The Tour is still dope

It was just after Miguel Indurain’s reign over the Tour de France and just before Lance Armstrong’s dominance. Team Festina was battling with Bjarne Riis and Jan Ullrich’s Team Telekom; my friend rooted for Telekom, I rooted for Festina. I had just started to ride serious distances at serious speeds on a serious bike when Team Festina, and a crying Richard Virenque, shocked the cycling world with a doping scandal. I did keep my cycling interest—it is still my favorite sport—but Virenque and his team lost my support.

Today, the cycling world was shocked again. Jan Ullrich, Ivan Basso, Francisco Mancebo, and Joseba Beloki won’t start the Tour de France this Saturday. They haven’t been found guilty of doping use, but a Spanish investigation listed their names and all cycling teams and the Tour organization—already struggling with the doping reputation (talking about crisis/reputation management!)—decided to play safe and play ethical.

The Dutch Team Rabobank, which has had my support ever since Festina fell out of favor, appears to be clean and will start with the entire team. This is going to be an interesting year; without the dominance of Armstrong and without pre-race favorites like Ullrich and Basso.

I will be rooting for Rabobank’s Michael Rasmussen, who had a fantastic Tour last year, winning the polka dot jersey (King of the Mountains), and the Dutch Michael Boogerd. Denis Menchov is the team’s captain; he won the 2005 Vuelta a Espana after Roberto Heras was found guilty of doping use. Rabobank has a strong and attractive team this year.

Looking beyond the negativity of doping: this is going to be an exciting Tour de France. The World Cup in Germany might take all attention away for the first week, but I’m sure by the time the Pyrenees are in sight, sports fans will tune to France.

30 June 2006 | Across the board | Comments