Monday Roundup

News
Hall of Fame Magazine looks beyond "Planet Floyd" to see that the cycling world may be the better for opening the Pandora's box of PEDs and that the discussion can now never be held in private back rooms because the beauty of sport is bigger than any one issue or person:

Landis' heartfelt plea to judge him on character as well as evidence had his fans wringing hands and squirming on saddles. Something just didn't seem right. And still doesn't. And that's the odd beauty imputed in this pathos – professional cycling will never, can never, be the same. The hazardous material response team has arrived even if we aren't sure who they are.

The CyclingNews reports that nothing much is to be expected from tomorrow's UCI pro team manager meeting which had been purported as a discussion on OP and possible rider exclusions from the upcoming Tour de France. There may however be more news from another meeting scheduled tomorrow:

However, another meeting on the same day might prove more interesting.The International Professional Cycling Teams (IPCT) will debate which members uphold its Code of Ethics, and which members risk expulsion because they do not uphold it. While the IPCT cannot enforce its decision, it could influence the Tour de France organizers who have indicated that they might make exclusions to the race's start list.

"It is time for names to be named," said Gerolsteiner team manager Hans-Michael Holczer to Tagesspiegel.de. "It is an unbearable situation that some 200 blood bags from alleged Fuentes clients are stored in Spain, and with a with a DNA comparison we could find out which rider they belong to. But which we can't do right now under the law."

Blogs
Phantom Reflections is ruminating on doping and the Tour de France. He applauds Ivan Basso for coming forward and thinks that Floyd Landis, though innocent, is a sacrifice to doping politics:

Floyd got caught up in the doping politics. It has destroyed him, his finances, and turned many fans away from cycling. The politics within the sport need to be ripped away so we can get back to racing. There is no doubt in my mind that we have cheaters, and we will in the future. But let's be honest about the testing process and enforcement.

CFLcyclist thinks that "Positively False" is a good read, and is well written and entertaining. He does however cite EPO as the PED Floyd is accused of using which is incorrect.


Male Pattern Fitness considers society's selective indignation about PEDs in sport to reflect our ambivalence about all kinds of drug use. He agrees with criticism of WADA, but not with the thought drugs are not a problem in sport.

Dugard spent the weekend with his family in Mammouth before sending his oldest off for a week back East, and read about Ivan Basso and Floyd Landis. Thus Marty, who was the original ghost writer for "Positively False", found himself upset about the Basso situation, and frustrated and angry with what he read about Floyd's book.

Velogal got a correction from Rep. Zoe Lofgren, now admitting USADA gets US Government funding, and referring VG to Henry Waxman. Velogal was grateful for some follow up, but not overly impressed by Lofgren's memory -- she was on a committee that USADA's funding passed through.

Chris Butler Dopers Suck shows us a picture illustrating why interviews during the recently held Teva Mountain Games were no walk in the park for Floyd Landis. Classy guy.

Team-Armada is about 1/2 way through "Positively False", and thinks it is candid and revealing, and recommends it to anyone interested in competitive cycling.


Podium Cafe is disgusted with Floyd Landis, and didn't want to buy "Positively False" but got it for the early chapters when Floyd was still someone he could like. It's self serving ephemera according to PC, he suggests waiting for it to hit the bargain bins. It's turning into one snarky day.