kw

I first heard about it here:
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?...eb08/feb17news
(scroll down to the third feature)

Here's some recent BF discussion:
https://www.bikeforums.net/professional-cycling-fans/382068-astana-out-tour.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/professional-cycling-fans/388311-tdf-threat-cycling-s-future.html

Whether Astana has changed enough from last year or not, Tour of California organizer AEG has actually set a better example for ASO. AEG blocked specific riders, not a whole team (see the first feature in that same cyclingnews link). Leipheimer is clean. Not even ASO has disputed that. Think he should contend le Tour? Like grassroots efforts?

Well then tell ASO yourself by signing your e-mail address to Levi's petition.

Please do not make this into a chain letter. Thank you for your support.

derath

Honestly I am on the fence. I don't wish any ill on the former Discovery team riders. But given their stature I would imagine they had their pick of what team to join. So why pick a team with such a track record to latch on to?

-D

clipperton

if they're as serious about cracking down as they'd like to make out then i agree with the approach. i think that by targeting individual riders you reduce the consequences for each rider and make their adherence to the rules only their own concern. this approach makes their actions of great interest not only to their team but also to the other riders on their team.

Green Jager

There is saying around here that says "you lay with dogs you get fleas." The old Discovery riders went to a team that was not thrown out once but twice , come on make them earn it by a few clean years . Riding the Tour is a privilage not a right. I deel sorry for Contador and Levi but they could have gone to any team they wanted that was clean , so why go to a team that you know will be challenged at best and not wanted at most. Astana is lucky that the team was thrown out of the UCI , as far as I am concerned they should have.

bac

You lose me here. I don't know that you can say that there were any clean teams at the 2007 TdF. Regardless, where is the consistency? I'm for either banning ALL the teams with doping issues, or NONE of the teams. What I'm stating is that rulings like these should be applied consistently. Why ban Astana and not one of the other several teams with doping issues in last year's tour?

... Brad

sykerocker 

Sorry guys, this who mess sounds to me like somebody in ASO really just wanted to make sure that Brunell (sp? - I'm at work, don't have a chance to check my spelling) didn't engineer a eighth TdF win in nine years - and all this talk about doping is just a justifiable, saintly, smokescreen.

As to why the ex-Discovery riders went to Astana? Most likely because the boss did, and they wanted to continue to work together as a team. Go back to the previous paragraph . . . . . . .

classic1

Sorry sykerocker, you are deluded. Why should ASO allow themselves to be exposed to another scandal from this team for the third year in a row? Astana have been singled out for a reason. Have a look at this and see if it changes your opinion.

https://www.thevirtualmusette.com/pos...stanagate.html

Or read these for an even less generous take/laugh

https://www.deraileduk.com/letlevicry/

https://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/...le_181484.html

rapidcarbon

Be honestly I think Levi is just a whining little kid.

RockyMtnMerlin

The first link was to an objective article that made some good points. The last two are not worth looking at. They are ad hominem attacks on Leipheimer. Read the first article and contemplate its significance. Save your time and skip the other two.

Fahrrad Fervor

Today I read some seemingly hopeful news for Levi's chances at the tour (I'm a big fan of Levi). It seems like the best thing he has going for him is the fact that Contador also races on his team. There is a lot of pressure in Europe to have Contador at this year's tour. https://www.sport1.de/de/sport/artikel_2176681.html
According to this article out of Germany, Sarkozy himself has taken it upon himself to make sure that Contador gets into the tour. Also, spanish political opposition leader Mariano Rajoy is rallying a push to get Contador into the tour. I could care less about Contador, but this excites me because I really want to see what Levi can do this year.
In my opinion the ASO is using the Astana team as leverage to manipulate the UCI.

RockyMtnMerlin

Sehr interessant!