On Feb. 13th the ASO banned Team Astana from competing in any race organized by the ASO. They are basing this ban off of last years team being charged with using performance enhancing drugs. They are doing these even though nothing from last years team is a part of this years team. All new riders, new owners and new everything.
This would prevent the NEW Team Astana from defending Alberto Contador’s title from last year, and make it so there would be no American team riding in the tour. Way to make it even easier for the French to be able to win the race. This ban does not only include the tour. This would also ban them from the Giro d’Italia and the Spanish Vuelta, both very important races.
This battle against doping not only brings down the overall look of cycling but is just another blow to an American team trying to participate in the tour. The team after their ban from the ASO events lead to invites from multiple other races. Though these races are not the caliber of the tour it goes to show that the team is not “bringing down the outlook of cycling.”
Now, projected winner of the tour and recent winner of the Tour of California, Levi Leipheimer are forced to sit back and watch and wait while the decision is made whether he can ride or not.
Last years tour winner Alberto Contador has turned his focus to the Olympics and the Spanish Vuelta. Both very prestigious events but neither the caliber of the tour. How can you not let last years winner race because of violations he nor any members of his team did?
This all happens because the French are mad beacuse they have not won their own race in over a decade. This leads to all riders not French to be charged with doping. They will do it until the only riders riding are French an at that point they will probably still lose the race. Get off your high horse and let the best man win not just the French man.
Since the recent ban the team and Trek Bicycles have started letleviride.com. This is an online petition agaisnt the ASO to let Team Astana ride in the tour and other ASO events. (I encourage you to sign it also)
Well put. You are very strong in your opinion and if I didn’t already agree with you, I bloody well would reconsider what I was thinking. I don’t pay much attention to sports normally so I wouldn’t have noticed this normally. Kudos to you, mate.
your op-ed is interesting and makes me want to go and look into the whole ban of the team myself. i liked how you blame it all on the french(damn frenchies).you might want to add a little more facts about last years team,like what exactly they got banned for.
This article definitely kept me interested I enjoy the topic. I feel you are playing on the readers emotions, with respect to pride in one’s country which is what you should lean toward. Nobody wants to see a Frenchman win a race that is supposed to be international. I couldn’t agree more though with attempting to create an even playing field. This is my best of group vote.
In your op-ed you definitely made it clear as to what side you were on. It was a very opinionated article. But i think you should revise and make sure your essay flows well. it is a little choppy and hard to follow.
Great page., brother