Saul Raisin will return to the peloton

lucybears

Yes, really tough. Especially as he was so optimistic in August.

"Well this is how it works: In July I went to France to do some testing with my team and that was the whole purpose of returning to France. Basically what the team did is they just tested me physically to see if physically I could ever race a bike again. Because after having left side paralysis and the significant injury that I had, they just wanted to see if I was even able. I passed all their tests and they were completely stunned. So what happened is my doctor in the U.S. cleared me to race. Now it's up to my team but in order for me to race, the French doctors have to release me to race. I have to get a release from the French government which actually I just obtained. Now I have to get a release from the French cycling federation. I have to go to Bordeaux for that, to see the French doctors there. Since I've passed all the physical exams, they are now requesting psychological testing. So I will go to Bordeaux for that in October. And after I pass all those tests, then they will give me the green light to go back to racing. I hope. That's the plan. In 2008, start off with the Tour of California, go to the Olympics and the Tour de France. "

The full interview is here
http://www.cyclingfans.com/2007_sau...interview1.html

Frigo's Luggage

This sucks and I feel really bad for Saul. Earlier this year my brother died of an arrythmia while riding and I was grounded from the bike facing the possibility of never riding again if the condition was genetic. Having the prospect of something you love like riding or racing taken away from you is very difficult. However, at some point after his accident, Saul's prognosis was so grave that I thought I would wake up the next day to hear that he was dead. I am glad he is alive and well and I hope he can put things into perspective and realize his life is more important than the bike.

By the way, this makes me respect Lequay even more than I did. Saul has enough talent that most other DSs would have put him back into action particularly since he has a contract through 2008. Roger is not like that.

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We are all made of stars.

helmutRoole2

I read over the article in cycling news and, unless I missed it, they really didn't specify what was keeping him from racing again. Anyone know?

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"Bait in 08" --nns1400

tonyzackery

I don't know for certain but I speculate that CA doesn't want the exposure to liability (financial or otherwise) that will accrue if they allow him to ride for their team competively. Would you want to be the guy that gave him the OK to ride and he crashes again?

I believe the psychological tests the CA doctors are relying on to deny Raisin the opportunity to ride again are fairly subjective in their nature and it is possible another teams' doctors will give him the green light to race again. However, I doubt this will occur for same reason aforementioned...

thunder

see:Barloworld.

how they handled Ryan Cox.

IT was Hunter who put money into Cox's hospital bills, and Cox left early.

Perhaps if the Barlo team owner, kicked in some, he got the team sponsor Barloworld corporate to kick in some, and got every rider to put in a little, and promised everyone team-wide health insurance next year, then Cox would have had a longer hospital stay.

He could not afford the medical bills. Shocking situation.

Think Ogrady and Cooke both have had the same procedure done.

Dave Shields

You're correct. I posted a related note to my blog.
Dave Shields
http://www.TourdeLife.us

thunder

Slipstream will hire him within 2 or 3 years.

Big "comeback" American feel good story, like the crap about Armstrong and Hamilton.

I think Saul is ok though. Does not come with the ego and baggage the previous two do.


Still, resent the soppy tail, think it was Boulder report by Joe Lindsay saying Armstrong and Hamilton's public narratives did the sport a big disservice, and were overtly commercially themed.

Let Saul ride if he wishes to take the risk, that is what life is all about. But do not sell me stuff on him.

Like Pantani, and Museeuw, they did not try and rip off the public with feel good narratives. Scott Sunderland. You name it.

3 athletes.

Armstrong
Hamilton
Raisin

all come out with stories. Well, not so much Tyler, he releases an x-ray, asserting his collar is busted. Poohey for you Tyler, you were on so much dope, you would not have felt a thing. Go spit on the grave of Tugboat.

thunder

Roman Feillu had his leg almost amputated as a kid I think. Not sure on that.

But in his teenage years, to correct the one inch imbalance in length, he had his leg broken, and put in a brace, to lengthen it.

Not much fanfare about that.

What they call in Europe "harden the fuck up", in the US, the go write books about it, and sell a few thousand units to gullible public.

Crankyfeet

I might be missing something here, but how does Saul's whole future in cycling hinge on the opinions of some French Doctors? I can see that it might affect his European career with CA. But wouldn't you get a second opinion? Even if you just wanted to continue racing in the US.

Doctors are notoriously downcast in their prognosis regarding playing sports after a serious injury. I think they tell most athletes that they think their playing days are over after serious knee inuries. I've had three operations on my right knee and the doctors gave me the impression I'd be in a wheelchair within a couple of years if I kept playing. That was 15 years ago.

I don't want to disrespect the bad fortune and great recovery Saul has made from a devastating injury, but I have seen many times where a doctor's letter is used as an excuse to back down from a commitment and take the decision out of the hands of the person concerned. I appreciate that this is just speculation and an insult to Saul if its wrong. I apologize if that is the case.

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Originally posted by Frigo's Luggage...

"[Calling him] 'dickcheese' is the insult of a master. Some people work in oil, some people work in clay. He [thoughtforfood] works in profanity. Open your mind and enjoy its beauty."

thunder

well, sounds like they are paying him his contract.

But.

You need a medical for you racing licence one assumes. Simple.

I think they are right on erring on the side of caution.

I think Raisin should stay on the bike training, but step out of elite competition for 2 to 3 years then reassess. Life is about risks. Life is not about taking the easiest and least complicated path.

When the prognotication is clear, return. If he is still having some glitches in his everyday life with short term memory etc, probably does rob him of some of those intangible skills needed to race.

If he is fine, in 18months, cannot see why, the danger would be exacerbated compared to anyone else in the peloton. If it is however, he has a duty of care to the peloton, no matter how much dope they are putting in their body. He also has a duty of care on bunch rides.

Crankyfeet

So they are worried about him causing crashes and injury to other riders? I couldn't understand why he would ride at all if doctors were saying another injury to the head could be lethal or have serious effects, because of his prior injury.

Okay. I think I understand now. He was unable to convince doctors that he was safe, and wasn't a risk, in the peleton. That he wouldn't black out or something. Seems to me that decision could be reversible if he showed a year later that he hadn't blacked out. So maybe its not the end for Saul.

__________________
Originally posted by Frigo's Luggage...

"[Calling him] 'dickcheese' is the insult of a master. Some people work in oil, some people work in clay. He [thoughtforfood] works in profanity. Open your mind and enjoy its beauty."

thunder

I think this one is filed under

"wait til next time"

it is still to be played out. Just a little melodrama. Tell me in 24 months if he retired.

Equivalent to Jordan's first retirement when some guy murdered his father. Tempory, until confirmation.

Crankyfeet

And it makes for an even better comeback story/book.

__________________
Originally posted by Frigo's Luggage...

"[Calling him] 'dickcheese' is the insult of a master. Some people work in oil, some people work in clay. He [thoughtforfood] works in profanity. Open your mind and enjoy its beauty."

Bro Deal

That makes a lot of sense.

Even if the tests are subjective, it does not necessairly mean the decision is not the best for Raisin. There are similar situations in boxing, where punchy fighters can always find a doctor somewhere to give them a clean bill of health to fight, but they really should not ever fight again.

Didn't Raisin have an earlier incident (before his big crash) where he blacked out or had a siezure and crashed?

__________________
"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates