When did EPO become popular in pro cycling?

Does anyone know, or have information that may suggest a particular
time that it did become popular?

I've heard conflicting reports. Some saying that suddenly a vast
majority were doing it in 1991. Others saying that it started in the
mid-late 1980's.

I've also heard that it can offer big performance increases, and that
when it did arrive, it must have been suddenly widespread.

Or at least, when did it start? Is there any information that suggests
that one or two riders began to use it in the 1980's?

Maybe it first started in a different endurance sport?

Knowing this stuff could be quite interesting when studying results
through 1985-1995.

Thanks

Ohh, I just found this: http://www.pfitzinger.com/labreports/epo.shtml
One rider confessing to EPO use in 1991, and said it was common in
1990-1991.

The link also mentions this: "Between 1987, when EPO became available
in Europe, and 1990, 18 Dutch and Belgian cyclists died suddenly,
raising suspicions that naive users did not realize they were playing
with fire."

So perhaps it became the norm in 1990? Or earlier?

Perhaps it can help break Tour de France time trial records?

"Milliano" wrote in message
oups.com...
Ohh, I just found this: http://www.pfitzinger.com/labreports/epo.shtml
One rider confessing to EPO use in 1991, and said it was common in
1990-1991.

The link also mentions this: "Between 1987, when EPO became available
in Europe, and 1990, 18 Dutch and Belgian cyclists died suddenly,
raising suspicions that naive users did not realize they were playing
with fire."

So perhaps it became the norm in 1990? Or earlier?

Perhaps it can help break Tour de France time trial records?

Before EPO, there was blood doping (transfusions) which was probably
just as effective. This was around in the 70s and 80. I remember the
middle distance runner Lasse Viren from Finland was under suspicion back
then. For this reason it would be difficult to pinpoint a big
performance step up due to EPO.

Phil H

"Milliano" wrote in message
oups.com...
Does anyone know, or have information that may suggest a particular
time that it did become popular?

I've heard conflicting reports. Some saying that suddenly a vast
majority were doing it in 1991. Others saying that it started in the
mid-late 1980's.

I've also heard that it can offer big performance increases, and that
when it did arrive, it must have been suddenly widespread.

Or at least, when did it start? Is there any information that suggests
that one or two riders began to use it in the 1980's?

Maybe it first started in a different endurance sport?

Knowing this stuff could be quite interesting when studying results
through 1985-1995.



It seems that the first sport in which Epo was used, was cross-country ski
in 1987. At the end of the 1980's there were already some cyclists
experimenting with the new product, sometimes with fatal consequences. In
1990 it came on the list of illicit products. In 1992-93 it started to
become popular in bicycle racing, but ity was still in a rather
experimenting stage. It was only thanks to dr. Michele Ferrari working for
Gewiss in 1994-95, that there was expertise enough to use it systematically.
So from 1996 on it was used generally.

Benjo

experimenting stage. It was only thanks to dr. Michele Ferrari working
for
Gewiss in 1994-95, that there was expertise enough to use it
systematically.
So from 1996 on it was used generally.

Benjo

-----------------------------------
ah yes, LBL in 94 right? the Gewiss 1-2-3, that was pretty fantastic.
I must admit to being a Berzin fan, in 95, the way he and Urgumov would

attack each other in the Giro was another great spectacle.
I also liked the way Urgumov looked liked an old homeless man on
the podium, he looked like he was 75 years old, he also
gave Indurain some competition in the mountains.
A generation of Russian cyclists who were good for two or three
years was also interesting
Bobrik, Goncthenkov, Berzin,.

wrote:
experimenting stage. It was only thanks to dr. Michele Ferrari working
for
Gewiss in 1994-95, that there was expertise enough to use it
systematically.
So from 1996 on it was used generally.

Benjo

-----------------------------------
ah yes, LBL in 94 right? the Gewiss 1-2-3, that was pretty fantastic.
I must admit to being a Berzin fan, in 95, the way he and Urgumov would

Tirreno-Adriatico 1994.

Eddy Planckaert admitted winning Paris-Roubaix 1990 on EPO.

Kenny

"Kenny" wrote in message
oups.com...
Eddy Planckaert admitted winning Paris-Roubaix 1990 on EPO.


No, he admitted having used EPO, but only when it wasn't yet on the list of
forbidden products, which means before 1990.

Benjo

"Stu Fleming" wrote in message
...
wrote:
experimenting stage. It was only thanks to dr. Michele Ferrari working
for
Gewiss in 1994-95, that there was expertise enough to use it
systematically.
So from 1996 on it was used generally.

Benjo

-----------------------------------
ah yes, LBL in 94 right? the Gewiss 1-2-3, that was pretty fantastic.
I must admit to being a Berzin fan, in 95, the way he and Urgumov would

Tirreno-Adriatico 1994.

And Milan-San Remo and above all the Flèche Wallone 1994, when the three
Gewiss riders Argentin, Furlan and Berzin outclassed Bugno, Casagrande,
Chiapucci and all the other suckers who weren't smart enough to hire
Ferrari.

Benjo

in 484216 20050905 133237 "benjo maso" wrote:
"Stu Fleming" wrote in message
...
wrote:
experimenting stage. It was only thanks to dr. Michele Ferrari working
for
Gewiss in 1994-95, that there was expertise enough to use it
systematically.
So from 1996 on it was used generally.

Benjo

-----------------------------------
ah yes, LBL in 94 right? the Gewiss 1-2-3, that was pretty fantastic.
I must admit to being a Berzin fan, in 95, the way he and Urgumov would

Tirreno-Adriatico 1994.

And Milan-San Remo and above all the Flèche Wallone 1994, when the three
Gewiss riders Argentin, Furlan and Berzin outclassed Bugno, Casagrande,
Chiapucci and all the other suckers who weren't smart enough to hire
Ferrari.

They won by a country-mile, didn't they? I can still see the TV pics ...