Doping -- Le Monde editorial

The French journal Le Monde ran an editorial (July 27) suggesting that the
TdF may not be free of doping, despite the extensive urine and blood testing
that is now performed under the direction of the UCI. While not an
accusation, the article notes that the average speed of stage winners this
year is the fastest on record, even faster than in 1997, the year preceding
the Festina affair, when EPO use was presumably widespread.

The piece goes on to suggest two possible reasons: (1) Climate conditions
were ideal this year, and the riders also benefited from tailwinds, or (2)
New techniques for evading the chemical controls have been put into play.
The official TdF line is apparently (1). The speeds themselves are not
disputed, since they are essentially a public record.

For perspective, Le Monde is something along the lines of the New York
Times -- a fairly well-respected middle-of-the-political-spectrum newspaper
(rather than a tabloid, for example), but not particularly a sports rag. I
don't know its history well enough to know whether it has any axes to grind
with the TdF.

The article (in French) is available by going to www.lemonde.fr. In the box
at upper left entitled Rechercher, type in "dopage" (no quotes needed) and
click the arrow. On the list of articles that comes up, look for "Un Tour
trop vite?" Right now it seems to be the second article listed, and for the
moment, at least, it is available for free. I don't know of an English
version, but I know there are at least a few francophones out there who
might find this of interest...

------------

On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 21:00:22 +0200, "AMG" wrote:

For perspective, Le Monde is something along the lines of the New York
Times -- a fairly well-respected middle-of-the-political-spectrum newspaper
(rather than a tabloid, for example), but not particularly a sports rag. I
don't know its history well enough to know whether it has any axes to grind
with the TdF.

I'm sorry but with the way Le Monde throws out the accusation of
doping so easily Le Monde is more on the lines of the NY Post, or at
least the Blair written articles of the NY Times.

Lindsay
----------------------------
"One of the annoying things about believing in free
will and individual responsibility is the difficulty
of finding somebody to blame your problems on. And
when you do find somebody, it's remarkable how often
his picture turns up on your driver's license."

P.J. O'Rourke

"AMG" wrote in message
...
The French journal Le Monde ran an editorial (July 27) suggesting that the
TdF may not be free of doping, despite the extensive urine and blood testing
that is now performed under the direction of the UCI. While not an
accusation, the article notes that the average speed of stage winners this
year is the fastest on record, even faster than in 1997, the year preceding
the Festina affair, when EPO use was presumably widespread.

The piece goes on to suggest two possible reasons: (1) Climate conditions
were ideal this year, and the riders also benefited from tailwinds, or (2)
New techniques for evading the chemical controls have been put into play.
The official TdF line is apparently (1). The speeds themselves are not
disputed, since they are essentially a public record.

For perspective, Le Monde is something along the lines of the New York
Times -- a fairly well-respected middle-of-the-political-spectrum newspaper

actually Le Monde is pretty left wing. So too is the NY Times.

(rather than a tabloid, for example), but not particularly a sports rag.

That is true.

I
don't know its history well enough to know whether it has any axes to grind
with the TdF.


I don't know about this either but I do know that Le Monde has numerous axes
to grind with the U.S. government, U.S. private sector companies, and
Americans in general. If I'm not mistaken, they were one of the main forces
behind some of the allegations surrounding Lance Armstrong.

The article (in French) is available by going to www.lemonde.fr. In the box
at upper left entitled Rechercher, type in "dopage" (no quotes needed) and
click the arrow. On the list of articles that comes up, look for "Un Tour
trop vite?" Right now it seems to be the second article listed, and for the
moment, at least, it is available for free. I don't know of an English
version, but I know there are at least a few francophones out there who
might find this of interest...

------------

"Ed-D" wrote in message
...

actually Le Monde is pretty left wing.
So too is the NY Times.


The NY Times left wing? Bwahahaha! Left of Genghis Kahn, you
mean.

"Rico X. Partay" wrote in message
et...
"Ed-D" wrote in message
...

actually Le Monde is pretty left wing.
So too is the NY Times.


The NY Times left wing? Bwahahaha! Left of Genghis Kahn, you
mean.


Not sure what that is supposed to mean, but it's common knowledge that the
Times is left-of-center.

In article ,
"Ed-D" wrote:

"Rico X. Partay" wrote in message
et...
"Ed-D" wrote in message
...

actually Le Monde is pretty left wing.
So too is the NY Times.


The NY Times left wing? Bwahahaha! Left of Genghis Kahn, you
mean.


Not sure what that is supposed to mean, but it's common knowledge that the
Times is left-of-center.

Pretty much any organization the uses reason will end up being
left-of-center.

KP

--
Remove _me_ for e-mail address

"Ken Prager" wrote in message
...

Pretty much any organization the uses reason will end up being
left-of-center.




You know what's funny?


NASCAR only turns left.





Dat durn Dail Urnhard shore was fast.

place hand over heart

hang head


Where one a dem durn syclists? I gots to run won a dem off da rode!

"Ken Prager" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Ed-D" wrote:

"Rico X. Partay" wrote in message
et...
"Ed-D" wrote in message
...

actually Le Monde is pretty left wing.
So too is the NY Times.


The NY Times left wing? Bwahahaha! Left of Genghis Kahn, you
mean.


Not sure what that is supposed to mean, but it's common knowledge that the
Times is left-of-center.

Pretty much any organization the uses reason will end up being
left-of-center.


Oh great. The insinuation being that only liberals use reason. I get it.

KP

--
Remove _me_ for e-mail address

"Ken Prager" wrote in message
...

Pretty much any organization the uses reason will end up being
left-of-center.

Somebody here is pretty off-center. And stupid as well.

Ed-D wrote:


Not sure what that is supposed to mean, but it's common knowledge that the
Times is left-of-center.

Yah. I heard Rush Limbaugh say so just the other day.