No Tour for Astana

micron

I think the problem is that Bruyneel crossed the line a long time ago and the UCI let him get away with it year after year. Somebody had to call him to account and Prudhomme, now fully in charge of the TdF, has had the balls to do it.

Remember in Unforgiven how Clint takes out the biggest gunfighter and leaves the rest too stunned to fire a shot? Same principle. Also, the viewing figures for the US are minute compared to those even in the UK, let alone mainland Europe. This is not about pissing off a few fanboys (though that has been a quite delightful side effect) and all about appeasing the great majority of the Tour audience.

ASO have been very clever - they've cut down the biggest dopers and fired a massive warning shot across the bows of any other tempted teams. The TdF line up has not yet been announced, Prudhomme has not ruled out more team exclusions - ASO are saying very clearly that, unless you are scandal free and guaranteed not to disgrace the race, then you won't get in. Somebody has to seize the initiative from the floundering idiot that is Verbruggen's puppet McQuaid - who, as a consequence, looks like even more of a doping apologist than usual.

Well played, ASO

whiteboytrash

well said....

Powerful Pete

You got me very curious. I doubt you are correct. How are things going to pan out to allow Astana to ride the Tour? Please do explain.

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Cobblestones

:nod:

Crankyfeet

IMO I don't think ASO give a flying fark about doping when it all boils down to it. If they could do all the testing instead of the UCI, we'd never see a positive... ever IMO.

Of course I might be completely wrong... but ASO are interested in the TdF being a spectacle ($$)... and that it isn't besmirched by the bad publicity that failed dope tests bring. What interest do ASO have to rid cycling of doping other than the fact that it exposes them to the UCI when someone fails a test? Or it exposes them to the police when a Festina car gets pulled over.

If the UCI had no control over testing in the TdF, and the police could be stopped from searching cars and hotels, ASO wouldn't care about doping. Of course that wouldn't be the public image they present.

IMHO... ASO care as much about what's best for the sport of cycling from the grassroots up, and clean cycling races, as the IOC care about what's best for the sport of track and field from the grassroots up, and clean foot races. Or the WWF cares about wrestlers taking steroids.

ASO main objective is to screw the UCI and the ProTour and promote the TdF. Doping is just the weapon/football they're both using.

Just my 2c.

Cobblestones

Given your premise, I'd agree. However, your premise is wrong, so the argument is moot.

I think in the current climate, with UCI doing the testing and the bad press cycling is getting in general, ASO did a smart move. I agree with you insofar, that ASO is mostly interested in $$. However, currently, $$ and the goal of a less doped TdF seem to be largely overlapping, which is a good thing. The system should be set up in such a way that this overlap stays in place.

Crankyfeet

Okay... but really its the police and other authorities that are driving this anti-doping crusade. Both the UCI and ASO would be both happy to continue hiding it in the omerta if it wasn't for those pesky police and reporters.

I guess my main point is that ASO don't have their heart in anti-doping, only to the extent it reduces their risk of being screwed by the UCI or embarrassed over another Festina scandal. It is really the UCI (even though they are corrupt and have hidden it in the past and screwed cycling as a result of their poor management of the sport) who are the main drivers of this crack down. How much does ASO spend on anti-doping?

I don't really cheer at anything ASO do as being for the good of cycling as, if it is good for cycling, its only a coincidence. Their screwing around with the invitations is mostly political... to screw the Pro Tour. Which many of us may want screwed in any case.

thunder

ASO dont give a fark about doping CF is right.

If ASO got rid of doping at the Tour, by quarintining riders, by testing 40 times in the month leading up, for the GC riders, by testing them for blood volumes ten times a season, then they could ride GT's of doping.

Rid GT's of doping, chances are it will flow thru to classics.

Less doping = double the revenues in the cycling economy.

They are looking short term. People talking about human rights an civil liberties, and Orwell.

Get rid of doping, and their race is worth double the money. Because the sport will be much more popular.

Will they do that. No.

Why? Short-sighted. Dont see it as their remit.

Thing is, they are the only ones with the power to succeed. UCI are restricted.

You only have to focus your resources on the GC riders. Done. Can be effective, eminently achievable.

Quarantne riders. Bring in new doctors for the GTs from an outside pool, and rotate them every week. Proforma doctors bags of only 20-30 medicines, which will never be used because the docs are independent.

So, someone can slip the riders some testo gel, or a few hgh pills. This will not influence the Tour by all chances. The Tour will be won on merits, and slipping some riders a suppositry or pill, will not be worth the effort, with the risk analysis.

Crankyfeet for Tour Director!

cyclingheroes

You could be right, Friday Spanish sports minister Lissavetzky told reporters he doesn't understand that Contador is not allowed to start at the Tour. The same minister was also one of the parties that appealed against Serrano's decision to close the Puerto case. Somehow I have the feeling (read: speculation) that the re-opening of Puerto and the exclusion of Astana from the Tour have something to do with each other. They spoke about football as well after re - opening Puerto. Football clubs that are possibly involved are Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona. There were high caliber French players at these teams during the 'Fuentes years'.....

In these days everything is possible. I have the feeling some parties are still playing chess.

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Crankyfeet

Okay... I'm going to have to retire from this forum now.

<sound of Gregers and alienator cheering in the distance>


I can only go downhill after being thunderously endorsed by Mr. Pro-Cycling-Knowledge himself...

plectrum

I think in the past ASO has turned a blind eye to doping but now it has become necessary for them to take action. I also think the Prudholme sees it as a chance to create a legacy ... the guy who cleaned up Le Tour and by default pro cycling. Also out of interest whose responsability was it to monitor and police doping in cycling, WADA, UCI or ASO?

Aquamarinos

Just as I said, I have a gut feeling. Nothing more than that.

plectrum;
What if Piti wins the Tour this year? You seriously think for a minute that the ASO cares about cycling or doping? Nada, they care only about the MONEY!

Crankyfeet

Here here!!

ASO will bleat about fighting doping. But it just riles them that the UCI and themselves had this cozy pact before and now the UCI is like a competitor with the Pro Tour. And they realise they have this huge exposure (The UCI could melt the TdF if it wanted to get serious about catching every doper that was participating in the TdF at the time of the race). But the UCI doesn't want to kill the TdF (that would kill cycling). So we have this war going. Where none of the powers in charge were ever that concerned with doping in the past. But now the cyclists are the ones that are taking the punches thrown in the fight.

Yes, ASO loses when you have doping scandals in the TdF. But you have a whole frickin' generation of pro cyclists that were brought up to believe from their parents (UCI and ASO etc.) that doping was okay and we'll protect you from public scrutiny. Now its ASO vs. UCI and the cyclists are suddenly realising that no one gives a damn about them. They are just banished for life now for committing a crime that only yesterday they were encouraged to commit.

[For reference: Current Cranky innebriation level 3/10 and I've come out of retirement]

micron

I don't think ASO lose if they are actively seen to be combating the problem. Viewing figures were higher than ever last year in France and no major sponsors have withdrawn. Prudhomme is a new broom, finally allowed to take charge - whose to say that his motives aren't 100% genuine - this benefit of the doubt seems to be being given to the Hog by some. A lot of this smacks of Francophobia, as ever...

I agree that riders have, until recently, been sent a distingst message by the sport - I'm particularly reminded of the PT 'code of conduct' as an effective smokescreen - but effective leadership from the UCI has been entirely lacking over doping in the sport and it seems unfair to clobber ASO who - whatever their reasons, protecting their product principally - are being seen to be making an effort.

I have to say, I don't buy all this 'poor riders, they were told it was ok and now they're all getting punished' - nobody forced them to put the needle in their arm. That was motivated by self interest. About time everybody in the sport took some responsibility for their own actions instead of leaving it to the race organisers to sort things out.