Not so long ago, in a universe not so far away ... the Tour de France 2007. UCI Empire led by Pat "Dark" McQuaid, a disciple of the former emperor Hein Verbruggen, wants to impose the law of his ultimate weapon the "Pro Tour" and its ambiguous approach towards the problem of doping in the whole galaxy cyclist. The rebellion led by ASO Christian "Luke" Prudhomme and Patrice "Yoda" Clerc, refuses the dictates of the UCI Empire to save the Tour de France from destruction Total. While the "War of Bicycles" between the UCI and ASO has just been officially declared, it is currently difficult to predict the outcome of this conflict that largely determines survival in the short term this wonderful sport of cycling.
Episode I - The threat doping
While all cycling fans wanted this 94th edition of the Tour de France is that of "reconquest" Doping has again been the object of attention throughout the month of July. Hosted by ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation), the most beautiful cycling event on the planet that is integral part of French cultural heritage and sport is now more than ever under the direct threat of doping. For proof, sponsors Adidas such historical or Crédit Agricole and, for the first time, broadcasters of the event (the German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF) have decided to throw in the towel following the scandals that have occurred this year. This is probably why Christian Prudhomme, the Tour director, said after the exclusion of Vinokourov that "those who cheat to play Russian roulette. They have to put that right in the head "(sic). To prevent this type of suicidal behavior organizers Tour have therefore initially refused to register the riders involved in Operación Puerto and then imposed on the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) a charter to be signed by all riders before the start of the competition. The document stipulated that the riders were willing to give their DNA to the English court and pay the amount of their annual salary in case of doping rule violation during the Tour de France. This last measure that addresses the last name of the game is money really has not had the desired effect with regard to the proliferation of new doping scandals that have tainted this race again.
Episode II - Attack of the doped
the first to have been taken by the patrol appointed Patrick Sinkewitz. The German team T-Mobile (itself already at the heart of a scandal without precedent in Germany following the revelations made by Jeff d'Hont his former masseur from 1992 to 1996) was caught during the Tour by a testing positive for testosterone after a test conducted unannounced during a workout. The second case of doping, even more sensational was that the Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov. Favorite for the race, he offended the eve of the departure of the great London loop that can be surprising for its collaboration with the infamous Dr Ferrari (great friend of Lance Armstrong ...). Victim of a fall that he took off his chances of victory, the leader of the Astana team which had won two beautiful stages at the Tour in 2007 he has been guilty of doping by homologous transfusion (or the use of blood from a compatible donor to enhance his hematocrit). He therefore, as tradition dictates, was excluded from the competition with his team. Another rider was also found positive for testosterone in the person of Italian Cristian Moreni of Cofidis. To finale, we just learned that the Basque Iban Mayo of Saunier-Duval team has taken her hand in the pot of EPO during the rest day July 24.
Episode III-Revenge of the UCI
But the biggest controversy of the 2007 Tour is the one linked to the case of Denmark Michael Rasmussen. At four days of arrival on the Champs Elysees, the yellow jersey was disheartened that all his opponents on the slopes of the Alps and the Pyrenees which should logically win the 450,000 € devolved to the winner was excluded from his Rabobank team for lying Driving at his place during its preparation to avoid random checks. The UCI was aware of this serious breach of its rules has willfully failed to report these violations to the organizer of the large loop that if he had known would certainly have refused the participation of the rider and his team . From there to see a move of the Union Cycliste Internationale designed to discredit an event with which it has long been antagonistic relations there is only one step. Not that ASO, the voice of its chief executive Patrice Clerc, has not hesitated to carry openly accusing the UCI of trying to deal a fatal blow to the Tour de France. With this Dirty Tricks, the UCI would have to pay the ASO conflict between them since the creation in 2005 of his "Pro Tour". This system requires that the 20 elite teams selected by the UCI to participate in 27 events to his calendar is supposed to give a world ranking individual and team clearly intended to promote the image of cycling. ASO wants his side to retain the power to invite whomever he wishes on events that it organizes (The Tour de France, Paris-Nice, the Criterium International, Paris-Roubaix, Fleche Wallonne, Liege-Bastogne-Liege The Tour de Picardie, Le Tour de l'Avenir, Paris-Tours). Its aim is thus to avoid hypocrisy some team managers in selecting only teams who have the willingness to effectively fight against doping.
Episode IV - War of the bike
By the end of the Tour, Christian Prudhomme and Patrice Clerc, denounced concert incompetence and even the malevolence of the UCI and its president for them. Pat Mc Quaid, meanwhile, criticized the repeated doping scandals affecting the Tour for many years and the choice made by ASO for inviting the Astana team of Vinokourov (not a member of the Pro Tour!). Rasmussen regarding the case, the UCI, in its defense argues that Article 45 of the Rules provides that non-participation of a rider who has been notified within 45 days of a great ride "is not proportionate to the offense" and that it could have been caught court if it decided to apply ... Patrice Clerc, meanwhile, responded by saying that the Tour de France now wants to emerge from the "acting, lacks transparency and professionalism" of the current leaders of the UCI, turning to the federations, governments and agencies fight against doping. War of the bikes that was masked for many years is So today officially declared.
Episode V - The doping-cons attack
Just Alberto Contador he was crowned on the Champs Elysees that suspicions regarding its performance are already on the agenda. Like many of his predecessors (Delgado, Riis, Ullrich, Pantani, Armstrong, Landis) performance of the English member of the Discovery Channel (the former team of Lance Armstrong) quoted and cleared in Operación Puerto, is already in doubt. Indeed his recent victory is regarded by the German expert of the fight against doping, Werner Franke, "more big swindle in sporting history. " This specialist known for his wit, sometimes a punch, says possess the protocol list of doping Contador containing insulin, a hormone that stimulates the secretion of testosterone and a product for asthma. He also denounced the fact that the English sports authorities cover their rider in this case. It is therefore appropriate to ask whether the proponents of the fight against doping will end one day they catch up on cheaters (Rasmussen has undergone 17 anti-doping controls, but only one has been positive. ..). The evolution of the doping molecules appear soon gene technology is a dramatic problem that must concern all those who legitimately want to restore credibility in the short term cycling.
Episode VI - Return of cycling
To fight against doping in sport in general and cycling in particular, Jean-François Lamour, current vice-president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), spoke recently the need for better detection methods, increased random checks during the preparations, as well as increasing penalties for an athlete guilty of doping. These measures could be adopted as early as November, at the next World Anti-Doping Conference in Madrid. Conference during which Jean-François Lamour run for the estate of Dick Pound as head of WADA. Cycling to save him Patrice Clerc suggested the creation of an "ethical passport" that would be issued to teams within the rules of the fight against doping and the study of the launch of a new formula for the Tour de France with the return of national teams. Some French and German teams worried for their own survival they have taken the lead in founding a "Movement for cycling credible." It remains to
Hopefully all these measures will be effective enough to save the Tour de France, the most popular sporting event after the World Cup Soccer and Olympic Games. All those who love the bike and still continue to follow each year with passion the Tour de France have only one hope: that the Force is finally with those who really want to save the galaxy cycling doping!
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