Cleaning up the Tour De France

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

By Scott Fitzgerald

How do we reward riders for staying clean when there is so much financial reward for winning? First, the UCI and pro level sponsors must decide they only want clean riders in the sport. Next, require riders to submit to physiological exams on a regular basis.

Riders will then develop a chart of their average blood pressure, lactic threshold, hemocrit level, VO2 max and so on. Continue testing for the same performance markers through out the season.

Anytime their performance levels are outside an acceptable increase, riders would voluntarily take a leave from the pro tour for a specified period of time. If a rider does not agree to this system, the UCI would not let them compete.

More importantly, sponsors would start to hire only those riders who wear the “clean” seal of approval on their jersey. Once this system of testing was in place, even if the UCI didn’t require it, sponsors who want a clean team could require it of their individual riders.

Over time, other sponsors would start asking why their riders didn’t have that “clean” logo on their jersey. Next thing you know, riders are being rewarded for staying clean instead of being punished for doping.


PERMALINK:
Cleaning up the Tour De France | Planet JH News Article: Single Track Mind

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