Well believe what you will because no-one’s owning up yet – aside from Floyd Landis (if you can believe him, I mean).
Greg LeMond said a few things that he clearly believes are true, things he has stated before. He has never come to terms with other, lesser riders suddenly out-riding him and simply believes they were juiced. Which is probably a well regarded and highly shared opinion, true or not. As well he distrusts Dr Ferrari and points to him as a bad influence. However Dr Ferrari replies that he was cleared in a court of law and refutes these allegations. If a rider wants to cheat they should go elsewhere, he says.
Plus, Bruyneel has made a comment about the accusation made by Landis that US Postal team bikes were sold for drug money. He admits they were sold but definitely not for dope. So that’s cleared that up then, eh?
Bravo To The New Generation | Cyclingnews.com
LeMond: When I made my now often repeated statement about Lance Armstrong and his long term relationship with Dr. Ferrari in 2001, I tried to keep it as short and to the point as possible. I was very disappointed to learn that he was a patient of Dr. Ferrari. Long before this relationship was revealed by David Walsh in 2001 I had made comments about the entrance of specialists like Dr. Ferrari and others into the sport of cycling. I was hearing stories back as early as 1993 about Dr. Ferrari and his client list of pro cyclists.
It was said that Dr. Ferrari was getting around 15-20% of a riders salary for preparing their doping programs. Because of this information we often joked that Dr. Ferrari was the best paid rider in the peloton.
Open Letter From Dr. Michele Ferrari | Cyclingnews.com
- I have never coached more than twenty professional cyclists at the same time. In recent years, less than half of that.
- It is not true that the athletes paid for my services with a percentage of their salary: it is a false legend, originated from the so-called “Dossier Donati”.
Open Letter From Dr. Michele Ferrari | Cyclingnews.com
It is probably from this dossier that Greg Lemond drew the “rumours” and quotes the numerous “it was saids” in his letter.
But what Greg does not know, or pretends not to know, is that one of such “confidants” actually clearly mentions his name and that of his doctor in relation to doping events.
- It is absolutely false that cyclists contacted me for doping programs: some came to me at first with such request, but never came back twice.
Bruyneel Acknowledges That Discovery Bikes Were Sold On EBay | Cyclingnews.com
Johan Bruyneel has confirmed that one of his past teams sold bikes, but said it was after Discovery Channel had ended its sponsorship in 2007, and that he had “no idea” where the money had gone.
Floyd Landis had claimed recently that the US Postal team sold bikes to help fund the team’s doping programme. He said that some 60 bikes were not accounted for, and that they had been sold for cash.
“What Floyd is saying is that 60 bikes were missing,” Bruyneel said to the AP. “I have absolutely no idea where he got that from.”
Well believe what you will because no-one’s owning up yet – aside from Floyd Landis (if you can believe him, I mean).
Greg LeMond said a few things that he clearly believes are true, things he has stated before. He has never come to terms with other, lesser riders suddenly out-riding him and simply believes they were juiced. Which is probably a well regarded and highly shared opinion, true or not. As well he distrusts Dr Ferrari and points to him as a bad influence. However Dr Ferrari replies that he was cleared in a court of law and refutes these allegations. If a rider wants to cheat they should go elsewhere, he says.
Plus, Bruyneel has made a comment about the accusation made by Landis that US Postal team bikes were sold for drug money. He admits they were sold but definitely not for dope. So that’s cleared that up then, eh?
Bravo To The New Generation | Cyclingnews.com
LeMond: When I made my now often repeated statement about Lance Armstrong and his long term relationship with Dr. Ferrari in 2001, I tried to keep it as short and to the point as possible. I was very disappointed to learn that he was a patient of Dr. Ferrari. Long before this relationship was revealed by David Walsh in 2001 I had made comments about the entrance of specialists like Dr. Ferrari and others into the sport of cycling. I was hearing stories back as early as 1993 about Dr. Ferrari and his client list of pro cyclists.
It was said that Dr. Ferrari was getting around 15-20% of a riders salary for preparing their doping programs. Because of this information we often joked that Dr. Ferrari was the best paid rider in the peloton.
Open Letter From Dr. Michele Ferrari | Cyclingnews.com
- I have never coached more than twenty professional cyclists at the same time. In recent years, less than half of that.
- It is not true that the athletes paid for my services with a percentage of their salary: it is a false legend, originated from the so-called “Dossier Donati”.
Open Letter From Dr. Michele Ferrari | Cyclingnews.com
It is probably from this dossier that Greg Lemond drew the “rumours” and quotes the numerous “it was saids” in his letter.
But what Greg does not know, or pretends not to know, is that one of such “confidants” actually clearly mentions his name and that of his doctor in relation to doping events.
- It is absolutely false that cyclists contacted me for doping programs: some came to me at first with such request, but never came back twice.
Bruyneel Acknowledges That Discovery Bikes Were Sold On EBay | Cyclingnews.com
Johan Bruyneel has confirmed that one of his past teams sold bikes, but said it was after Discovery Channel had ended its sponsorship in 2007, and that he had “no idea” where the money had gone.
Floyd Landis had claimed recently that the US Postal team sold bikes to help fund the team’s doping programme. He said that some 60 bikes were not accounted for, and that they had been sold for cash.
“What Floyd is saying is that 60 bikes were missing,” Bruyneel said to the AP. “I have absolutely no idea where he got that from.”
Why confess after so much effort was expended on denials? Why implicate just about everyone he has ever ridden with? Armstrong, Hincapie, Leipheimer… and Bruyneel of course. Is it revenge, or a need to clear his conscience? It’s an amazing co-incidence, to have Dave Z leading the ToC right now and to be named by Landis along with the all-star cast of past colleagues…. mind you, at least one of these emails reportedly date back to April 30.
Apart from the riders implicated in various forms of abuse, there is a report of money paid to silence a positive finding against Armstrong. Of course this is really nothing new, similar allegations have been made by many people – except that it’s a former team-mate saying it. Whilst these are untested allegations it does signal a major drama for the sport in the coming months.
Report: Landis admits doping and fingers Armstrong – Yahoo! News
Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title for doping but had always denied cheating, sent a series of e-mails to cycling officials and sponsors acknowledging and detailing his long-term use of banned drugs, the newspaper said.
The report said Landis wrote in the e-mails that he started doping in 2002, his first year racing with the U.S. Postal Service team led by Armstrong.
Landis also admitted to doping in an interview with ESPN.com.
Landis also accused American riders Levi Leipheimer and Dave Zabriskie and Armstrong’s longtime coach, Johan Bruyneel, of involvement in doping, the Journal reported.
Why confess after so much effort was expended on denials? Why implicate just about everyone he has ever ridden with? Armstrong, Hincapie, Leipheimer… and Bruyneel of course. Is it revenge, or a need to clear his conscience? It’s an amazing co-incidence, to have Dave Z leading the ToC right now and to be named by Landis along with the all-star cast of past colleagues…. mind you, at least one of these emails reportedly date back to April 30.
Apart from the riders implicated in various forms of abuse, there is a report of money paid to silence a positive finding against Armstrong. Of course this is really nothing new, similar allegations have been made by many people – except that it’s a former team-mate saying it. Whilst these are untested allegations it does signal a major drama for the sport in the coming months.
Report: Landis admits doping and fingers Armstrong – Yahoo! News
Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title for doping but had always denied cheating, sent a series of e-mails to cycling officials and sponsors acknowledging and detailing his long-term use of banned drugs, the newspaper said.
The report said Landis wrote in the e-mails that he started doping in 2002, his first year racing with the U.S. Postal Service team led by Armstrong.
Landis also admitted to doping in an interview with ESPN.com.
Landis also accused American riders Levi Leipheimer and Dave Zabriskie and Armstrong’s longtime coach, Johan Bruyneel, of involvement in doping, the Journal reported.
Bye-bye Le Tour for Astana. Unless ASO does an almighty backflip there will be no invitation this year to Le Tour de France for the Astana team and their star riders. Riders who last year secured both 1st and 3rd, may I add. With stakes so high on either side – ASO desperately wants a drug-free Tour and Astana just want to race on the biggest stage – it may be that this ban gets contested all the way to July.
CN reports: The Astana team was given a resounding vote of no confidence on Wednesday when the Tour de France organiser, Amaury Sport Organisation, announced that the team would not be invited to any of the ASO’s events. This means its star, Alberto Contador, will not be able to defend his titles in either the Tour or the upcoming Paris-Nice.
Just my opinion, but who can blame ASO? Whilst Bruyneel may claim – quite rightly – that this is a new Astana with the right attitude and tough anti-doping rules and testing in place, this is also a team that in 2007 fostered the up and down roller-coaster ride that was Vinokourov (blood doper). And Kashechkin (blood doper). And Kessler (testosterone abuser). And a team that has managed to bring into the fold the remains – both key riders and managers – of a fairly tight-knit, successful and at times questionable Discovery team. I say ‘questionable’ advisedly, however there are enough books and websites written on the subjects of Armstrong, Landis and Basso for you to gather some answers – or simply more questions – for yourself.
When you reflect on Astana’s hasty creation from the charred remains of the bloodied corpse of Liberty Seguros – and its dreadfully tarnished image since – you have to wonder if ASO can afford to risk Le Tour’s reputation once more. Obviously not, at this stage anyway.
Bye-bye Le Tour for Astana. Unless ASO does an almighty backflip there will be no invitation this year to Le Tour de France for the Astana team and their star riders. Riders who last year secured both 1st and 3rd, may I add. With stakes so high on either side – ASO desperately wants a drug-free Tour and Astana just want to race on the biggest stage – it may be that this ban gets contested all the way to July.
CN reports: The Astana team was given a resounding vote of no confidence on Wednesday when the Tour de France organiser, Amaury Sport Organisation, announced that the team would not be invited to any of the ASO’s events. This means its star, Alberto Contador, will not be able to defend his titles in either the Tour or the upcoming Paris-Nice.
Just my opinion, but who can blame ASO? Whilst Bruyneel may claim – quite rightly – that this is a new Astana with the right attitude and tough anti-doping rules and testing in place, this is also a team that in 2007 fostered the up and down roller-coaster ride that was Vinokourov (blood doper). And Kashechkin (blood doper). And Kessler (testosterone abuser). And a team that has managed to bring into the fold the remains – both key riders and managers – of a fairly tight-knit, successful and at times questionable Discovery team. I say ‘questionable’ advisedly, however there are enough books and websites written on the subjects of Armstrong, Landis and Basso for you to gather some answers – or simply more questions – for yourself.
When you reflect on Astana’s hasty creation from the charred remains of the bloodied corpse of Liberty Seguros – and its dreadfully tarnished image since – you have to wonder if ASO can afford to risk Le Tour’s reputation once more. Obviously not, at this stage anyway.
If Le Tour was a win for Disco and Contador it still left some bad tastes in many mouths… and for Disco’s win to be followed by the sponsorship pullout and total disbandment of the team verges on… well, it’s unusual, to say the least. And Bruyneel himself moving to the trouble-plagued Astana outfit? Possibly with Contador? Does anyone feel uneasy at all, whether justified or not?
Johan Bruyneel had some interesting things to say to CN here: Johan Bruyneel accompanies his star rider Alberto Contador to the USA for the Discovery Channel team’s final race this weekend, the Tour of Missouri, bringing the Tour de France champion and a tinge of bitterness along for the end of an era. After eight years directing the organisation which was more successful than any team in modern memory, Bruyneel has eight Tour de France victories to remember but leaves with a bad taste in his mouth. Bruyneel became familiar with the whispers of doping which follow every modern Tour winner, having stood by Lance Armstrong as he fended off one doping accusation after another through press releases and lawsuits, but this year’s Tour was too much.”They have not let me enjoy Contador’s victory in the Tour,” the Belgian told Marca, complaining of the accusations of involvement with Operación Puerto which followed the Spaniard’s victory. “With that atmosphere, it has been the worse Tour of my life,” Bruyneel lamented. Not one month after the end of the Tour, the team’s owner, Tailwind Sports, announced it would end its bid for a new title sponsor, effectively disbanding the organisation. Bruyneel hastily announced his retirement along with the news. He blamed the atmosphere surrounding Contador’s win for his decision. “All of that was the main reasons why I did not desire to continue.
If Le Tour was a win for Disco and Contador it still left some bad tastes in many mouths… and for Disco’s win to be followed by the sponsorship pullout and total disbandment of the team verges on… well, it’s unusual, to say the least. And Bruyneel himself moving to the trouble-plagued Astana outfit? Possibly with Contador? Does anyone feel uneasy at all, whether justified or not?
Johan Bruyneel had some interesting things to say to CN here: Johan Bruyneel accompanies his star rider Alberto Contador to the USA for the Discovery Channel team’s final race this weekend, the Tour of Missouri, bringing the Tour de France champion and a tinge of bitterness along for the end of an era. After eight years directing the organisation which was more successful than any team in modern memory, Bruyneel has eight Tour de France victories to remember but leaves with a bad taste in his mouth. Bruyneel became familiar with the whispers of doping which follow every modern Tour winner, having stood by Lance Armstrong as he fended off one doping accusation after another through press releases and lawsuits, but this year’s Tour was too much.”They have not let me enjoy Contador’s victory in the Tour,” the Belgian told Marca, complaining of the accusations of involvement with Operación Puerto which followed the Spaniard’s victory. “With that atmosphere, it has been the worse Tour of my life,” Bruyneel lamented. Not one month after the end of the Tour, the team’s owner, Tailwind Sports, announced it would end its bid for a new title sponsor, effectively disbanding the organisation. Bruyneel hastily announced his retirement along with the news. He blamed the atmosphere surrounding Contador’s win for his decision. “All of that was the main reasons why I did not desire to continue.
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