So everyone but the French are doping? Flyer, what do you think?
[size=-1]French decry malaise
Recriminations are flying as French cycling officials grapple for a reason to explain France's less-than-stellar presentation in the 92nd Tour de France.[/size]
[size=-1]David Moncoutie was the only French rider to win a stage and Christophe Moreau, 11th at 16:26 back, was the only French rider in the top 20, enough to make any Frenchman cry in his pastis.[/size]
[size=-1]In an interview published in L'Equipe, French cycling federation officials are decrying a variety of reasons for France's dismal showing.[/size]
[size=-1]Excuses range from too many foreign riders, a different attitude about training and winning, to the "peloton at two speeds" argument that French cycling is cleaner because of stricter national health controls French riders are subject to.[/size]
[size=-1]In short, French cycling is in a malaise.[/size]
[size=-1]Jean Pitallier, president of the French cycling federation, pointed fingers just about everywhere to lay blame on why French riders aren't performing better in the Tour.[/size]
[size=-1]"I saw French riders on the attack, they just didn't win. That's the problem," Pitallier said in an interview. "I don't want to speak about a peloton at two speeds, but that's what it appears to be."[/size]
[size=-1]Pitallier insisted other nations should adopt France's stricter anti-doping controls, which subject all licensed professionals to quarterly health checks.[/size]
[size=-1]"I demand that other countries apply the same strict measures that we have," he continued. "I'd also like to see the managers of the teams sanctioned. We have to sensitize the directors of the teams and suspend them if necessary. The climate of suspicion that reigns is too disagreeable for cycling, the sport that's beyond a doubt the one with the most tests."[/size]
[size=-1]When asked if French racers perhaps aren't as professional or hard-working as other pros, Pitallier suggested that might be true among the younger generation of pros.[/size]
[size=-1]"One can speak of insufficient training," he said. "Perhaps something can be said about the younger generation. Older riders like Brochard and Rous are experience and know how to train. The younger have a problem with the training."[/size]
[size=-1]French decry malaise
Recriminations are flying as French cycling officials grapple for a reason to explain France's less-than-stellar presentation in the 92nd Tour de France.[/size]
[size=-1]David Moncoutie was the only French rider to win a stage and Christophe Moreau, 11th at 16:26 back, was the only French rider in the top 20, enough to make any Frenchman cry in his pastis.[/size]
[size=-1]In an interview published in L'Equipe, French cycling federation officials are decrying a variety of reasons for France's dismal showing.[/size]
[size=-1]Excuses range from too many foreign riders, a different attitude about training and winning, to the "peloton at two speeds" argument that French cycling is cleaner because of stricter national health controls French riders are subject to.[/size]
[size=-1]In short, French cycling is in a malaise.[/size]
[size=-1]Jean Pitallier, president of the French cycling federation, pointed fingers just about everywhere to lay blame on why French riders aren't performing better in the Tour.[/size]
[size=-1]"I saw French riders on the attack, they just didn't win. That's the problem," Pitallier said in an interview. "I don't want to speak about a peloton at two speeds, but that's what it appears to be."[/size]
[size=-1]Pitallier insisted other nations should adopt France's stricter anti-doping controls, which subject all licensed professionals to quarterly health checks.[/size]
[size=-1]"I demand that other countries apply the same strict measures that we have," he continued. "I'd also like to see the managers of the teams sanctioned. We have to sensitize the directors of the teams and suspend them if necessary. The climate of suspicion that reigns is too disagreeable for cycling, the sport that's beyond a doubt the one with the most tests."[/size]
[size=-1]When asked if French racers perhaps aren't as professional or hard-working as other pros, Pitallier suggested that might be true among the younger generation of pros.[/size]
[size=-1]"One can speak of insufficient training," he said. "Perhaps something can be said about the younger generation. Older riders like Brochard and Rous are experience and know how to train. The younger have a problem with the training."[/size]
