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.

[ny biker]

I don't believe any professional cyclist rides clean.

+1

And I don't particularly care anymore.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[bluebug32]

I love to ride and race my bike and this will never change. I prefer to watch women's racing if/when it's televised and I enjoy the men's as much for the scenery as the sport. It sucks to have cycling's reputation tarnished by all of this, but I also realize that the more pressure we place on our athlete's as spectators and sponsors, the more they will be driven to such extremes. IMO, Lance is a separate case. The man is a sociopath, a bully, a cheater and a chronic liar. He would be toxic in any environment.

[limewave]

I saw this craigslist posting and it made me really sad. I wanted to believe Lance, I really, really did. Sigh.

In other, somewhat related news, did anyone go see The Levi Effect last night? There was a showing not too far from us but I couldn't get a babysitter. I'm hoping to either buy the DVD or download it when it becomes available.

I haven't watched the Tour for a few years now, it just seems so fake to me. And I've been hearing rumblings of local racers doping! Seriously! Is it that big of a deal to win an AG?????? I have been slowly distancing myself from the race scene. I still do xc mtb races and I really enjoy them, but I don't care as much about how I place. Racing is really changing for me--its not a motivational tool to keep and build fitness and to live a healthy lifestyle.

[Giulianna23]

but I also realize that the more pressure we place on our athlete's as spectators and sponsors, the more they will be driven to such extremes. IMO

Agree with bluebug32



BTW...I had the chance to go watch this movie this past Monday, but couldn't make it http://risingfromashesthemovie.com/ sounds very interesting and encouraging.