Another fine mess ...
The shortest post I have ever written has stirred up the most comments for some time. Not surprising really, given the events of the Tour de France. The last three major Tours winners have now all been implicated in serious offences, entire teams have been exposed and scores of riders have had their careers written off.
Some of the comments have alluded to an anti-American conspiracy being played out in Europe. This I do not buy. Lets face it, it's not just the Americans who have been exposed over the last few months and everyone (yes, even the French) have a considerable amount to lose thanks to the mess cycling is in at the moment. Everyone has been left looking like fools because of this and it's not surprising they are looking for someway to explain the situation.
One day Landis was the saviour of the Tour, the next he's its nemesis. All the cycling magazines here in the UK are covered in pictures of Landis' glory and articles on how he has saved the Tour and cycling's reputation. I can't imagine what they are going to say next month.
I am not denying that there are some bad feelings from the hangover of the Armstrong era but I don't believe Landis has been penalised as a result of this. His case just seems to be another of the very unfortunate events that have riddled Phonak's short history. I would love to be proved wrong, I was as pleased as anyone to see Landis win in the style he did. Sadly I think his defense isn't going to be strong enough to keep the yellow jersey hanging on his wall.
Comments:
By
iainArchives
09/14/03, 09/21/03, 09/28/03, 10/05/03, 10/12/03, 12/07/03, 12/14/03, 12/21/03, 12/28/03, 01/04/04, 01/11/04, 01/18/04, 02/15/04, 04/25/04, 05/09/04, 07/25/04, 08/01/04, 09/12/04, 10/03/04, 10/31/04, 11/21/04, 12/12/04, 01/09/05, 01/16/05, 01/23/05, 01/30/05, 02/13/05, 03/13/05, 03/27/05, 04/03/05, 04/10/05, 04/17/05, 04/24/05, 05/01/05, 05/15/05, 05/22/05, 05/29/05, 06/05/05, 06/12/05, 08/07/05, 09/04/05, 09/18/05, 10/30/05, 11/20/05, 11/27/05, 12/04/05, 12/11/05, 12/18/05, 12/25/05, 01/01/06, 01/08/06, 01/15/06, 01/29/06, 02/05/06, 02/12/06, 02/19/06, 02/26/06, 03/05/06, 03/12/06, 03/19/06, 03/26/06, 04/09/06, 04/16/06, 04/30/06, 05/21/06, 05/28/06, 07/09/06, 07/23/06, 08/06/06, 08/13/06, 09/03/06, 09/10/06, 10/15/06, 10/29/06, 11/05/06, 11/12/06, 11/19/06, 11/26/06, 12/10/06, 12/17/06, 12/24/06, 12/31/06, 01/07/07, 01/14/07, 01/21/07, 01/28/07, 02/04/07, 02/11/07, 02/18/07, 02/25/07, 03/04/07, 03/25/07, 04/01/07, 04/15/07, 04/22/07, 04/29/07, 07/15/07, 07/22/07, 07/29/07, 09/16/07, 12/23/07, 12/30/07, 01/06/08, 01/13/08, 01/20/08, 03/23/08, 03/30/08, 04/27/08, 05/04/08, 05/11/08, 05/18/08,
