Even though he was part of that huge drug scandal a few years ago, he seems to NOT be viewed as a pariah. In fact, his career seemed to go just fine in the years after the drug incident.

Compare that to other big-name riders who took a fall for drug use. Pantani never could seem to shake the allegations off and could you ever see David Millar coming back to the good graces of the sport?

Richard Virenque hardly seems like a disgraced rider today. He seems pretty highly regarded. How so?

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I think that he has somewhat redeemed himself by doing well, at least in the KOM contest, "clean." What did Pantani do after he cleaned up?

Not sure how we measure how much certain riders are "forgiven" after a drug scandal. Is it just the TV commentators, other press, views on websites? Anyone take a poll?

Also, Virenque never won a major Tour while arguably on drugs. I think that makes a difference. Pantani's wins will always have an asterisk* in many people's minds.

I think that he has somewhat redeemed himself by doing well, at least in the KOM contest, "clean." What did Pantani do after he cleaned up?

Not sure how we measure how much certain riders are "forgiven" after a drug scandal. Is it just the TV commentators, other press, views on websites? Anyone take a poll?

Also, Virenque never won a major Tour while arguably on drugs. I think that makes a difference. Pantani's wins will always have an asterisk* in many people's minds.


He won an awful lot of king of mountains jerseys and even placed really high in the GC of some TDFs. If we don't know exactly what time frame he was on drugs, don't all those achievements have asterisks?

Even though he was part of that huge drug scandal a few years ago, he seems to NOT be viewed as a pariah. In fact, his career seemed to go just fine in the years after the drug incident.

Compare that to other big-name riders who took a fall for drug use. Pantani never could seem to shake the allegations off and could you ever see David Millar coming back to the good graces of the sport?

Richard Virenque hardly seems like a disgraced rider today. He seems pretty highly regarded. How so?

Lots of people still hate Virenque and always will. I can't stand the guy myself. But even I have to admit that he has been redeemed somewhat by riding well without drugs. Or at least that's what we have to believe. The guy has real natural talent, and it makes me wonder why these idiots needed to do drugs in the first place! He's done just as well, if not better, without them.

I'll forever be pissed at him for letting all his teammates take the fall why he proclaimed his innocence, only to finally admit he was guilty, too. Oh, and getting back into the TDF on a technicality. Those aren't the actions of anyone with integrity and class, and winning stages and Paris-Tours won't change that.

Lots of people still hate Virenque and always will. I can't stand the guy myself. But even I have to admit that he has been redeemed somewhat by riding well without drugs. Or at least that's what we have to believe. The guy has real natural talent, and it makes me wonder why these idiots needed to do drugs in the first place! He's done just as well, if not better, without them.

I'll forever be pissed at him for letting all his teammates take the fall why he proclaimed his innocence, only to finally admit he was guilty, too. Oh, and getting back into the TDF on a technicality. Those aren't the actions of anyone with integrity and class, and winning stages and Paris-Tours won't change that.

Couldn't agree more! It's amazing how a lot of the media in France tries to burn Lance at the stake for the slightest doping rumour while Virenque appears to border on a national hero.

John

The guy has real natural talent, and it makes me wonder why these idiots needed to do drugs in the first place! He's done just as well, if not better, without them.

Well - either that or he's just taking better drugs and better masking agents these days!