Interesting that D. Millar will be back next year. Since he was banned before the ProTour, he doesn't have to sit-out of the ProTour for 4 years. During the "Cofidis Affair", before he was actually busted, he saved his own ass by smearing Gaumont. Should be interesting how he's recieved in the peloton.

I hated how the english-speaking media gave him tons of attention.

of the drug hating french cycling Cofidis?

of the drug hating french cycling Cofidis?

He burned his bridge with Cofidis, so he signed with Saunier Duval. I guess they think he can do something special, why else would you bring this much headache and baggage on board. I don't see him doing much, hell, he wasn't capable of winning big races when he was on EPO.

I bet he was real cheap. SD seems to look for bargains and I'd wager his contract is almost entirely results-based.

I dunno, never met the guy, but his 'media persona' kinda bugged me. That whole tantrum on the Angliru was pathetic and I think the English speaking media blew his talent out of proportion. That said, 20+ victories including 6 GT stages ain't shabby.

*yaaaaaaaaaaawn*

millar who?

The last Millar I recall was Robert Millar, not this snobbish, overrated Scot who should be taught a lesson.

*yaaaaaaaaaaawn*

millar who?

The last Millar I recall was Robert Millar, not this snobbish, overrated Scot who should be taught a lesson.


Isn't that the point of the suspension? I think I'm missing something here.

Isn't that the point of the suspension? I think I'm missing something here.


you are. I think D. Millar got off relatively easy.

being out of competition for a coupla yrs is a relatively lax form of punishment. UCI should have implemented the additional 2 year ban from racing on pro teams well before the pro-tour debut.

Admission of guilt serves only as self-incriminating proof of the crime, and shouldnt be taken into consideration when sentencing the punishment. Just because an athlete admits usage of banned substances doesn't mean they should get special consideration when determining the length of punishment or appeal. They should probably have a longer and more severe penalty.

He sucked before he used EPO, he sucked when he used EPO, and he'll continue sucking after he used EPO.

His punishment, and all punishment for substance abusers, should be life-time exile from pro cycling.

He burned his bridge with Cofidis, so he signed with Saunier Duval. I guess they think he can do something special, why else would you bring this much headache and baggage on board. I don't see him doing much, hell, he wasn't capable of winning big races when he was on EPO.
So I guess the World TT Championships is not a big race? He won that on EPO.

We will see what he does next year. I would not have much in the way of expectations for him. I am suprised a team took a chance on him.

So I guess the World TT Championships is not a big race? He won that on EPO.

We will see what he does next year. I would not have much in the way of expectations for him. I am suprised a team took a chance on him.

Just look at Vandebroucke and how many chances he got to ride professionallly, and pretty much screwed every single one of them up. Guys like Millar and VDB will always have chances galore. It's what they do with them when they get them that will make the difference.

To go with that whine Mr. Millar? Davey had to be the biggest whiner in the peloton for too many years. "It was too hard" "It was too hot" "My EPO hadn't kicked in by launch time..."

Just look at Vandebroucke and how many chances he got to ride professionallly, and pretty much screwed every single one of them up. Guys like Millar and VDB will always have chances galore. It's what they do with them when they get them that will make the difference.

If you ran a pro team, would you rather have some kid who won a couple of amateur races or a bit of a head case who has won TTs in the tour, the Worlds TT and been a player in a lot of other major races. Who cares if he is a bit of a personality problem, this is a business and he can get big results!

Silas

Just look at Vandebroucke and how many chances he got to ride professionallly, and pretty much screwed every single one of them up. Guys like Millar and VDB will always have chances galore. It's what they do with them when they get them that will make the difference.
Virenque seemed to make the most of his comeback. But then again, he was about the only Frenchman doing anything in the tour after he came back. But it is not unheard of for someone to come back and do OK in recent years. Virenque, at least in some interviews, accepted responsibility for his own actions.

I did not hear quite the same tone from Millar. But we probably will see a more appoligetic Millar soon. Maybe there will be a big interview in Cyclesport where he tries to admit to making a mistake to slightly clean his image.

For a sport trying to clean its image, this is not good.

Regardless if it's Millar, Vandenbroucke, Virenque, etc., etc.--it is always interesting to me that admitted dopers get scooped up pretty quickly by top pro teams after serving suspensions. And I'm not even mentioning guys who got caught but never made an admission (Pantani).

I think this pretty much reflects my assumption that ALL top pro's dope. These guys were just unlucky enough to get caught. So once the suspension is served--then the teams'
managements look at it as back to business as usual. These "dopers" aren't really treated as damaged goods, but are usually welcomed back readily.

The issue of doping is complex. Hell, there's a discussion group dedicated to just that.

Bottom line. Until lifetime bans are instituted, doping will continue with the same prevelance as always.

Regardless if it's Millar, Vandenbroucke, Virenque, etc., etc.--it is always interesting to me that admitted dopers get scooped up pretty quickly by top pro teams after serving suspensions. And I'm not even mentioning guys who got caught but never made an admission (Pantani).

I think this pretty much reflects my assumption that ALL top pro's dope. These guys were just unlucky enough to get caught. So once the suspension is served--then the teams'
managements look at it as back to business as usual. These "dopers" aren't really treated as damaged goods, but are usually welcomed back readily.

The issue of doping is complex. Hell, there's a discussion group dedicated to just that.

Bottom line. Until lifetime bans are instituted, doping will continue with the same prevelance as always.

Pantani never actually got busted for doping. He tested high crit levels a couple of times, but that was before they could actually "prove" that they were doping. Was this an indication he was doping? Possibly, but he never actually got busted and suspended for doping.

Once again, pro cycling is a money making venture. If someone can get results, they take them back onto a team, and make money off of them. Look at dopers in other professional sports, and how they are also welcomed back into the loving fold after they've served their suspensions if they get busted.

It's the same for all sports. If you can perform, you're in. If you can't, you're out. Check out the minor players who get popped for doping. You don't see them getting back onto a team, because they were just water carriers anyway.