will basso ride the tour?

If anyone gets to ride 🙄 he has, as good a chance as any....right now

If no other Puerto-related "revelations" are published before the start date then I reckon yes. If anything at all comes out related to Basso and Fuentes then I think ASO will say no thanks.

vitamin s said:

i will bump this thread to the top when july rolls around, but lets get some predictions.

i say the aso lets everyone ride this year to detract from all the bad press. vino, basso......all of them to ensure that this years tour generates some excitement.

Screw the ASO. The French authorities can make it difficult for any of these slimeballs if they dare to show up.

Frihed89 said:

Screw the ASO. The French authorities can make it difficult for any of these slimeballs if they dare to show up.

1. The 'slimeballs' will show.

2. Depending on what (if anything) further has surfaced in the OP and whatever scandal will be the flavour of the month in May/June/July, Basso will ride or not...

I'll say no.

I would like to see him ride the race, but we'll see.

vitamin s said:

i say the aso lets everyone ride this year to detract from all the bad press. vino, basso......all of them to ensure that this years tour generates some excitement.

I have to agree with you and I'll add...

The battle between the ASO and the UCI is likely to rage on. The unfortunates caught in the middle are the teams of riders. The ASO needs the teams to side with them rather than the UCI. I think that they won't risk angering more teams who might decide to boycot ASO races after all.

It's not smart to try to fight a battle on two fronts. (Of course, nobody said the heads at the ASO were smart. 😉 )

well, it looks like his team will definitely be invited after todays agreements. hypothetically, what would happen if the aso gave an invitation to disco, that was contingent on disco leaving basso off the roster? would disco boycott?

vitamin s said:

well, it looks like his team will definitely be invited after todays agreements. hypothetically, what would happen if the aso gave an invitation to disco, that was contingent on disco leaving basso off the roster? would disco boycott?

That depends on the reason for not allowing him to race. If it's the same as last year, i.e. a list of names and a lot of rumours, I'm 100% sure the entire team would boycott. Many, or all, other teams would also boycott the race. The shock effect works only once.

jonjungel said:

That depends on the reason for not allowing him to race. If it's the same as last year, i.e. a list of names and a lot of rumours, I'm 100% sure the entire team would boycott. Many, or all, other teams would also boycott the race. The shock effect works only once.

I hope he will be able to compete, In my opinion the chances of cyclists getting on the juice would have to be surely nil as all the publicity drama and new controls that are now in place should deter any fool attempting this. Surely teams would not want to put any further stress on thier sponsorships by engaging in dogeyness, and we want to see the strongest riders in the tour.

The Double Zero said:

I hope he will be able to compete, In my opinion the chances of cyclists getting on the juice would have to be surely nil as all the publicity drama and new controls that are now in place should deter any fool attempting this. Surely teams would not want to put any further stress on thier sponsorships by engaging in dogeyness, and we want to see the strongest riders in the tour.

Hmm.

Somewhere in cyberspace (before Gloucester's castle?) a lonely Mr Finale has read this post and is seething and writhing in impotent fury - "I will do such things - what they are, yet I know not, but they shall be the terrors of the earth."

He will be back and start off with one post 😄

The Double Zero said:

I hope he will be able to compete, In my opinion the chances of cyclists getting on the juice would have to be surely nil as all the publicity drama and new controls that are now in place should deter any fool attempting this. Surely teams would not want to put any further stress on thier sponsorships by engaging in dogeyness, and we want to see the strongest riders in the tour.

Yep. The era of doping is over.

helmutRoole2 said:

Yep. The era of doping is over.

Tee hee!

Of course Basso will be there.

vitamin s said:

i will bump this thread to the top when july rolls around, but lets get some predictions.

No, he is going to have a nasty incident involving a turkey baster and a boiling kettle and the second degree burns in such a sensitive location will prevent him from riding.

helmutRoole2 said:

Yep. The era of doping is over.

NO, it aint.. As goes for pro cycling, it's always been around from Coppi to LA. Thinking it will be over as when doctores and other brilliant minds finds out new ways to get around the system is just ludacris..As goes from PED´s, Pro cycling is the most corupted sport there is...

Prano said:

As goes from PED´s, Pro cycling is the most corupted sport there is...

Well, we are running neck and neck with our friends in swimming, athletics, gymnastics, weightlifting, and football is not far behind...

Powerful Pete said:

Well, we are running neck and neck with our friends in swimming, athletics, gymnastics, weightlifting, and football is not far behind...

First of all, lets not be delutional about cycling, and when refering to other less exposed sports(I'm guessing football is NFL) you wouldnt se the benefits of PED`s

as much as you would with cycling

Prano said:

as much as you would with cycling

Any of the aerobic sports are conducive to doping. Track and field, marathons, triathlons, biathlons... wasn't there a big doping flap with the Austrian biathlon team at the last Winter Olympics?

US football and baseball are more focused on body mass than endurance, so the growth dope is popular - HGH, steroids. Same goes for bodybuilding. WC football is definitely an endurance sport, so out with the EPO and blood transfusions. (and there were footballers involved in Puerto, but it was hushed up) Same with tennis - blood boosting insures the athlete will still be performing in the third set.

Cycling isn't the only sport that has a doping problem, probably isn't even the dirtiest. It's just the one getting all the publicity right now. It draws more money that most of the aerobic sports so the reward for doping is higher, and isn't as well organized or financed as the more popular sports, so covering up the doping hasn't been done very well.

In any business where athletic performance is tied to financial reward, there will be doping.