So dissapointed

[Roadrunner]

I am so dissapointed with the "proffesional" cyclists especially Lance Armstrong of whom I've alway been a big fan an supporter. Is there any end to the doping saga??
What annoys me most is that all the honest "Clean" cyclists out there didn't stand a chance.
How many more sponsers is the sport going to lose through this. Rabobank has now pulled out, which is a big blow to the sport.
If only some sponsers would do the same as the Sky team and make the riders sign an anti-doping pledge.

Enough of my ranting. What are your views on all of this?

[snapdragen]

I don't believe any professional cyclist rides clean.

[Irulan]

I don't believe any professional cyclist rides clean.

I have figured Lance et all have been guilty as charged for years. The whole thing is absolutely no surprise to me.

[lovelygamer]

Ditto.

It would be nice if the sport were clean. So much better for all the athletes. But I don't believe singling out one very successful individual is the answer.

I agree with this too. They had a serious vendetta against Armstrong.

[ny biker]

I don't believe any professional cyclist rides clean.

+1

And I don't particularly care anymore.

[smilingcat]

don't forget the olympics, Wimbledon, NY and Boston Marathon... There will always be cheaters at all aspect of our lives and its not just in sports. Another reason why we need to get away from culture of hero worshiping.

[Eden]

Some degree of cheating is as much a tradition of the tour as the yellow jersey is ...... The forms have varied over the years, from outright sabotages like spreading tacks on the road to sneaking rides to drugs of all forms (way back when the top choice was amphetamines). To expect completely clean sport is naive, wishful thinking. To think that even if somehow all cheating could be magically eliminated that there would be a level playing field is also naive. Some poeple will have access to better equipment, better training, better coaching etc. and some are simply born more gifted. Hard work and peseverence may get you farther than gifted laziness, but it will only take you so far.

[Tri Girl]

Another reason why we need to get away from culture of hero worshiping.

+1,000,000

[Bike Writer]

+1,000,000

Right there with ya Tri Girl!

[Koronin]

+1

And I don't particularly care anymore.

This is also my feeling on it.

[macski]

I am heartbroken about the revelations (particlularly about Lance) although for the past 12 to 18 months I have been anticipating this outcome. Prior to that I had been clinging to a naive hope.

Unlike others, I do believe that some current pro riders are clean. Perhaps it is my Australian bias but I believe that Cadel Evans (amongst others) is a clean rider and that if he had been doping he might have won those two tours where he came second. He is one of the people that you can see suffering on the bike.

[pll]

I am not particularly disappointed. I was never a fan of Armstrong (as I have mentioned several times in this forum) and actually disliked his arrogance. For so many years, there were allegations and rumors around him and his teams.

At any rate, I will continue to be a fan of the sport. It is a beautiful sport and I watch the grand tours and classics in part because of the scenery. I have never idolized any athlete (or anyone else), so this mess leaves me shaking my head. It is sad to see sponsors leaving the sport at a point where the European teams need it the most because of the Euro zone crisis.

[lovelygamer]

I don't believe any professional cyclist rides clean.

I second this statement and its a VERY SAD state of affairs for young and new cyclists.

[e3rdpower]

I second this statement and its a VERY SAD state of affairs for young and new cyclists.

Far from just cycling. Football, baseball, hockey, pretty much every sport. Hell, even classical musicians have been known to use beta blockers to calm down prior to big performances. I'd bet that happens in golf also.

[Jo-n-NY]

As far as I am concerned it was a level playing field back the then. Most all of them were doing it. And I agree pressure from whoever geared them to it. I also feel that the intense testing that is done in cycling is not as intense as it is in other sports. If it was I don't think cycling would be the "fall" sport for doping.

Was it right to go that route, no, but it is what was done in that era of time by almost all. The resources that was available could not detect it. I am sure 10yrs from now we will be even further in detecting drugs in the system. The problem I have is that what happened then happened and now testing is advanced so move forward. Bring down the guys that are testing positive. Do I believe Lance doped, most probably but there is no positive test so why ban him for life. Not one athlete that I know of has been given this type of punishment. If he tested postitive he would have received a 2 year suspension. It has nothing to so with liking him or not, it has to do with what is just. Unless they all are banned for life then this sentence posed upon Lance is not right. But that is just my opinion.

I saw the Levi Effect last night and really enjoyed it. It was nice to see a more personal side of him along with his wife Odessa. I did not realize how much they both give back to the community & to underpriviledged kids. He did touch on the subject of doping without pointing fingers to anyone else involved. It gave me a better understanding of what it was like back then and why whoever chose that route did. I am not condoning it & neither did Levi, just gave a perspective from the other side of the coin.