Today the organizers of the Tour de France (ASO) announced that they are banning Team Astana because if the doping issues in 2007 Tour de France. Any true cycling fan can what the truth is behind this decision. ASO has been in a power struggle with the UCI over who controls pro cycling. Astana is now being used as a pawn in this petty game that the ASO and UCI are playing. The ASO is basically shoving this decision in the face of the UCI saying “you can’t tell us who to invite to our race, and we’ll show you by leaving out the best team and last year’s winner.”
The Tour de France organizers are only doing more harm to their race and making a mockery of the sport. It is the fans, the riders, and the sport that suffers because of this.
At least we have the Tour of California to look forward too.
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That sucks!
If they ban Astana from the Tour, the Tour will become a second class race. If they exclude the best riders, for questionable reasons, the race will become just another bike race. Is there some way the fans can mount a protest?
This is a totally different team, with a new committment to prevent doping and with new personnel both on top and as riders. Give them a chance and give us a good Tour.