Year of the Comebacks

Cebu - Lance Armstrong will start his comeback officially this Sunday in Australia in a race called the “Tour Down Under”. Even though it’s obvious that Armstrong won’t be at his best at this time of year, people who follow cycling will be watching his every move, his every muscle twitch. But it’s not only the Texan that will be coming back this year but a bunch of former retired riders and riders who had served time for doping. Here’s the list:

1. Floyd Landis

Landis won the 2006 Tour de France but tested positive for testosterone. His racing schedule will be mostly in US with a domestic team called OUCH after serving a 2-year ban. Landis won’t be riding the Tour de France anytime soon as Pro Tour teams have agreed not to hire any convicted doper four years after being found guilty. If he was Italian, he could have been on the roster for the Giro d’Italia.

2. Ivan Basso

Basso was supposed to take over the throne abdicated by King Lance. But just before the 2006 Tour de France, he was implicated in the now infamous Operation Puerto doping scandal. Although he wasn’t convicted (a Spanish judge said that OP was illegal), he was released from his team, CSC. DISCOVERY CHANNEL, Armstrong former team, who felt that there was no legal impediment to his signing, signed him. But when the Italians launched their own inquiry, DC let Basso go. In the end, Basso admitted seeing the doctor involved in OP but denied ever using doped. Just like Landis, he served a 2-year ban and unlikely to ride the TdF but will be doing the Giro since he’s Italian.

3. Alexander Vinokourov

The Khazak was a favourite going into the 2007 TdF as all the big names either had retired or was under suspension from doping. However, he tested positive for analogous blood transfusion during the race. He retired immediately so the UCI didn’t pursue his case. His national federation questionably suspended him for 12 months instead of the mandated 24 months. Now, he’s making some noises about making a comeback since he just served his 12-month suspension. However, the UCI isn’t happy about it and is reviving the case against Vino.

4. Michele Bartoli

Bartoli used to be the number one cyclist in the world and the best classics rider of his time who specialized in those grueling, one day races. He also had ego problems. Paolo Bettini used to be his understudy but when Bartoli got injured, Bettini took over his role seamlessly which led to their feud as both demanded leadership roles. His last team was CSC and his last race was the 2004 TdF. He quit after stage 18 when he was asked by team director Bjarne Riis to go back to the peloton to protect his team leader, Basso, after he was on a breakaway.He is currently training with Basso and other professionals from his region. At 38, I don’t think there’s much gas left in the tank.

5. Raul Alcala

Alcala, now 44, is the only Mexican to win a stage in the TdF in 1990. He was the next popular American after Greg Lemond, Steve Bauer and Andy Hampsten. If you ask me, this hombre is running on fumes!

6. Mario Cipollini

He is the cycling equivalent of Brett Favre when it comes to retirement so you can never count him out. He has so much media appeal that even if rides at the back of the peloton, he’ll always be a star.

Hankies and Oakley’s banned!!!

If some people have their way, full face helmets will be banned. This is for the cops to easily identify perpetrators. Hello? Next on the chopping board are bandanas, stockings and shades as they are also used as disguises in stick-ups. Next to be banned are darkness and night. Silly world! – THE FREEMAN