Some shocking news just popped up this morning (thanks, Roan). The winner of this year’s Gran Fondo New York tested positive during the event. The 3rd place woman was also busted.
First, why this is NOT shocking. The sport of cycling attracts many types of people, but I would gather to guess that at the upper end of the average leaderboard you’ll find some riders whom you might label as ‘Type A’, if you were being kind. It’s no surprise to me, even at the amateur level (and really, we’re not even talking real amateurs – mainly ‘Masters’), that some riders will dope to win.
No, what was surprising was the fact that these two cheaters were caught at all, i.e. there were doping controls. GFNY was apparently the first gran fondo to implement these tests, and they’ve already caught these two from this year, as well as a couple more from 2012. I have a little experience now with ‘serious’ sportives, like Etape du Tour, Haute Route and La Marmotte, and at least the first two of these events state in their FAQs that doping controls can be carried out at any time. But the thing is – and feel free to correct me if I’m wrong – I don’t think they’ve ever followed through on their threat. I’ve certainly never seen any and I’ve done 4 Etapes and 2 Haute Routes now.
So bravo Uli Fluhme and GFNY for walking the walk. Hopefully other ‘serious’ events are paying attention.
Here’s the article: http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/gran-fondo-winner-stripped-of-victory-after-testing-positive-for-drugs/
The Vicious Cycle 
The picture is funny, but it does cross my mind many times. It’s just ridiculous.
Waiting to see the entry fee for GFs go through the roof as testing becomes more frequent and widespread… someone has to pay for the tests. I thought GFNY was already expensive…
It’s not cheap, I am sure. I wonder if it’ll be the next big thing to spend money on in cycling…?
When all the leaders were 20hrs ahead of me at HR and I was becoming best friends with the lanterne rouge I thought I ‘should’ be doping. 😎
I hear ya, Luc. I was ready to take nearly anything after that first day into Megeve!
Hi Gerry, Funny you say the Haute Route say you can get tested randomly. I heard in Nice last year the tested the top 10 GC and some randoms. I then said to the guy thats not true, he looked confused and argued they did. I then said I was in the top ten and I did not get tested.
100% agree with you, they should put a testing policy in place and no previous dopers too, same as Taiwan KOM….! I can’t prove anything but I am fairly sure, like you, that there would be a lot more taking something or other on these so called “amateur” races than people would think. Also when put a watch worth several thousand euro’s as a prize, thats a big lure..! Its all very sad, we never know where we should have really finished.
Hope you are fit and well.
That’s hilarious, Paul! You’d think people would hear the rumors if testing were happening. It’s good to hear a comment like yours from ‘the pointy end’ of the race, though! I’d love to see you shows up and who doesn’t if HR brought in strict testing!
Amazing, but not surprising that there are people out there that would cheat for something as insignificant as an amateur bike race.
Yeah, people will cheat for far less in life, I guess. Human nature?
it is like this sadly in all sports.. cycling and running come to my mind right away
I had friends in high school doing steroids to play football. High school!
ya that is really sad but they thinking it will help them go into college or something… when it most likely hurt
Doing amateur running races I did wonder if people took substances, but if there is no prize money what is the purpose – the feeling of winning, validation or not having enough trophies? Didn’t realise there would actually be a testing function though…
The better question Gerry is why is it shocking I’m not sure I understand those who find it shocking. When you compete you always look for an edge, this is human nature it’s not about morals and ethics that’s a false argument. Because those who make the rules are the biggest hypocrites in the world, not too mention governing bodies never govern fairly. Rules are enforced arbitrarily and vary from one athlete or discipline to another which makes the whole notion ridiculous. Mark Donohue wrote a great book about so called cheating ( which is another arbitrary label) the book is called the unfair advantage. It doesn’t matter if it’s an amateur or professional a dedicated competitive person will always look for an edge. Cheating is merely an opinion of those who either don’t want to explore all options or engineer their body the way the engineer their equipment ( again more hypocrisy when we talk about engineering equipment and machines and the billions of dollars that are spent) performance enhancing substances have been politicized and demonized mainly by those who quite frankly are not well informed medical profession included and by those who have a financial interest in keeping the status quo. This topic is so wide in scope it would be difficult to discuss every aspect in every nuance here. Suffice to say that performance enhancing substances are just another way to find the advantage. It doesn’t matter if its fine tuning equipment or machinery that borders on being in a gray area, Engineering the body has become this taboo subject that many know very little about…
exmaschine Has written well and has put a lot of thought into rationalising it, but it appears that the “all things are relative” or the ” beauty is in the eye of the beholder” mindset applies
isnt the point that anyone who keeps pure talent out of the game by doping to stay ahead of them the real problem
“Cheating is merely an opinion” what a crock a shite.will ya come down out of the fog Lad
So I wonder about the idea of doing any sort of non–professional sporting event. If the general feeling is I don’t care if you were 1st or 500th as it is all generally meaningless when compared against all other issues in the world, then good.
But I suppose that the problem is that people train and want confirmation of some sort of the training that they have done. May be the issue is that current office work is not demanding enough to show the impact of an exercise program.
When I was a little kid I used to ride around the block from my house, out of sight of my mother and then come back with some story to tell, like I rode to Ottawa. I never could imagine the idea of seriously riding to Ottawa when I actually only rode 500 meters down the street.
I hope to have a chance to ride up Mont ventoux some time in the future. Thereis no one to tell about it because no one really cares , sort of like holdzy slides. I am transfixed by the mountain, and I got engaged under the SIGN. I hink the real reason is that there is no need to ride up it so there must be some value. Like making life thicker than what it would be otherwise, like gravy made better by standing and stiring instead of just serving what you have.
I suppose what I am saying is that people n the same way I lost faith in pro racing I have lost faith in amateur racing and I will ride for the feeling of salt crystals on my eyelids and not pay attention to anyone else. Thanks for listening…very jealous and Nimes is a wonderful town.
Kevin, awesome response. I love your reasoning on the ‘value’ of Ventoux (or any other mountain, I guess). People create their own stories, so maybe dopers in gran fondos will be like you when you were a kid and tell everyone they won a stage in the TDF. With all the fake news flying around these days, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that some would believe it.
Where do you live, btw? That is, how bad was that story you told your mom?!
Gerry, missing your stories. Doping by two Italians before this year’s Giro 2017 even starts!! Really? Are they stoopid or something? Thought we got over that crap.
Luc, I’m missing my stories, too, or at least writing them! As for doping, I guess it wouldn’t be cycling without it…
Gerry, I live in Toronto and was 6 years old (not quite yet Masters level) and was riding down to the end of the block so my mom knew I was full of…
I had forgotten I had posted a comment as I had come in from the pub and was feeling unusually textacious.
Kevin, it sounds like you NEED to get over here and climb Mont Ventoux…and a few others since you’ll be here, obviously. Looking forward to meeting you when it happens.
Your last comment was presented to my wife and she thought that was a very good idea. Now I need a map to align cols with spas and restaurants.