Bruce - looks like 2006 (and 2005, 2004, etc.) all over again. IMO, the race should be halted and canceled for 2009. Maybe a suspension of this greatest event would be the shock that's needed.

What I think is shocking is how Versus continues to pretend that none of this is happening. Day after day, more scandals (usually concerning Rasmussen) unfold, rocking the riders, the media, the entire Tour. And the commentators continue to say little or nothing about it. I understand that Versus wants to keep its viewership up and not rock the boat, but this is ridiculous! Listen to any podcast about the Tour (the ITV one is great) and half their commentary is about what is actually happening over there. The Rasmussen suspicions are integral part of the tour this year, sad to say. And Versus (namely Sherwin and Ligget) needs to cover it!

Good Grief, Remember Rasmussen is only guilty of not being available for out-of-competition testing.  He has not tested positive.  I wish you would all leave him alone.  He's rode an incredable race this year, true he's no Lance, but even Lance was accused to doping, but he's been cleared.  As far as "Vino"  I say it is a sad shame that Andras Kloden had to withdrawl so close to the Yellow jersey.  Shame on you Alexandre Vinokourov.  I was so happy to see him recover and ride like the wind when he won the two stages, now...I am just totally bummed.

If Rasmussen went two years with no out-of-competition tests, he should not be permitted to continue.  That is simply not acceptable for any sport of this kind at this level.  I would not ban him without proof of actual doping but a certain level of testing ought to be required before competitions at this level.

So after another embarrasing day for cycling I am left wondering why it takes so long to get results back on testing.  what type of blood-doping test do the powers that be employ? Is it hematocrit? If so , why couldn't testing and results be obtained immediately after the stage?  So perhaps we would know before the awards are presented, not two days down the road.

Bruce, a few words I wrote in response to something from S. Abt:

This is something I've been waiting for someone else to say. That is, doping occurs at all levels of cycling, even down to Cat. 5 (noobs) here in the United States. As an amateur racer, I've seen doping by guys who will never make it to the next level up, and certainly not ever national or TdF status.

I've long said that doping controls at some of the most obscure amateur races would reveal some amazing things, from the now essentially legal caffeine taken in relatively large doses to steroids and amphetamines. And given that, the sport needs to be cleansed from the bottom up. (The present top-down approach seems weak, at best.) I cannot begin to count the times I've watched aspiring young racers wash something illegal down with a drink of water.

Find some money for occasional anti-doping controls at cycling's lowest competitive levels and build an environment throughout the sport, from top to bottom, that vilifiesand catchesdoping. What we are now seeing is a sport's deeply-rooted "culture" that in the past turned a blind eye from the moment a kid picked up a bike. But quite frankly, waiting until someone turns professional to see if s/he rides clean is waiting more than a tad too long.