It seems apparent that everyone in this area of the forums believes that there is at least "much" doping in cycling. Many believe they all do, and always have.
Media has increased the public's awareness to doping in cycling. This has been going on for years now, but is getting more prevalent.
The organizations making $ from cycling, sponsor's or otherwise...have to realize that at least the "doping perception" must be dealt with. It doesn't take much savvy to realize this. The point has been raised multiple times on this forum.
Food for thought:
1. I've heard it said that noone tested positive at the tour during "Lance's" years, correct?
2. Certainly the following year, people started getting caught.
3. It is worse this year, although up till this point at least the yellow jersey is intact.
4. As Lim or Doc pointed out, there is a distinct pubilicity push toward "the younger generation is clean"...whether that be true or not.
5. Currently, it DOES seem to be the older riders that are getting caught regularly.
Is it possible this is a long range plan to clean up cycling? From a business perspective, you can't do that in a short period of time:
1. They have to protect the product. the professional sport of cycling could very well die quickly if they expose all the "dopers" at once. Sponsers would go away.. ratings of what little broadcast it does have would reach a peak initially then plummet as the sponsors drop out.
2. They have to protect the riders. It wouldn't be very good for business if people are dying on the climbs would it? Hence the hematocrit controls. They even state it's for health reasons. 🙂 It also sets some limit to at least have "some" control on what these guys are doing.
3. They have to address the issue. They're in this for profit, but I really don't believe they WANT doping in the sport. Aside from that, it's become enough of a buzzword that even if they did...they still must start cleaning it up.
It would seem if you look at the last two years, they have started. Perhaps the whole idea is to remove it slowly, one generation of cyclists at a time.
Discuss