As reported earlier, Rock Racing started only five riders in today's first stage, the 2.1-mile prologue, in the 2008 Amgen Tour of California(AToC). AToC organizers excluded three of Rock Racing's riders supposedly because they had open doping investigations. Rock Racing has maintained that there are no open investigations, but race organizers held firm. Frankly, it is not clear to me that there are any open doping investigations. I haven't seen any public mention that there are any open investigations and none of the Rock Racing riders have been privately notified that they are under investigation.
What is interesting to me is the parallel between what happened earlier this week to Team Astana. In the Astana affair, Amaury Sports Organization (ASO) issued a statement that Team Astana will not be invited to any ASO events, which includes the Tour de France. ASO cited the past history of doping on the team as their reason for the exclusion. However, Team Astana is a completely different team in 2008. Gone are all the riders implicated in any 2007 doping infractions as well as the whole team management.
So, if all the problem riders and team personnel are gone the team should be clean. The only rider on the team with a potential problem is Alberto Contador who has been linked to the same Operacion Puerto affair that AToC organizers used as a reason to exclude the three Rock Racing riders.
I think the decisions to exclude three riders from the AToC and Team Astana from the Tour are unfair. If you are upset that Levi may not get to ride in France, I think to be consistent, you have to also be upset that Tyler, Oscar and Santiago aren't riding the AToC. Would it be fair to allow Team Astana to ride the Tour de France if they don't bring Alberto Contador? How do you all feel about this? Do you all agree that both decisions are unfair?
On to the racing news, which I hope will shortly eclipse all this talk of doping. My pre-race prediction (and I made that prediction on Thursday), Fabian Cancellara, obliterated the competition winning by a substantial four-second margin in the short, 2.1-mile prologue time trial. Levi Leipheimer, who won the first two prologue time trials in 2006 and 2007, finished fourth, six seconds back.
No big surprises in the race for the overall. All the overall contenders finished within 20 seconds of each other. With several big climbing stages and a 15-mile time trial yet to come, the race is still a dead heat. Cancellara could hold the jersey for the next two days which offers only moderate climbing and flat finishes. However, come stage 3 on Wednesday, when both Mount Hamilton and Sierra Road are on the agenda, look for the 2006 Paris-Roubaix Champion and two-time World Time Trial Champion to hopefully transfer the jersey to one of his teammates such as Jens Voigt, Stuart O'Grady or Bobby Julich.
Bruce
Yesterday was a mini-flashback to London's Prologue : a FABulous day... Although, as much as I like Fabian "Turn Me Loose" Cancellara, I was personally hoping Levi could pull it off, as I know he wanted it so much. Not least as a "Take That!" to the ASO. But it's ok, as I believe Levi will still be on the top podium step by the end.
And as much as I can't stand Michael Ball & believe his involvement with pro-cycling does NOT do the sport any favors, I still agree with you 100% : that both the exclusion of Astana from ASO events AND of the three RR riders from the ToC are UNJUST. I guess the French do not have the exclusive rights to unfairness or the ability to stick one's head up one's posterior. That this "guilt without proof" was allowed to happen in AMERICA would shock me with any other sport but cycling. Do you think the UCI forced AEG to do this? Holding the carrot of the ToC being included onto the Pro Tour schedule beginning next year? (Which is kind of ironic since the Pro Tour's life expectancy is not exactly looking too good...)
For the 3rd year in a row it appears the reading of cycling news that should bring joy or at least excitement, will instead be but stabs to the heart. I have to tell you, this 'abusive relationhip' thing is getting old. If there are no open investigations on a rider, & by "open investigation", I mean CHARGES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT, he should be free to compete. Every time I think about OP, I get a headache. How on earth is it possible that this thing can linger over cycling like the stench from a truckload of rotten eggs? I'm sick of hearing about the "200 blood bags". Either request the DNA from suspected athletes (& I mean ALL, not just the cyclists supposedly involved) & test, or forget it. Basically, if the DNA does not match or there is no proof of money transfers to Fuentes (wire tranfers, checks,etc, although you have to wonder what IDIOT would pay their "drug dealer" in this manner...helloooo Jan, awww, I still think you're a sweetie....) or a confession (ala "I meant to dope but never got the chance" Basso), they should just throw this "investigation" in the incinerator & be done with it.
However, because OP has been drawn out so long & because of all the doping news last year (both confessions of past use & current failed tests), I think any cases brought against riders connected to OP will just hurt the sport overall. I think they should just declare amnesty, which will save EVERYONE, the national cycling federations, national Anti-doping orgs, & the cyclists themselves, tons of money. AND save the sport. The non-fan & possible new sponsors will NOT read of an OP case as "old news" but merely proof that cycling is "STILL" dirty. 2008 should truly be "A New Beginning". Follow through on the cases of failed tests last year, but otherwise, look FORWARD. Henceforth, any new missed tests, failed tests, or other proven connections to CURRENT doping practices will be thoroughly investigated & 'prosecuted', but time & money will not be spent chasing old rumors.
Do you think there is still a chance the ASO will reverse their decision & invite Astana to the TDF? I have delayed emailing Saint Christian & the assorted other AS(S)O's, as I am still debating the best approach - Honey, Camembert, or Haggis. In other words - sweet, strong, or nasty. Any thoughts?