Friday, June 30, 2006

Shocking!

I'm absolutely stunned right now. This morning, a list of riders implicated in "Operation Puerto" was released by Spanish officials, and it was a HUGE bombshell.

Check out this list. I'm sure you'll recognize one or two names.

Astaná-Würth

  • Michele Scarponi (I)
  • Marcos Antonio Serrano (Sp)
  • David Etxebarria (Sp)
  • Joseba Beloki (Sp)
  • Angel Vicioso (Sp)
  • Isidro Nozal (Sp)
  • Unai Osa (Sp)
  • Jaksche Joorg (G)
  • Giampaolo Caruso (I)

CSC

  • Ivan Basso (I)

Caisse D'Epargne-Iles Baleares

  • Constantino Zaballa (Sp)

Saunier Duval

  • Carlos Zarate (Sp)

Ag2r

  • Francisco Mancebo (Sp)

T-Mobile

  • Jan Ullrich (G)
  • Oscar Sevilla (Sp)

Phonak

  • Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Sp)
  • Jose Ignacio Gutierrez (Sp)

Communidad de Valencia

  • Vicente Ballester (Sp)
  • David Bernabeu (Sp)
  • David Rodriguez (Sp)
  • Jose Adrian Bonilla (Sp)
  • Juan Gomis Lopez (Sp)
  • Eladio Jimenez Sanchez (Sp)
  • David Latasa (Sp)
  • Ruben Plaza (Sp)
  • Jose Luis Martinez (Sp)
  • Manuel Llorent (Sp)
  • Antonio Olmo (Sp)
  • David Munoz (Sp)
  • Javier Cherro (Sp)
  • Javier Pascual (Sp)former rider and now an official

Unibet.com

  • Carlos Garcia Quesada (Sp)

Riders retired or suspended for doping

  • Roberto Heras (Sp)
  • Angel Casero (Sp)
  • Santiago Perez (Sp)
  • Tyler Hamilton (USA)
  • Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Sp)

I think it's safe to say this "Operation Puerto" is the biggest doping scandal in cycling. I'm shocked, and more than a little disappointed.
One thing is for certain, it is definitely anybody's Tour this year.

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