The Astana cycling team, thrown out of the Tour de France when...

Those riders were found to have no involvement at all. How fair is that to the whole team trying to ride the tour?

Well you are about to eyewitness the death of pro -cycling.

No point to continue...

I throw my roadbicycle ...

The fact that Astana feels like they have to withdraw their entire team because of some "failed" test speaks to the absurdity of the dope testers ruining the sport of pro cycling. It's obvious to me that there is a group of individuals (who are they?) that just want the Tour de France to be diminished in importance. I mean, why bring up a years old allegation about Rasmussen when he's leading the 2007 Tour? I constantly applaud the Tour's cyclists and constantly wince at the allegations thrown at their efforts. Cycling doesn't suck, what sucks is the efforts being made to destroy it.

Astana should be stripped of their Pro-tour status. They have had two drug scandels in two years. They have already damaged a great sports reputaion, and theyve done it again

Let's see, how many french riders have ever been tagged for violations of any kind? Aussies? Or should we lump these two togther and just call them the sissys? When was the last time anyone from either country ever won anything in the tour? Robbie Mcewen? Where is he now? Same as all the french riders, and all the aussies (sissys) looking up at the rest of world wishing they were there. Even when they throw out a bunch of contenders or smear past winners they are left with as much as they earn on their own. NOTHING

Nate is soooo right, the only winners that will NOT be accused will be french riders. The french pride themselves on the popularity and prestige of the "Tour De France", and bask in the international interest and participation in "their" race. But we all know that the only riders, make that winners, that will be celebrated as the best of the sport (ie: clean french testing) will be french riders/winners ONLY. Attn: France, if you want continued international prestige and participation you had better adopt testing oversite that is more international, say a group that includes representatives of all the particpating nations, and a testing approach that is not suspected to be french biased. Get it together, France, before you ruin the race. Whey should any nation want to participate anymore, knowing that their highly trained and dedicated professional athletes will run the risk of standing accused and humiliated by questionable fr officals.

Attn: France, if you want continued international prestige and participation you had better adopt testing oversite that is more international, say a group that includes representatives of all the particpating nations, and a testing approach that is not suspected to be french biased. Get it together, France, before you ruin the race. Whey should any nation want to participate anymore, knowing that their highly trained and dedicated professional athletes will run the risk of standing accused and humiliated by questionable fr officals.

Where would the Tour De France be without all the interest of other countries, as in you and me. The international coverage of this race would not be sustained with only local participants.

Nate wrote:

Let's see, how many french riders have ever been tagged for violations of any kind? Aussies? Or should we lump these two togther and just call them the sissys? When was the last time anyone from either country ever won anything in the tour? Robbie Mcewen? Where is he now? Same as all the french riders, and all the aussies (sissys) looking up at the rest of world wishing they were there. Even when they throw out a bunch of contenders or smear past winners they are left with as much as they earn on their own. NOTHING

The best example of a sissy that I can think of is Floyd Landis (American - home of drug taking). He couldn't win it on natural talent so he tries to cheat his way to victory. The most gutsy rider and respected rider on the tour happens to be an Aussie - Cadel Evans. No more whingeing about France just send clean riders.

So if Flyod is so dirty then why haven't they taken back last years Tour Win? Maybe it's because they've fallen apart and can't prove anything. The only thing that they have proven is that everything they did was against policy and that they can't dupilcate it. Why haven't they continued the process? THE HAVE NO CASE. Cadel, good rider. Have you seen is placment in the stage this year? Win something will you. Then we'll see what happens to your champ.

Matilda wrote:

<quoted text>The best example of a sissy that I can think of is Floyd Landis (American - home of drug taking). He couldn't win it on natural talent so he tries to cheat his way to victory. The most gutsy rider and respected rider on the tour happens to be an Aussie - Cadel Evans. No more whingeing about France just send clean riders.

Tell ya what Matilda, when America needs the world to SUPPORT its athletes like the tour does, then you get to say crap like that!!! How much control do YOU have over what goes on in sports that Aussies participate in?? Grow up, sling mud at the establishment like everyone else or shut up!!

Nate wrote:

So if Flyod is so dirty then why haven't they taken back last years Tour Win? Maybe it's because they've fallen apart and can't prove anything. The only thing that they have proven is that everything they did was against policy and that they can't dupilcate it. Why haven't they continued the process? THE HAVE NO CASE. Cadel, good rider. Have you seen is placment in the stage this year? Win something will you. Then we'll see what happens to your champ.

Go get 'em Nate!!!

Nate wrote:

So if Flyod is so dirty then why haven't they taken back last years Tour Win? Maybe it's because they've fallen apart and can't prove anything. The only thing that they have proven is that everything they did was against policy and that they can't dupilcate it. Why haven't they continued the process? THE HAVE NO CASE. Cadel, good rider. Have you seen is placment in the stage this year? Win something will you. Then we'll see what happens to your champ.

Get em Nate

just seeing if I can do the italics :)

2 words

LEASH LAWS!!