore, the incredibly over-exaggerated claims that he has somehow saved cycling is pure unadulterated media-generated hyperbole. Merckx, Hinault, Anquetil, Indurain, Coppi, Bartoli, Rominger and so on have done much more for cycling's long term image than one American who has an overblown ego and who profits from his public image as a cancer crusader."

Well, he certainly was a one-race cyclist. But that's not anything new. Everyone knew he trained specifically to be tuned and ready to win the greatest race in cycling history. Seven times.

As for the incredibly over-exaggerated claims that he saved cycling, well... He may not have the palmares like Merckx, Coppi, Bartoli, et al, but in the USA he has had more of an impact on the cycling community than any of those other legends. What was seen as a recreational sport was brought forth to the US, first by LeMond, but more prominently by Lance. Lance had the biggest comeback story of anyone's life - battling cancer. Then went on to win the biggest race in the world, probably the only race known to most Americans at that time.

Granted, the media did their hype journalism due to his fight with cancer because everyone loves the feel-good story. And he certainly benefitted from the endorsements. Like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods did in their respective sports, Lance brought, and still brings, people to cycling, whether it be the curious spectator, the guy who bought his first bike since childhood or the woman that has a passion for competition and has taken to road racing. You can't deny the impact he's had on American cycling.

Cycling has been around long before Lance, but in America only a small percentage of us had ever heard of Merckx, Hinault or even paid any attention to LeMond in the '80s and '90s. There's no denying their contributions to the sport, but it was Lance that brought cycling into the homes of the current crop of cycling fans and enthusiasts.

I'll certainly admit that cycling was just a mere idle curiosity at first. But as I watched him ride and learned more about cycling and racing, that curiosity grew and it got me on my bike. Now I am passing on that passion and enjoyment to my wife and two kids. All thanks to one guy and my own idle curiosity.

So please don't discount his impact on the sport. Whether he's your hero or hated villain, I bet you'll still watch the races he's in; be it to cheer him on or hope for his failure. But you'll be standing there next to others like I was, wondering what this guy is all about. Who knows, that curious kid next to you may be standing on that podium one day lifting up his eighth Tour crown!

Gary Lee
Daly City, CA USA
Friday, January 23, 2009

Respond to this letter

Recent letters pages

Letters 2009

• January 9: Piepoli's 'mistake', News coverage of Armstrong, Rock Racing, The new look, Australian time trial championships
• January 2: Piepoli's 'mistake', News coverage of Armstrong, Tinkov on his way out, Cadel Evans, Chicago Olympics road race, Viagra - a doping product?

Letters 2008

• December 18: Popo's holiday, News coverage of Armstrong, Old School Rules, Cycle Sport's Lance Armstrong interview, Cadel Evans, Rock-n-Rudy Racing, Viagra - a doping product?
• December 11: Kayle Leogrande, Boonen, Basso diary, Come on, Chris!, Is Kohl kidding?, Lance in the news, Popo's holiday, Schumacher off the radar?, Rock-n-Rudy Racing, Viagra - a doping product?
• December 5: Prevention better than cure, Is Kohl kidding?, Kayle Leogrande, Enforceable Biological Passport, Armstrong's team duties, The Cycling Path, Rock-n-Rudy Racing, Come on, Chris!, Viagra - a doping product?
• November 27: 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
• 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.

The complete Cyclingnews letters archive