Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling

Frankie Andreu has come clean and admitted to using EPO during the 1999 Tour de France. Andreu along wih another unidentified US Postie admitted to using EPO in an article in the NY Times.

“I tried my best never to use performance-enhancing drugs,” he said. “I did make a couple of bad choices, but that was a long, long time ago. It’s not something to be proud of. I did use EPO, but only for a couple of races.” — Frankie Andreu

Andreu on who takes EPO in the peloton:

“There are two levels of guys,” “You got the guys that cheat and guys that are just trying to survive.”

“The environment was certainly one of, to be accepted, you had to use doping products,” he said. “There was very high pressure to be one of the cool kids.”

The other rider who reported to use EPO requested to be named anonymous. This is a disservice to the rest of the team who will be hounded by questions about if they were the other anonymous source. The “yet to be named Postie” should simply allow their name to be published since it is a disservice to the rest of the riders on the team.

Of the riders on the team during the 1999 Tour one could probably deduce the rider who is the source by looking at the start list. Tyler Hamilton would not admit to anything. George Hincapie would not be a source, just as a gut feeling. Those still involved in cycling from this team include Vaughter who manages the TIAA CREF team and Vande Velde who rides for CSC. Vaughters team has a very firm view on doping, but for Vaughters to admit to using EPO in the past *may* not affect his standing as a coach. Vande Velde would have the most risk since CSC could not afford to have another rider involved in a doping scandal.

181. Lance Armstrong (USA)
182. Frankie Andreu (USA)
183. Pascal Deramé (Fra)
184. Tyler Hamilton (USA)
185. George Hincapie (USA)
186. Kevin Livingston (USA)
187. Peter Meinert-Nielsen (Den)
188. Christian Vandevelde (USA)
189. Jonathan Vaughters (USA)

NY Times: 2 Ex-Teammates of Cycling Star Admit Drug Use

NY Times: