"But on the Italian forums I follow he is universally being attacked/considered garbage (but we Italians are that way... we will worship the guy until he falls, then turn on him completely"
I have no problem with people having worshiped Ricco. I have a lot of problem with them acting as though they were somehow betrayed when he is caught. I posted here that I thought Ricco was doping after his ITT performances in the Giro. All of the signs about Ricco were available. ITT results that far exceeded those of the previous year. The ability to sprint at the end of a race while at the same time having long climb endurance. It was just too much. If people choose to delude themselves, like most of the posters on this forum deluded themselves about Ullrich for years, then they have no right to behave with righteous indignation, as though they were cheated, and as though they hate cheating.
Now, after Ricco's mountain stage win he was not able to get away from Evans and Menchov on Hautacam. If we are going to judge people based upon how they do relative to dopers, then isn't Evans a doper? My money says that Mechov most definitely is. And Schleck most likely is.