Ricco Positive - Saunier Duval Out of 2008 Tour
It seems the positives will never end and the disappointments will mount. I sat down tonight to watch the 12th stage of the 2008 Tour de France to find that non-starters for the stage included Ricco, Cobo, Piepoli, De La Fuente, Pou…in fact the entire Saunier Duval team was absent. What the?
I raced over to CyclingNews in time to catch the first news flash. Riccardo Ricco, winner of 2 stages in this year’s Tour has tested positive to EPO. Bloody hell, just when an exciting young climber emerges onto the scene and promises all sorts of exciting action in the upcoming Alpine stages, we learn that the guy’s just another cheat.
Forget about the clashes between the UCI and ASO, the riders appear to still be doing their best to destroy the sport that’s paying their wages.
So Ricco’s in police custody, stage 12 got underway today without a Polka Dot Jersey and we’re cast back 12 months to the Astana debacle (no Saunier Duval-Scott in next year’s Tour after this precedent).
It doesn’t seem to matter how much I want to concentrate on and enjoy the racing that’s going on, the drug cheats are determined to run it all. Back to the Tour and Cadel Watch is still going well…going well? Can’t get much better than Yellow Jersey at the half-way mark, never mind that it’s by the barest possible margin. As nice a guy as Frank Schleck is, I’d like him to podium the race but one of the lower steps would be a nice place for him.
stumble
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