http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/afld-begin...doping-controls

This could be very interesting indeed. Although, like most other supposed revelations it will probably not amount to much of anything.

Predictions?

I'm guessing some big names will drop: Sastre, one of the Schlecks, VDV?????

Yeah. I expect there will be a couple more positives. Sastre or Frank. Menchov? Seems like he's had smoke around him during the Giro.

Apparently these guys don't follow DPF.

As I recall, both RH and OMJ have pointed out the ease of detectig CERA

Kohl, who tested positive for the EPO-CERA during the Tour de France, was not surprised at the thought of others using the drug. “For most of the top riders, I could imagine that they had taken CERA. After all, we were all sure that it couldn't be proven.”

But, as for predictions... Kohl beat me to it. How about all of his Gerolsteiner teammates?

Kohl is sure that they weren't the only two to have used the drug, but not really surprised that they were the only two to be caught, as the team was set to fold at the end of the season. “It was an easy thing to present two prominant black sheep. Like saying, 'Look, here are the bad guys'.”

Dave.

Over in the Cyclingnews forums there's a lot of speculation, names named, and a general pleased/horrified cackling at how now the face of bike racing is going to be radically changed. But after the whole lot of nothin' that happened with the biopassport, I'd be willing to bet (not a lot of money, but some loose change) that few, if any, big names will go down in this latest scandal. As the biopassport showed, irregularities aren't enough for sanctions. I would doubt, for instance, that any one on SaxoBank (a team getting a lot of heat at CNF) would be using Dynepro, or any of the now-detectable substances. What this year's Tour and its complete lack of positives showed us is that a team with a substantial program can easily work around the testers--I'd assume that if they didn't get caught this year, last year's tests won't reveal anything either. A few small fish who basically doped themselves might get caught, but that's probably all.

According to the news, more than 40 names are being bandied about - and pretty much any rider of note is mentioned. Among the ones I've seen so far:

Fabian Cancellara
Kim Kirchen
Denis Menchov
Stuart O'Grady
Carlos Sastre
Franck Schleck (weirdly enough, no mention of Andy, but if Franck is on a list, how can he not also be on it?)
Tadej Valjavec

With samples from 40 riders supposedly being retested, you can pretty much take your pick of any rider in the Top 50 and among the stage winners, and have a pretty good chance of hitting a retest.

Cycling has been teetering on the brink of cataclysm for years now, but I doubt this will be it. Most likely, either nothing will come of it, or - as Andrew suggests - a few small fish will get caught and things will simply return to "normal" with Cycling bosses patting each other on the back and talking about how much better everything is becoming.

I'd agree, especially given today's story in CN around the 'preferential' treatment given to Astana by the testers - can't imagine that The Hog has gotten any sloppier (or has stopped making 'contributions') in the last few years. Wouldn't be surprised to see a Shleck go down, though: I'm sure LA wouldn't mind him off the competitor's list...

I was going to point this out, they're retesting like 1/3 of the finishers. If you read the AFDL vs. UCI report this morning, the odd ones out will be the ones that are not retested.



What would be cataclysmic? Some teams will stick it out no matter what, we've learned as much. That seems like such a localized idea. It's not like they've decided to suspend Le Tour for a season or two until things work themselves out.

CSC/Saxo and Astana only do autologous blood transfusions, or they ride clean. Seems Caisse has had a clean record too, I suspect they are on to the same program (plus we know who taught them, almost none of the OP guys have tested positive, there is only two implications: clean or they use their own blood) So none of the guys on those teams will turn up positive, at least that's my prediction.

So true, Strategy. The UCI isn't about to bite the hands of the superstars that help feed them and the sport. It's easy to go after riders like Kohl that don't have the financial means or resources to defend themselves in a court of law. Those with a little bit of money and influence, however, pose many more legal challenges.

The results of the retesting will be known tomorrow. Seems like most of the DP-members don't expect the biggest stars to be mentioned..well we just have to wait..

Not easy to be the afld regardless of the outcome, many positives test = the testing methods of the 2008 TdF the worst ever...

Reports have mentioned Wednesday.

I'm not sure if cycling can handle too many more asterisks on its results sheets, despite UCI protestations...

I'll be shocked if even one big name is busted.

Testing is an absolute joke.

17 riders retested - all negative.

Great news!

Suddenly it's just testing for CERA? I thought there was talk of testing for Hematide and Aicar? What did I miss?

I think hematide and aicar were just mentioned as being the new kids on the block. I don't think they have a test for them but I'm not sure about that.

As usual, the riders and their docs are two steps ahead of testing.

To everyone's immense surprise.

"Big happenings or another anti-climax?"

err, umm, Alex, I'll take "anti-climax" for 500ml please

When Cedric Vasseur said he welcomed the retesting of samples, that was a huge indication that nothing would come of it.

I've read that there's no tests for these two products. Add in untestable autologous transfusions and there still seem to be loopholes - except for the bio-passport, of course.

Anyway, good news about no more CERA positives from last year. Its use not as widespread as expected?

C'mon Eliza ... even the French pull a bluff every now and then

Oh you speak too soon.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/de-bonis-positive-for-epo

This is, well, hilarious?

Bonis "did not fit in well with the team," said Gerolsteiner's team manager, Hans-Michael Holczer, at the time.

So, are they feeding the UCI with all the names of riders they want to fire, but don't want to pay out their contracts?

Or, is it just that *as expected* only those who are marginal athletes, and weak minded, are the unfortunate souls who would turn to doping to prop up their poor capabilities?



Obviously, anyone who tests positive doesn't fit in with the team. The other guys already figured out how not to do that.

Dave.