Letters to Cyclingnews - May 19, 2006

Banning of altitude tents

I think this has got to be the biggest joke of all from the WADA. I cannot help but wonder what might be next on the anti doping list. Let's see, all those items with antioxidants like Orange Juice, Red wine, blueberries. What about fish with Omega-3 fatty acids, that helps keep your cholesterol in check? Maybe that should be banned too. On the other hand what about all those things that are bad for performance? Like say drinks with High Fructose Corn Syrup or partially hydrogenated oils, would those things be on the good or bad list?

You know, come to think of it, all of the scientific training with heart rate monitors and power meters with a personal advisor monitoring your progress has got to performance enhancing as well. (I cannot help thinking of the chapter in "Lance Armstrong's War" where Dr Ferrari and Floyd Landis are talking about all of the things that are performance enhancing - cheese, naps, training). What I have failed to understand and will continue to be so is why the WADA does not join up with the pharmaceutical companies to put "markers" in performance enhancing drugs.

Put something in the EPO that is non toxic that stays in the body for a period of time. Maybe even change the marker based on the lot number so the path from company to illegal user can be traced as well as making harder for the athlete to cheat the system because he or she will not know what they are looking for. The WADA could lobby the governments of the world to pass legislation that requires this sort of marker in drugs on the banned list. About all that will happen if they ban altitude tents is the well paid stars will sleep in a hotel of home at altitude as opposed to sleeping in their home at sea level with an altitude tent. I thought WADA stood for World Anti Doping Agency not World Anti Performance Agency.

Joe Butler
Jacksonville Florida USA

Friday, May 12, 2006

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Hypoxic tents

Wada & Dick Pound looking at whether to ban Hypoxic tents!

While Dick Pound has a point in mentioning that Hypoxic tents are used by athletes looking for an edge, aren't all athletes looking for an edge? The athlete who sacrifices in diet, sleep, and personal life better than the next, don't they also have an edge? Hypoxic tents aren't drugs, and aren't known to cause health issues; Wada should focus on the highly unhealthy use of performance-enhancing drugs and never mind technology. Also if Hypoxic tents were banned then the only athletes who could benefit from altitude training are those who can afford the trips to the Rockies, Alps or Pyrenees, thus putting less funded, up and coming athletes at a disadvantage.

Allan Daigneault
LaColle,Quebec,Canada

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

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WADA and altitude tents

Dick Pound and WADA have outdone themselves. Banning altitude tents? Yeah, OK, right. Since these bureaucrats are on a roll, I've come up with a list of further things they should ban:

1) Air Conditioners: We all know that a properly hydrated body performs better.
2) Massage: I guarantee there is a study that shows this improves recovery.
3) High Sugar Recovery Drinks
4) Heart Rate Monitors/Powermeters
5) Lycra clothing
6) Clipless Pedals
7) Vitamin Supplements, etc.

These all enhance performance, so let's get rid of them.

Note to WADA: How about simply limiting your efforts to "drug" use. If a substance is not medically called for, as advised by an impartial medical group, or if its illegal without a prescription, then ban it. Forget about banning riders taking caffeine or cold capsules. They are so short term in their effects that who cares. And I'll never forget how Jonathan Vaughters couldn't get a stinking shot after he got stung by a bee in the Tour de France one year because it would probably be "doping". Get real.

WADA is quickly becoming a farce and will eventually become inconsequential. Way to go Pound!

Scott Grimshaw
Marcellus, NY

Friday, May 12, 2006

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Latest WADA crusade

It is interesting to observe the goings on of the WADA from an outsider's perspective. It seems to me that WADA, like many other self-serving regulatory agencies, now suffers from a common problem. How to justify its own existence?

We see this in our hospital systems with the JCAHO. This is the body that reviews and accredits hospitals. While having hospitals accredited certainly makes them safer, which I very much appreciate, the accrediting agency can't stop there. Once the major problems have been identified, and steps have been taken to prevent these problems, the search is on for ever more ridiculous things to police in the name of improved patient safety. New requirements are then penned, usually without any supporting data, for the hospitals and their practitioners to attempt to achieve. Without novel requirements, the need for the agency quickly fades.

Similarly, now that they "caught Tyler" and Lance has retired, WADA has moved on and is now considering challenging the use of altitude tents, on the grounds that "use of these devices is probably contrary to the spirit of sport" because "creation of these conditions can be performance enhancing". Are you kidding me?

The last time I checked, there are many performance enhancing techniques used by modern athletes. These include sports drinks, nutritional supplements, power meters, heart rate monitors, weight lifting, and yes, training. Living at altitude, which many athletes now do, also likely gives these athletes an advantage over their sea level competitors. Is living at altitude "contrary to the spirit of sport"? If not, why then is it unfair for a sea level athlete, who can't for whatever reason relocate to Boulder, to use an altitude tent? Is there is some hidden evidence that shows cyclists are dying in their sleep from hypoxemia? If not, what is the harm if they wish to sleep high and train low? Is there data?

Don't mistake my criticism. I believe that WADA serves a very important role, and definitely makes our sport safer for the riders. An example is the hematocrit rule of 50. I thought this was brilliant and I applaud WADA for it. I believe that this rule actually protects riders. The question is - who oversees WADA and tells them that they have gone too far? More importantly, what will come next? Will they ban athletes living at altitude, or better yet, will they ban training altogether? After all, both serve to "enhance performance".

CH Cook
Columbus, Ohio

Friday, May 12, 2006

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WADA bans another

WADA considering banning wind-tunnel tests

The World Anti-Doping Agency is considering banning wind-tunnel tests in which cyclists use scientific techniques to improve their aerodynamic position on the bike. Such testing is "probably contrary to the spirit of the sport" and will be one of the subjects of discussion at WADA upcoming meeting May 13-14 at Everest base camp.

In a pre-meeting briefing, WADA president Dick Pound expounded "a modern time trial tests the skills of scientists rather than cyclists. Races should be won on the road, not in the lab. Wind-tunnel tests are high up on my 'to ban' list."

When asked about other items on his list, Pound was evasive, but when pressed, mumbled something about baked potatoes, drafting, and Jan Ullrich's thighs.

It is unclear just who the spirit of the sport is, and why such person objects to wind-tunnel tests. Attempts to contact several leading candidates (Pierre Lallement, Georges Lefevre, and Eddy Merckx) failed because they were either dead or on holiday.

Andy Yates
Chapel Hill, NC

Friday, May 12, 2006

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Congrats to Jan

Hmmm....looks like Jan is in fine shape to me. Does anyone really think that he will be unprepared come July? Basso will almost definitely run away with the Giro, meaning that he will slowly fade this summer while Jan only gets stronger. Riding the Giro at a moderate pace is an excellent prep for le Tour, and the stage 11 victory serves as a nice warning shot for the competition. Looks like Jan is right on track. By the way, I hope that Basso does run away with the Giro. After all, he is an Italian, and in the future he'll have many chances to win le Tour.

Ian Wilson
Boston, MA

Thursday, May 18, 2006

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Criticism of Jan Ullrich

It's easy for Monday morning armchair quarterbacks (or domestiques) to criticize those who fall short of our expectations. But consider the rider who finishes last in the Giro or Tour, or for that matter the worst singer on American Idol, the simple fact is they're out there doing it and we're not. 'Nuff said.

Scott Smith
Charlotte, NC

Monday, 15 May 2006

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Criticism of Jan Ullrich #2

I keep reading about how Jan and others couldn't beat Armstrong in the tour and it will be different this year, on and on. What it seems all fail to recognize is the TEAM set up for the tour. Yes, Armstrong was great, but his team made him even more invincible. He was protected, not chased down by his own men, eh Vino, and they worked towards one goal.

Is Stuart O'Grady racing for CSC? Why? So he can win sprints? A waste of a man in my opinion. We never saw Pavel Padrnos on a run in sprint, or Chechu, Ace or any of the climbers taking off on the bottom of a mountain.

If you want to win the tour, find eight guys that will help one man win it, improving the talent of the team leader. Hey, it worked seven times in a row.

John Olsa
Grand Rapids, MI

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

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Jan bashing

Having just watched the superb stage 5 team trial performance of T Mobile, with great footage from Eurosport of Jan foaming at the mouth with the absolute effort! Then in the following days stage 6 looking superbly powerful driving the peloton along on and putting Olaf Pollack in pink. Not too bad I think for an out of condition cyclist in only his second race of the year!

So take note all you detractors, Ullrich is looking pretty good. (I'm writing this before the 1st mountain stage) So even if he does get stuffed in the mountains - my guess is Jan will figure highly the individual Giro TT on stage 11 - if not the win.

So I'm still making him my favourite for the Tour. I think we have a race on our hands. Roll on July!

David Norwich.
Fountainhall, Scotland

Friday, May 12, 2006

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Jan bashing #2

Dear editor,

I too am so very happy that Lance has retired. His absence will be like a breath of warm spring air slightly scented with pine rosin like the lovely breeze descending from the ridge above my local trail. I am expecting a great race this year. Let's get back to the real thing.

Ian Whitehead
Halifax NS

Friday, May 12, 2006

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Jan ready for the Tour

Well, Jan just got done crushing everybody but basso in the giro's second individual time trial and he's not even in shape yet. So to all of you Jan-naysayers out there: Der Kaiser will be ready for the Tour. It's going to be great!

Greg,
Japan

Friday, May 19, 2006

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Jan's good form

You are right to say Jan Ullrich will be a heck of a customer in July; in fact he will be the customer. I am only 16 and follow Ulle since 1996. He is the greatest cyclist of the past ten years. It is true that his form has not been very good in preparing the Tour, but this year’s is amazing.

After starting a racing season in the last week of April due to horrible knee injuries (Ulle never had a lot of chance), and after finishing worst than 120tth in the Tour de Romandie, one would expect Jan to have a hard time finishing the Giro and being ready for the Tour. On the other hand, this very power of nature that is my idol has incredibly reduced his “winter overweight” already, and is not only in good shape in the Giro, but he also rides a lot in the front for T-Mobile’s Pollack and Gonchar.

He just beat Ivan in the ITT BY 28 seconds. Knowing that Ivan is the best-performing cyclist at this time of the season, Ulle’s victory on May 18th clearly shows that he will be ready to kick off the Tour in Strasbourg in 1 month and 13 days, with only one objective in the head, which he will reach, WINNING. He will then extend his form into the last week of July, in Germany, which is his second goal of the year. ULLE will be unstoppable this year in time trials and will control in mountain. Wait and watch.

Nicolas Santkin,
Belgian Embassy of New Delhi, India.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

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Armstrong - the New American Idol

Dear Editor,

So I was casting about distractedly for a bottle of Ipecac after a particularly brutal bout with a plate full of dodgy sushi, just looking for a little relief, as you might say, and suddenly, as I absentmindedly surfed the interweb, this little snippet provided just the nauseating nudge I needed to get over the hump and spew the spoiled sushi:

"In a media release announcing the "Race To Replace", Discovery Channel said that Lance Armstrong will be "the centrepiece of the campaign, which will include a major cycling event, exclusive online content and an extensive marketing and advertising campaign, lending his support to the team from the sidelines. Armstrong will also lend his vibrant image and brand to the campaign as it follows the journey to find the next team leader who will replace Armstrong and on to victory."

Discovery Channel president Billy Campbell said, "Lance is entrenched in the success of the team and continues to be an inspiration and iconic hero both in the United States and abroad."

Excuse me, I'll be right back - gotta go puke now - ok, much better now. Goodbye stale sushi.

Hell, I don't know about you all, but I'm really looking forward to that exclusive online content AND the good ol' extensive TEXAN marketing AND advertising campaign in which Lance lends his support to the team from the "sidelines."

I'll bet you are even sicker than I am of the Lance PR juggernaut. If he had decided to finish out his contract with Discovery as a rider, instead of as a reality TV diva, perhaps aiming at a few classics in the twilight of his reign, we'd be spared this nauseating onslaught of public tripe. Instead, we'd be cheering for Lance as he went full gas in a gutsy attempt to finally take the monument he dreamed of for years: LBL. Damn, but Tyler got to it first! Well, you can't win 'em ALL Lance...

J.McHugh
Boston, MA

Friday, May 12, 2006

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The same old Lance

I don't think personal feelings have anything to do with it. Last year Landis cracked bad on some climbs and didn't recover time in a TT the way Jan did. Basso rolled along consistently. If you look impassively during last year's TdF it is clear that Basso and Jan would be picked over Landis. Armstrong is certainly opinionated and has an us vs. them mentality without a doubt, but if you were to read some of Landis own interviews the two have patched it up, and while they were never really friend's, they certainly aren't enemies either.

John Schmalbach
Philadelphia PA

Monday, May 15, 2006

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Defeatism in Discovery

In response to defeatism, I think Danielson was referring to his first TTT in actual competition. There is a HUGE difference between training and then having the yard stick of your opponents during the added stress of a race. Additionally Danielson has other issues such as how to ride in the Euro peloton and not waste energy that are likely more focused on by his own admission, as it is here he will lose the most time, not in a TTT.

As for Leif. It's a US-based team, while those of us that read Cyclingnews know and love the Classics, a US based team for the foreseeable future will always be based around the GT's, especially the TdF, so that is where their money goes; pro cycling is a business first, after all. Secondly, I wouldn't have much doubt that there was something going on behind the scenes after Flanders, big George definitely wasn't happy though he tried to hide it well, and when one of your chosen ones isn't happy, it isn't good. Again Discovery is a US based team, and appearing to alienate the lead US rider in favor of a European wouldn't be good business sense. Just a different perspective.

As for Landis; love him, he grew up near me, but he is of Armstrong's generation so to speak, and when they speak of the next Lance I think they mean the next decade give or take, and I don't think Landis, or any rider his age, has that much life left in his legs as a true GT leader.

John Schmalbach
Philadelphia PA

Monday, May 15, 2006

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Giro reactions

It's refreshing to have such a gentleman like Ivan Basso leading the Giro. It seems to me that cycling is one of the few professional sports left where true sportsmen, men who avoid trash-talking and childish, attention-seeking antics, regularly rise to the top. Just another reason to love this grand sport!

On a lighter note, I thank the helmet sponsor of Team Liquigas for finally providing the boys with some decent-looking lids. There's no polite way to describe the horror the old ones were to behold.

Thom Falter
Wisconsin, USA

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

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One of Savoldelli's secrets

In Australia we don't see much European road racing on TV, but highlights of the Tour of Romandie were recently televised. As Savoldelli won the prologue, we got to see him take a few corners. Some of them weren't pretty, but a front-on shot of him approaching one of the final left-handers was revealing. Just as he commenced his turn, his rear wheel briefly lifted and swung towards the outside of the bend, so that when it landed his bike was pointing inside his original line. What do you think he did next? There was no correction to get back on his original line. There was not even a moment of hesitation. He was smoothly into the saddle and pedalling, some metres before the apex of the corner.

My guess is that he was now on a collision course with the apex, and would have had to steer slightly outside the apex and then finally straighten his course near the point where his original line would have straightened. He turned a single bend into three turns, but he could take the latter two at full power, so he's got through the corner faster and exited at a higher speed than the textbooks, in exchange for the risk of a rear wheel slide. In footage of the three other corners I've seen he took such a ‘three turn’ line, and he gets into trouble on the exit when a metre-high barrier on the apex makes his second turn sharper, so his third turn becomes sharper and arrives earlier.

So there’s one hypothesis – he throws the bike into a sharper corner on entry and buys himself some extra pedal time. Anyone else found any evidence either way?

Mike O'Brien
Melbourne, Australia

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

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Rasmussen's time trial position

Andrew Salmon is quite right to make the aerodynamic suggestions he does - all but one. The reason why Rasmussen's aero bars are aimed up at nearly a 45 degree angle is to help configure his upper body into something like the shape of a bullet, much like a downhill skier does, and for the same reasons. The hunched back, lowered head, and closely positioned, raised hands form a bullet shape - only this bullet has legs. Bullets are, of course, aerodynamically quite sound. So, is an unusually low upper body and a very flat back. But together the low upper body and flat back significantly reduce one's power output.

To avoid this loss of power some riders opt for a slightly more upright position and for flat aero bars and flat forearms. But a rider who opts for this body/bike configuration finds that the upper body catches air almost like a large, open pocket made up of one's chest, stomach and arms. That's the bad news. Here's the good:

The reason so many pros opt for this position and decline to use Rasmussen's position is because they train and race tens of thousands of kilometres each year in their normal road position and they therefore prefer to stay with it as closely as possible in a time trial. Most can generate very high levels of power in that position and therefore can overcome a good bit of aerodynamic drag while in it. Tom Steels is a useful case in point: Upright style, great speed and power, but sloppy aerodynamics.

Plus, so many professional riders have massive thighs, and the flat aero bar/flat arm style helps them to mask their large upper legs from the wind better than does Rasmussen's position because in the flat arm position their biceps send the air out away from the legs. But because Rasmussen is not a power rider with huge thighs and biceps like, say, Ullrich or Hushovd, his slight build does not require the same leg masking.

Furthermore, he hasn't got the overwhelming power some riders do, so he can't afford to give up any of his power either by going to a very low, flat back position or by fighting his way through the air in the flat arm position, masking his legs. He opts instead for the bullet position, which for him is a good compromise between the competing demands of aerodynamics and power generation.

Michael Bauman
Hillsdale, Michigan, USA

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

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Riders under helmets

Gerry Leonard suggests that pro teams find a way to help spectators and TV viewers recognize riders in the peloton, possibly by putting each rider's name on his back. The new US team Toyota-United actually does this. Each rider's jerseys have his name in letters 1-1.5" high across the back. This is quite helpful in person, but probably too small to pick up on television.

Frank Steele
Tucker, Georgia

Friday, May 12, 2006

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Difference between following and leading

Dear Cyclingnews,

Something cycling reveals is character; it's a hard fought sport and when the roads go up and the going gets hard you see how hard people are prepared to fight. This year's Giro and TdF promise great excitement with a great list of challengers for the crown. But great talent doesn't equate to great wins, hard work dedication and determination alongside it do.

In the grand tours it's easy for the best climbers to follow, as we have seen with Beloki, Mancebo, Landis or Leipheimer, but to lead is another matter. Put the big guns in a yellow jersey and it reveals a new depth of judgement and decision making, when to attack, when to defend who to let go who to reel in. The mental strain leads to a physical weight also. With Armstrong's dominance we have been deprived through his excellence of the new leaders, and now we will find out who can handle the pressures and who can ride through the pain.

Many of the challengers have barely attacked let alone held the jersey; the grand tours promise to tell us more about characters than ever before. We may see many take the lead and fall to the wayside to make way for the true champion; it won't only be survival of the fittest but also the wisest.

Jonathan Lewis
Loughborough, UK

Monday, May 15, 2006

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The Tour and the TT

Looking in my crystal ball, I've come up with the following:

Prediction 1:Ullrich will smoke everyone in the TT's during the Tour and Basso will lose 1'01" each time
Prediction 2: For the rest of the race big Jan will be like glue on Basso's wheel.
Prediction 3: Basso will try to go bananas (to no avail) on Alpe d'Huez.

Conclusion: Valverde will win anyway so who really cares

Barry Whittle

Thursday, May 18, 2006

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Bruyneel's Giro comments

Cranio-rectal inversions aside, Mr. Bruyneel was doing the right thing in his protests about the 2006 Giro course. Priority should be on rider safety long before the whims of crazed fans, whether they be Giro race organisers or altitude-sick Swiss fans. I think anyone who uses the title "Doctor" before his name ought to know better.

Dr. Greg Wright
Brewster, Massachusetts

Saturday, May 13, 2006

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When disqualification isn't enough

Dear CN,

I realise that everyone's absorbed in the Giro, and that even the spring classics are starting to fade in the memory (if not that level-crossing incident). But I still feel angry about an even earlier event, the Men's Scratch Race at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, held back in March.

When Mark Cavendish of the Isle of Man won the race, there was a lot of media joy about such a tiny country (pop. 75,000) winning a gold medal over the powerhouse nations. What the news clips didn't mention was that he was deliberately led out in the final sprint by a rider from another team, Rob Hayles of England, who just happens to be his Madison partner when riding for Great Britain. Phil Liggett commented at the time that the lead-out smacked of illegal collusion (riders from opposing teams aren't supposed to help each other), but that "you'd never prove anything". Well Phil, no proof is necessary, because Hayles gloats about his tactics on his web site (http://www.robhayles.com/newsdetails.php?ID74).

What's disturbing is that despite being disqualified, Hayles doesn't show any remorse or even awareness that what he did was wrong, and very likely affected the result. Clearly, disqualification after the race isn't enough of a punishment - who wouldn't give up sixth place (Hayles' best possible result once five riders had gained a lap) to hand their mate the gold? A stronger deterrent, such as suspension from international competition, is necessary if this kind of tactic is to be prevented in the future. Otherwise Mr Hayles, next time it might be you who spends four years training only to be ripped off, instead of someone else.

Andrew Swan
Sydney, Australia

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

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Recent letters pages

Letters 2006

• May 12: Marion Clignet, Bruyneel's Giro comments, Criticism of Jan Ullrich, Jan bashing, Jan's weight, Defeatism in Discovery, Lance talking up Basso, The same old Lance, Rasmussen's time trial position, Giro team time trial, Hincapie in Paris-Roubaix, Riders under helmets
• May 5: Criticism of Jan, Criticism of Ullrich, The Ullrich-bashing bandwagon, Ullrich in 2006, Jan dramas, More Jan dramas, Bruyneel's Giro comments, Team helmets, Volunteering at bike races, Hincapie in Paris-Roubaix
• April 28: Working for the team in Georgia, Ullrich's thick skin, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Jan Ullrich racing, Ullrich and THAT wheel, Jan Ullrich, Jan dramas, Paris-Roubaix technology, Hincapie in Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix controversy, Paris-Roubaix comments, Paris-Roubaix tech, Team helmets
• April 21: Paris-Roubaix final say, Paris-Roubaix controversy, Paris-Roubaix and technology, George and the fork issue, Quotable quotes, Cycling technology, Behaving like a champion, Paris-Roubaix: UCI Code of Ethics
• April 14: Continuing to behave like a champion, No curse of the rainbow jersey, Tom Boonen, Hang in there, Saul, The gods of cycling, Trek and Paris-Roubaix, Looking out for George, Paris-Roubaix and technology, Broken forks and broken dreams, Jan Ullrich, Jan dramas, Disqualifications, So you know, Paris - Roubaix, THAT railway crossing incident, Need for consistency, Paris-Roubaix - poor Cancellara, Paris Roubaix disqualification, Paris-Roubaix: setting a good example, Roubaix disqualification decision, UCI Roubaix disgrace, Paris Roubaix disqualification, Paris Roubaix affair, Paris-Roubaix fiasco, Paris-Roubaix sham, Racing's railroad crossings, George's bike failure, Let them race, Roubaix controversy
• April 12 (Special Paris Roubaix edition): Paris-Roubaix disqualification, Disqualification on the pave, Level crossing in Paris-Roubaix, Rules are rules, Paris-Roubaix, McQuaid's reasoning, Pat McQuaid and train barriers, Railway crossing at Paris-Roubaix, Disqualifications in Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix crossing, Roubaix controversy, Grade crossings, Railroad crossings, Safety at Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix sham, Paris-Roubaix safety, Paris-Roubaix rail crossing, Boonen and friends cross the tracks, McQuaid's explanation, Roubaix disqualification decision
• April 7: Hang in there Saul, De Ronde parcours, Edwig van Hooydonk, Discovery’s American riders, Tom Boonen, April fools, Hair care product line, Brave new world, Commonwealth Games time trial, Photo of the year
• March 31: Discovery’s American riders, Photo of the year, Commonwealth Games time trial, Edwig van Hooydonk
• March 24: Discovery’s American riders, Samantha Hellyer, Commonwealth Games time trial, UCI needs to grow up, Licensed riders in non-sanctioned events, Strong for the Tour, Electronic shifting
• March 17: Guess who I am, Floyd Landis, The next Lance, The race I'm watching, EPO test and credibility, Blood doping detection and altitude training, Electronic shifting, Electronic Dura Ace, Discovery’s American riders, Petacchi - Shiva
• March 13: The race I'm watching, Tour of California, Floyd Landis, Rory Sutherland and clomiphene, Rory Sutherland, Tyler Hamilton, Effect of doping on young cyclists, EPO test and credibility, Winter Olympics and Cyclocross, Cyclocross in the winter Olympics, Electronic Dura Ace, Big Jan Ullrich
• March 3: Tour of California, Sanctions for doping, UCI/WADA, Tyler Hamilton and Roberto Heras, Tyler Hamilton, Hamilton and testing, Blood doping detection and altitude training, Serrano, Drug testing, Tour of California, Laurie Schmidtke, Our wonderful sport!, Leave Jan alone, T-Mobile and Ullrich, Tour 2006
• February 24: Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton and Roberto Heras, Sanctions for doping, Drug testing, Doping, Culture of denial, Tour 2006, Ullrich and the 2006 tour, T-Mobile, Ullrich and Godefroot, Davitamon-Lotto outfits, Pantani
• February 17: Tyler Hamilton, Hamilton's decision, Culture of denial, Drug testing, Pantani, Support for Mark French, Heras' positive doping results, EPO, Bergman, Sanctions for doping, Ben Kersten, Hour record, Davitamon circus clowns, Team CSC at Solvang, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Confused about doping
• February 10: Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Too early to call the Tour, AIS crash verdict, Punishment for the death of Amy Gillett, Women's cycling, Support for Mark French, Michael Rassmussen, More Kilo and 500m TT argument, Liberty Seguros at Tour Down Under, Hour record, Sanctions for doping
• February 3: International teams, Liberty Seguros at Tour Down Under, Anti-doping tactics, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Too early to call the Tour, Tour of California, Phonak training camp feature, Aussie national champs, More Kilo and 500m TT argument, McQuaid and the UCI, Australian championships, Support for Mark French, Sanctions for doping, Women's cycling, Team strip
• January 24: Future of Spanish cycling, Australian championships, Aussie national champs - a deserved winner, Aussie nationals, World champion kit, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, With Lance gone, Some observations on Oz, PCA suing Dick Pound, International teams
• January 17: EGO Mania, Basso: seeing double, Aussie nationals, Australian championships, Russell Mockridge, PCA suing Dick Pound, USA cycling, World champion kit, The future, Some observations on Oz
• January 6: The Tour hypocrisy, Pat McQuaid, McQuaid, Bart Wellens, Urine testing, Dope so you can
• January 3: That damn Lance, Bart Wellens, Cyclists in South Australia, EGO Mania, King Pound, Urine testing for rEPO, The Tour hypocrisy, Dope so you can, Give McQuaid a chance, Elimination Tour de France
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