It's been a while since there have been any developments, and this may go some way to explaining it.
When discussing Johan Bruyneel's recent 10-year ban with former riders and colleagues around the team buses at the start of Flèche Wallonne today, Cyclingnews journalists were largely stonewalled.
When seeking comment from Ryder Hesjedal, who signed for Bruyneel and rode for two years under him, they got similarly shut down, but made these observations:
That’s been the status quo for several months with the American team shielding their Canadian from questions relating to anything but his racing programme since his own doping confession from last year. This is due to USADA’s ongoing investigations. In an email to Cyclingnews earlier this year USADA stated that “we have asked that as a potential witness, at this time, Ryder limit what he publicly discusses about the information he has provided us.”
This may go some way to addressing why he's done so little to publicly denounce doping in sport and why he's taken virtually no steps to regain some trust from his fans.
Well, he could be working hard at helping the anti-doping authorities fix the problem. Hard to tell. His team and manager have some credibility in the anti-doping world.
On the other hand, the same day as the TdeV, there's a very cool track meet here in Vic at Westshore, TrackFest 2. Tripleshot kids will be there all weekend in numbers and likely to do well, having signed up for FastTrack two weeks ago. The u13's do all their races Saturday morning, u15 and u17 all weekend.
Maybe come cheer on the future instead?
And there's a completely unsubstantiated rumour there will be a Tripleshot masters team pursuit team. I hear they will need help holding their beers after their effort.
Neutral impact, John. It's mostly a cost/value thing that keeps me away from the Tour de Ryder.
But if he used the event (and his Ryder's Cycling Society of Canada) to come out loud and clear against doping, I'd probably re-think whether it's something to sign up for in principle. I do appreciate what the Tour does for Victoria cycling.
The quote above more struck a chord in that it goes a small way to addressing some of my feelings of betrayal and anger (however irrationally felt) arising from becoming an ardent fan over 2011 and the Giro in 2012, only to be let down by Ryder's confession and subsequent refusal (or inability) to denounce doping in broad and categorical terms. I recognize that to follow a rider and then suffer from their fall from grace is a rite of passage for a cycling fan. But I lament that it should be so.
I still think his complete silence on the issue—following his sole paltry apology by way of Garmin press release—continues to damage the sport's credibility as a whole.
Oh, I think it never got off track, John. Pretty sure Sylvan's tongue was in his cheek re: Valverde. How old is that guy now? After Contador, I have trouble trusting anyone's results who is licensed by the Spanish federation.
Rather than a flat out boycott, a step I sense some are considering, how about asking Hesjedal and McGrath if they will appear in front of the UCI commission on doping? There are benefits to them. If they don't, and are implicated during the commission investigation, they can receive bans from the sport. This way we might nudge them toward a more significant solution for the sport, vs just damaging their business, as ill-gotten as it it may be. If nothing else, their reaction will be interesting.
Last edited by Lister Farrar on Fri Apr 25, 2014 12:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Collective makes sense. Are Tripleshot riders who are interested in TdeV, interested in making such a request? An open letter, signed by club members planning on riding t de v, perhaps?
Might need a beer or two to decide what to do if it's ignored.
I would be riding it this year if it weren't for his handling of the doping thing. I'd be onboard with applying pressure, though I don't claim to be at all well-informed about doping, the sanctions/legal implications/incentives, etc.
Would it help to get other Victoria clubs on board? He's the hometown hero, after all. Would this be coming from Tripleshot officially, or from "members of Tripleshot?" The group membership may not be of one mind on this, and some may prefer to leave politics out of the club's list of activities.
Could get thorny, but could also be a model for how to apply grassroots pressure against doping. I'd certainly be interested in the conversation.
Hi All Ryder fans and ex fans..Weren t we all fans sitting around at the Oak Bay Rec centre in May/ June 2012.
Refering to what Lister and Rolf said, besides asking Ryder and Seamus,
( who OWNS the T de V),
to appear in front of the UCI... how about asking them to appear infront of Tripleshot when in town for Tde V. If Ryder is not here lets offer to do it by Skype.
Sounda like Lister, Rolf and others may have some questions for our past hero, Ryder.
I have just two:
1. Did you take any drugs in 2004 when riding on Lance's team, or 2005 with Floyd Landis or perhaps maybe in 2012?
2. Would you be willing to put some of your annual salary,
which was reported to be $ 800,000....into a kids and adults anti doping progarm? Would your past Teamate , Seamus and you , also put in some of profits from The Ryder H . T de V?
Just something to think about, and perhaps act on it. I really don t think Ryder will be in Victoria much this year..
P.S. Just got a copy of Road Bike Action Magazine. with an interview with Michael Rasmussen about his doping and The Book, which Ryder and Seamus may not like. Somebody more techie than me could put a link here of the May article...
ironically ,in the same issue as an article about this years Giro which starts May 9 in Ireland.
