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http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/24/sports/EU-SPT-CYC-Vinokourovs-Tour-de-Farce.php
Cycling fans will feel most hurt by Vinokourov's positive doping test at
Tour de France
The Associated Press
Published: July 24, 2007
PAU, France: Cycling fans loved the rider they called Vino. And he loved to
deliver results - just not the type that came out of a laboratory on Tuesday
and ended his Tour de France and possibly his racing career.
Alexandre Vinokourov was a pre-race favorite who excited Tour fans by
rebounding from a bad crash in the fifth stage to stay in contention until
last Sunday's 14th stage. Then he won Monday's stage as consolation but on
Tuesday - a rest day - came news he tested positive for a blood transfusion
after winning last Saturday's time trial.
His B sample is expected by the end of the week, coinciding with the end of
another tainted Tour.
Astana suspended the Kazakh rider and also withdrew its team from the tour,
ending the chances of its best-placed rider, Andreas Kloeden, who was lying
fifth. Vinokourov was 23rd.
"Alexandre denies having manipulated his blood," stunned Astana manager Marc
Biver said, adding that Vinokourov believes the "blood anomalies in his
body" may have resulted from the crash.
During the fifth stage on July 12 from Chablis to Autun, Vinokourov fell and
hurt his knees so badly that he needed at least 30 stitches. He refused to
pull out and slogged up the Alps even though he was bleeding time to his
rivals.
Biver spoke then of his star in glowing terms.
"He'll go to his limit and will die on the bike if he has to," Biver said.
"He'll do everything to stay in the Tour."
Those words sounded prophetic after news of the positive test.
On the eve of this year's Tour, international cycling chief Pat McQuaid
questioned Vinokourov's relationship with Italian doctor Michele Ferrari,
saying it damaged the sport's credibility as it tries to repair its
tarnished image.
Vinokourov, who was third on the 2003 Tour and fifth in 2005, replied that
he used Ferrari only as a physical trainer and not for medical purposes.
"It might very well be an innocent training relationship. I have to accept
what he says," McQuaid said on July 6. "To try and reclaim the credibility
of the sport, it would be better if he did not work with him. No matter what
victories Vinokourov has, people will question them because of his
relationship with Ferrari."
Last year, Ferrari was cleared by an Italian appeals court of distributing
health-threatening doping products to athletes. He has always denied he
dispensed illegal substances.
Biver defended his rider in ambiguous terms, despite McQuaid's concerns that
Vinokourov was working with someone outside the team.
"We have an ethics code which is clear: It stipulates that the athlete does
not have the right to consult a doctor outside the team," Biver said.
"Michele Ferrari is not the doctor of Alexandre Vinokourov, but is his
trainer."
On Saturday, Vinokourov blew away the field with a remarkable performance on
a 54-kilometer (34-mile) time trial around Albi. He was 1:14 in front of
second-place Cadel Evans of Australia, and 1:39 ahead of Kloeden.
After winning the clock race, Vinokourov was just over five minutes behind
race leader Michael Rasmussen with three Pyrenees stages ahead - and
promised to attack.
But the next day Vinokourov fell apart on the Port de Pailheres, losing
28:50 to Rasmussen and dropping to 30th place and out of contention.
With his Tour resembling a heart monitor reading, Vinokourov recovered
overnight and attacked early in Monday's 15th stage from Foix to
Loudenvielle-Le Louron for his fifth career Tour stage win, earning more
glowing tributes.
L'Equipe splashed "Vino's Courage" on its front page on Tuesday, while
inside the French sports daily Vinokourov spoke of how he "inspires respect"
from other riders.
Hours later, his Tour dreams were over, and the respect from his fans.
Cycling fans will feel most hurt by Vinokourov's positive doping test at
Tour de France
The Associated Press
Published: July 24, 2007
PAU, France: Cycling fans loved the rider they called Vino. And he loved to
deliver results - just not the type that came out of a laboratory on Tuesday
and ended his Tour de France and possibly his racing career.
Alexandre Vinokourov was a pre-race favorite who excited Tour fans by
rebounding from a bad crash in the fifth stage to stay in contention until
last Sunday's 14th stage. Then he won Monday's stage as consolation but on
Tuesday - a rest day - came news he tested positive for a blood transfusion
after winning last Saturday's time trial.
His B sample is expected by the end of the week, coinciding with the end of
another tainted Tour.
Astana suspended the Kazakh rider and also withdrew its team from the tour,
ending the chances of its best-placed rider, Andreas Kloeden, who was lying
fifth. Vinokourov was 23rd.
"Alexandre denies having manipulated his blood," stunned Astana manager Marc
Biver said, adding that Vinokourov believes the "blood anomalies in his
body" may have resulted from the crash.
During the fifth stage on July 12 from Chablis to Autun, Vinokourov fell and
hurt his knees so badly that he needed at least 30 stitches. He refused to
pull out and slogged up the Alps even though he was bleeding time to his
rivals.
Biver spoke then of his star in glowing terms.
"He'll go to his limit and will die on the bike if he has to," Biver said.
"He'll do everything to stay in the Tour."
Those words sounded prophetic after news of the positive test.
On the eve of this year's Tour, international cycling chief Pat McQuaid
questioned Vinokourov's relationship with Italian doctor Michele Ferrari,
saying it damaged the sport's credibility as it tries to repair its
tarnished image.
Vinokourov, who was third on the 2003 Tour and fifth in 2005, replied that
he used Ferrari only as a physical trainer and not for medical purposes.
"It might very well be an innocent training relationship. I have to accept
what he says," McQuaid said on July 6. "To try and reclaim the credibility
of the sport, it would be better if he did not work with him. No matter what
victories Vinokourov has, people will question them because of his
relationship with Ferrari."
Last year, Ferrari was cleared by an Italian appeals court of distributing
health-threatening doping products to athletes. He has always denied he
dispensed illegal substances.
Biver defended his rider in ambiguous terms, despite McQuaid's concerns that
Vinokourov was working with someone outside the team.
"We have an ethics code which is clear: It stipulates that the athlete does
not have the right to consult a doctor outside the team," Biver said.
"Michele Ferrari is not the doctor of Alexandre Vinokourov, but is his
trainer."
On Saturday, Vinokourov blew away the field with a remarkable performance on
a 54-kilometer (34-mile) time trial around Albi. He was 1:14 in front of
second-place Cadel Evans of Australia, and 1:39 ahead of Kloeden.
After winning the clock race, Vinokourov was just over five minutes behind
race leader Michael Rasmussen with three Pyrenees stages ahead - and
promised to attack.
But the next day Vinokourov fell apart on the Port de Pailheres, losing
28:50 to Rasmussen and dropping to 30th place and out of contention.
With his Tour resembling a heart monitor reading, Vinokourov recovered
overnight and attacked early in Monday's 15th stage from Foix to
Loudenvielle-Le Louron for his fifth career Tour stage win, earning more
glowing tributes.
L'Equipe splashed "Vino's Courage" on its front page on Tuesday, while
inside the French sports daily Vinokourov spoke of how he "inspires respect"
from other riders.
Hours later, his Tour dreams were over, and the respect from his fans.
