Zabel Wins, Freire Still Hot, More Stupid Dope News

Sep 7 2007

Anyone else out there noticing how this year’s Vuelta photography looks like ass? Even though it would explain Allen Davis’s finish line confusion, I can’t imagine the heat coming off the Spanish tarmac was throwing up that much distortion. You know what I think it is? Radiation from Oscar Freire. After his third win in just six stages, and preternatural crash sense in seventh, it’s clear he’s been mutated from the constantly injured, crash-prone, World Title specialist he once was.

But I don’t mean to take anything away from Erik Zabel’s sneaky win today by mentioning Freire. I dislike it when journalists use the term “crash-marred”; crashes and crash avoidance are part and parcel with the whole sprinting thing, and a win isn’t (IMHO) made any less by the mere presence of a crash. Furthermore, Zabel’s been one of the more reliably sane people throughout the sport’s recent reappraisal of the whole doping thing. I know a lot of people are a little lukewarm to see him win, but I still like the guy.

Speaking of drugs, T-Mobile’s recently bounced Lorenzo Bernucci talked with the media about his “doping” offense. It really makes me wish WADA would put some money into studying exactly how much performance enhancement appetite suppressants and asthma medicines provide. I’m willing to bet they pale in comparison to serious PE drugs, or even entirely legal substances like caffeine. Although, with some dopers starting surprisingly young, I doubt my calls for anti-dope self-evaluation will get far.

Possibly related content:

Pro Cycling News – Tributes to Zabel, Bak Wins Again It’s not like the guy is retiring or anything, but geez, you might think so, given the rapid proliferation of stories on Erik Zabel’s deaprture (scroll down) from T-Mobile following...

Pro Cycling News – Simoni Wins Giro dell’Emilia, Dope Doctor Recants Gibo Simoni is an interesting case. On the one hand, he constanly whines about, well, about everything, yet on the other, he seems to excel in crappy weather. No change...

Pro Cycling News – Why Independence Matters, Dope News People often ask me “How exactly does being independent make your cycling page better? Doesn’t it mean you just don’t have any real sponsors?” Well, yes, that is one (somewhat...

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Categories Dopage, Media, News
Author cosmo

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Zabel Wins, Freire Still Hot, More Stupid Dope News

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