Schumacher, "Out of This World"?

[girofan]

First let me say I really want this year's TDF to be clean! But has Schumacher been in contact with Armstrong?
From near anonimity in time trials he suddenly comes up with a ride that beats Cancellara, Evans and Millar!! Even the DS of Gerolsteiner was defending him on a Eurosport interview today, saying that previous suspicions have proved to be without foundation, but he would say that, wouldn't he?
It only takes his declaration that, "I have never tested positive" to confirm he has also employed LA's legal team.
On the subject of LA, did anyone see that American puff-programme on ITV 4 the other night? If LA were Catholic he would be made a saint by now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I said immediately that Schumacher's was a surprising ride. He is undoubtedly very talented but he's been invovled in enough 'near misses' with testing to be regarded at least with a raised eyebrow.

 

[Tetedelacourse]

Yip I agree.

I watched "The Science of Lance Armstrong". Was good to see the meticulous approach they employed. Awesome commitment. Plus good to see a rare glimpse of humility in Armstrong when he got the bug in his peeper during training, but it was all kind of tempered with the ridiculous narration from Independence Day.

 

[gavintc]

IMO, Dodgy as a dodgy thing. I really want TdF to be clean, but....

 

[Moonlight]

Innocently hoping he had a break in the wind..

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

...or broke enough wind for it to be of assistance

 

[kennykool]

Science of Lance Armstrong was a great programme - loved every minute of it from start to finish

As for Schumacher....lets just wait and see. Are we maybe to sceptical of riders doing well these days????

 

[DanRVV2006]

IMO Schumacher should not even be at the tour! Boonen was banned for his sniffing of cocaine yet Schumacher late last year did drink drive crashed into someones fence ran off got busted for some drugs yet he still aloud to ride? hes been caught up in "irregular" drug tests before why is he even there? the tour want to save their "integrity"(dont know spelling) yet they allow him to ride then he does this, he cannot be clean nooooooooo way you dont come from nothing to beating world TT champions and TT specialists lets be honest!

 

[kennykool]

Jeez - the boy done well lets just leave it there!

celebrate his success dont put him down!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I am not suspicious of that many people these days, but some people do stand out - and he is one of them.

 

[girofan]

Jeez - the boy done well lets just leave it there!

celebrate his success dont put him down!

Look at it this way kenny. The TdF are doing their own drug testing this year, not the UCI. Perhaps Schumacher is cynical enough to take a banned substance to win a stage knowing he will test positive, but then saying to Prudhomme that, "Yes I am on something, but are you going to risk the future credibility of the TdF by throwing me off the Tour?"
Another drug scandal this year would not finish the Tour, but the financial implications Prudhomme could not dare think about.

Glad you liked the LA programme, but personally I gave up believing in Father Christmas and fairies long ago.

 

[mondobongo]

I am no fan of the current UCI and thought ASO did the right thing in refusing to invite Astana. However I am a little concerned as to if there is a positive this year will we hear about it.

In a rare occurrence I agree with Dan that Schumacher should not be there, his positive test for amphetamines was kept quiet and was only six months ago. Boonen's was shouted from the rooftop and he gets refused entry no consistency of approach there and can see Quickstep having the major crank.

 

[Skip Madness]

Christ, this isn't out of the blue at all - Stefan Schumacher has a good record in time-trials. Don't get me wrong, I find his number of near-misses a bit suspicious too and I wouldn't have minded had a harder-line been taken against him, but to cite this stage victory as a specific reason for doubt about him is ridiculous.

Schumacher wins 2006 Rheinland-Pfalz time-trial (25 km). He beats Michael Rich and Uwe Peschel.

Schumacher wins 2006 Sachsen-Tour time-trial (24 km). He beats Vladimir Gusev, Michael Rich and Stijn Devolder.

Schumacher wins 2006 Eneco Tour prologue time trial (5.8 km). Beats George Hincapie and José Ivan Gutiérrez.

Schumacher wins 2007 Tirreno - Adriatico time-trial (20.5 km). He beats Andreas Klöden, Kim Kirchen and Alexandre Vinokourov.

Schumacher wins 2008 Tour time-trial over similar distance - shock.

 

[Keith Oates]

That puts things in perspective, SM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[asterix]

So he has either always got a little help from his friends or is simply doing what he does best. Which excludes being interviewed