This year, Cyclingnews celebrates its 25th anniversary. To commemorate this important milestone, the editorial team will publish 25 sports works that look back on the past 25 years.
The development of Cyclingnews closely reflects the development of the entire Internet. How the site publishes and reports news-from a piece of daily news mixed with results, aggregated through various sources via e-mail, to the news, results and features you see today that flow exponentially increases and Develop rapidly and develop rapidly. Internet speed.
As the website expands, the urgency of content increases. When the Festina scandal broke out in the 1998 Tour de France, Cyclingnews was in its infancy. At the same time, cyclists flock to the Internet to read news and discuss events in newsgroups and forums. Later, on social media, cyclists began to discover that their doping behavior suddenly became very public. Eight years later, as the next major stimulant exploded with the Puerto Rico Opera House, the dirty ribs of the sport were well, truly and embarrassingly exposed.
When Cyclingnews started operations in 1995, only about 23,500 websites existed, and 40 million users accessed information through Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer or AOL. Most of the users are in the US, and the text sites on dial-up connections are mostly slow at 56kbps or lower, which is why the early posts of Cyclingnews are mainly composed of single posts-the reason why the results, news and interviews are mixed together-it is The user provided content worth waiting for the page to load.
Over time, the game was given its own page, but due to a large number of results released, news continued to appear in multiple versions until the venue was redesigned in 2009.
The looser pace of newspaper-like publishing plans has changed, broadband access speeds have become more widespread, and users have increased: by 2006, there were about 700 million users, and now about 60% of the planet is online.
With the larger and faster Internet, the era of EPO bicycles powered by rockets appeared: if Lance Armstrong ignites, then other storylines will not explode like Operación Puerto, and in a series of news headed “News Flash” It was reported.
The Festina scandal-aptly called the “drug scandal update”-was one of the earliest news reports, but it was not until a major redesign of the site in 2002 that the first official “News Flash” was released: five of the year. A wildcard Tour de France.
In Giro d’Italia in 2002, two riders were nailed to NESP (new erythropoietin protein, an improved version of EPO), Stefano Garzelli was banned from taking diuretics, and Gilberto Simoni’s cocaine showed positive -This caused his Saeco team to lose their wildcard points in the Tour de France. All these major news are worth watching.
Other newsletter topics include Jan Ullrich’s Team Coast, the 2003 Bianchi collapse and entertainment, Andrei Kivilev’s death, As well as the UCI World Athletics Championships moved out of China due to the SARS-1 epidemic, Marco Pantani died, but it turns out that doping is the most common breaking news.
NAS attacked Giro d’Italia, used Raimondas Rumsas doping, police attacked the Cofidis headquarters in 2004, and the revelation of Kelme’s Jesus Manzano kept the team out of the Tour de France.
Then there are the positive factors of EPO: David Bluelands, Philip Meheger, David Miller’s admissions. Then came the blood adulteration cases of Tyler Hamilton and Santiago Perez.
Long-time editor Jeff Jones (1999-2006) recalled that the Cyclingnews homepage was mainly used for game results. Each race has multiple links at each stage, which makes the homepage extremely busy. He said that it would be difficult to publish personal news in terms of logistics.
Jones said: “Every day there is too much content to fit on the homepage.” “It’s already very busy, we try to squeeze as small as possible.”
Nowadays, only when the news is a bit urgent or arouses great interest from readers, does one or two news versions deviate from normal. Until 2004, news appeared more than a dozen times a year. However, when a doping case occurs, it will inevitably lead to a large number of news avalanches.
Taking September 22, 2004 as an example, Tyler Hamilton became the first athlete ever to test positive for a homologous blood transfusion-it became three additional news publications in two days, and in his entire Many other news emerged during the appeal process. But there is nothing like 2006.
On May 23, 2006, there was a story that hinted at major brewing events in Spain: “Liberty Seguros director Manolo Saiz was arrested for doping.” It will prove to be the longest clue in Cyclingnews history.
After months of wiretapping and surveillance, and watching athletes come and go, investigators from Unidad Centro Operativo (UCO) and the Spanish civilian police raided the apartment belonging to the former team doctor of Kelme and the “gynecologist” Eufemiano Fuentes , They found a lot of anabolic steroids and hormones there, about 200 blood bags, enough freezer and equipment to hold dozens or even hundreds of athletes.
Liberty Seguros’ manager Manolo Saiz-grabbed the handbag (60,000 euros in cash)-and the remaining four people were detained, including Fuentes, José Luis Merino Batres, who runs a laboratory in Madrid. Alberto Leon, a professional mountain bike racer, is suspected of acting as a courier; Jose Ignacio Labarta, assistant sports director of the National Sports Committee of Valencia.
According to Cyclingnews, Fuentes is accused of helping the rider “illegal practice of automatically transfusing blood to the rider during a stage game. This is one of the hardest stimulants to find because it uses the rider’s own blood.”
José Merino happened to be the same as Merino mentioned in Jesus Manzano’s explosive testimony, who tried to expose these doping practices two years ago, but was mocked and even mocked by his peers. Threatened.
It was only in May that the Italian Cup was almost over. Leader Ivan Basso was forced to issue a denial because the Spanish media listed him as a name on the Fuentes code list. Later Appears by using the rider’s pet name.
Soon, as Liberty Seguros gains support from the team, Saiz’s team is fighting for survival. In the past few years, it was Phonak that had doping incidents with Hamilton and Perez. After Oscar Sevilla admitted to the clinic for a “training program,” they were also reviewed by T-Mobile.
After the alleged scandal, Phonak left in the second match between Santiago Botero and Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Italian Army), and Valenciana DS Jose Ignacio Labarta resigned, despite protesting the innocence. Phonak said its future depends on the Tour de France and Freud Landis.
Only a few weeks away from the Tour de France, the Seitz team was rescued. Thanks to Alexander Vinokourov, who, with the strong support of his native Kazakhstan, made Astana the title sponsor. Due to a dispute over the team’s license, the team played for the first time at Certerium du Dauphine as Würth and Saiz left the team.
In mid-June, ASO withdrew Comunidad Valenciana’s pass invitation to the Tour de France, but according to UCI’s new ProTour rules, once the Astana-Würth driver’s license case was confirmed on June 22, the The convoy will be protected from exclusion.
It’s easy to forget that all this happened in the Armstrong vs L’Equipe case: Remember when French researchers went back to the 1999 Tour de France and tested samples for EPO? Did Vrijman’s UCI commission allegedly clear Armstrong? In retrospect, this is really ridiculous because it was there-constant doping news, Manzano’s revelation, Armstrong and Michel Ferrari, Armstrong threatening Greg Lemond, Armstrong calling on Dick Pound Withdrawing from WADA, WADA “slammed” the UCI report on Vrijman…and then Operación Puerto.
If the French want Armstrong to retire, they can finally count on an open and clean French Tour, then in the week before the Tour de France, they proved that they have to face more than just a Texan. El Pais released more detailed information about the case, which included 58 cyclists and 15 people from the current free Liberty Seguros team.
“This list comes from the official report of the Spanish National Guard on doping investigations, and it contains several big names, and the Tour de France is likely to be contested by very different favorites.”
Astana-Würth (Astana-Würth) can participate in the competition: ASO is forced to ask CAS for help with both hands, leaving Astana-Würth (Astana-Würth) at home, but the team bravely headed to St. Lasbourg participated in the big departure. CAS stated that teams should be allowed to participate in the competition.
“At 9:34 am on Friday morning, T-Mobile announced that Jan Ullrich, Oscar Sevilla and Rudy Pevenage had been suspended due to the Puerto Rico incident. These three were in the doping scandal as a customer of Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes. None of them will participate in the Tour de France. Match.
“After the news was announced, the three people sat on the team bus to the so-called “meeting” press conference. They were told the way forward.”
At the same time, Johan Bruyneel said: “I don’t think we can start the Tour de France with that kind of suspicion and uncertainty. This is not good for the riders. There is already enough around Doubt. No one, drivers, media or media will not. Fans will be able to focus on the race. I don’t think this is needed for the Tour de France. I hope it can be resolved for everyone in the near future.
In a typical riding style, the rider and team try to be right until the last minute.
“Mart Smeets, the sports anchor of Dutch TV, just reported that the Astana-Würth team has left the Tour de France.”
Active Bay, the management company of the Astana-Würth team, has confirmed that it will withdraw from the tournament. “In view of the content of the file sent to the Spanish authorities, Active Bay decided to withdraw from the Tour de France in accordance with the “Code of Ethics” signed between the UCI ProTour team (which prohibits riders from participating in the race when undergoing doping control). Those drivers.”
News Flash: More drivers are appointed by UCI, LeBron: “An open tour of a clean driver”, Team CSC: Ignorance or bluff? , McQuade: Sad not shocked
When UCI issued a statement, it would list nine drivers from the tour start list who should be excluded from the race: “(The participation of these drivers) does not mean that anti-doping violations have been identified. However, mention The signs that have arrived indicate that the report has been serious enough.”
Tour Director Jean-Marie Leblanc: “We will ask the relevant teams to use the ethics charter they signed and expel the suspected drivers. If not, we will do it ourselves.”
“I hope we can all feel at ease from Saturday. This is an organized mafia that spreads doping. I hope we can clean up everything now; all cheating should be kicked out. Then, maybe, we will Get an open competition, clean and neat. Riders; tour with ethical, sports and entertainment spaces.”
Ivan Basso (Ivan Basso): “My opinion is that I work hard for this Tour de France, I only think about this race. My job is to ride a bike fast. After the Giro race, I will 100% of my energy is devoted to the Tour de France. I only read and write things… I don’t know more.”
UCI Chairman Pat McQuaid: “It’s difficult to ride a bike, but I have to start from the positive side. This has to send a message to all the other riders there, that no matter how smart you think you will eventually be caught.”
News Flash: More drivers suspended: Belso questioned, Basso and Mansbo withdrew from the race, Ulrich’s former trainer called this a “disaster”
Bernard Hinault, ASO’s public relations officer, told RTL Radio that he hopes 15-20 riders will be driven out before the end of the day. UCI will then require the National Cycling Federation to impose disciplinary action on the riders designated in the Spanish network.
Team spokesperson Patrick Lefevere said that the eliminated drivers will not be replaced. “We unanimously decided to send all the drivers on the list home instead of replacing them.”
News Flash: The CSC team is facing media attention. Mancebo has ended his career. What is the new doping fee for CSC? Bruyneel keeps an eye on Ullrich’s reaction to suspension
CSC and manager Bjarne Riis remained unyielding until the team’s press conference in the afternoon when he finally succumbed to the pressure and withdrew from Ivan Basso’s tour.
“Before 2pm on Friday, CSC team manager Bjarne Riis and spokesperson Brian Nygaard walked into the press room of the Strasbourg Music Museum and Conference Hall, made a statement and answered questions. But soon the room became A boxing arena, with 200 reporters and photographers all around wanting to take action, the crowd moved to a larger press conference in the Schweitzer Auditorium.
Reese began to say: “Perhaps most of you have heard it. This morning we had a meeting with all the teams. At that meeting, we made a decision-I made a decision-Ivan will not participate in the tour. Match.”
“If I let Ivan participate in the tour, I can see everyone here-and there are many out there-he will not participate in the competition because he will be hunted day and night. This is not good for Ivan., it is good for the team. Not good, and of course not good for the sport.”
Cyclingnews started live streaming the 2006 Tour de France on July 1, and its subtle comment is: “Dear readers, welcome to the new Tour de France. This is a condensed version of the old Tour de France, but The face is fresh, the weight of the power is reduced, and it does not cause you heartburn. Yesterday, after the Puerto Rican Opera (OperaciónPuerto) removed 13 from the tour’s starting list, we will see that there is no popular favorite Jan U Jan Ullrich, Ivan Basso, Alexandre Vinokourov or Francisco Mansbo on the tour. Take a positive attitude and say Puerto Rico The Opera House is a real clap for cycling, and it has been for some time.” Jeff Jones wrote.
At the end of the Tour de France, about 58 riders were shortlisted, although some of them-including Alberto Contador-will subsequently be excluded. The others have never been officially confirmed.
After a lot of news disappeared immediately, the bustle of the Puerto Rico Opera House became a marathon rather than a sprint. Anti-doping authorities have little power to sanction drivers, because Spanish courts prohibit the federation from taking any action against athletes until their legal proceedings are over.
In between all the doping discussions, Cyclingnews still managed to get news about the upcoming Tour de France. At least there is news that Fuentes uses the name of the riding dog as a password, at least there is something ridiculous. In the live report of the tour, Jones tried to keep the fans’ enthusiasm by making a joke, but as time passed, the content of the report completely shifted to the tour.
After all, this is Lance Armstrong’s first Tour de France after his retirement, and the Tour de France reinvented itself after 7 years of Texan rule.
Maillot jaune changed hands ten times-before Floyd Landis took the lead on the first day of stage 11, Thor Hushovd, George Hincapie, Tom Boonen, Serhiy Honchar, Cyril Dessel and Oscar Pereiro turned yellow. The Spaniard went to Montélimar on a hot day for a breakout, won half an hour, then returned to Alpe d’Huez, lost at La Toussuire, and then went on a 130-kilometer rampage in the 17th stage. Eventually won the Tour de France.
Of course, his positive reaction to testosterone was announced shortly afterwards, and after a long period of hard work, Landis was finally deprived of his title, followed by an exciting doping news cycle.
Fans should know what happened, Jones said. It started with Festina and lasted for eight years, until the Puerto Rico Opera House and beyond, and was widely circulated on Cyclingnews.
“Doping is a theme, especially in the Armstrong era. But before the Puerto Rico Opera House, you might think that every case was a one-off, but it does make sense. But for Puerto Rico, it proves that doping almost everywhere.
“As a fan, it is difficult to understand that everyone is using doping. I thought,’No-not Ulrich, he is too elegant’-but it is a progressive realization. How do you know about this sport ?
“At that time we were a bit mourning the sport. Denied, angered and finally accepted. Of course, sport and humanity are not separated-they are superhuman on bicycles, but they are still just humans. End.
“This has changed the way I watch this sport-I appreciate the spectacle, but that is not the past.”
By the end of 2006, Jones will leave Cyclingnews to create a bicycle-themed website called BikeRadar. The following year, Gerard Knapp will sell the website to Future, and Daniel Benson (Daniel Benson) Benson) will serve as general manager.
Despite the disappointment of fans, the site continues to develop, and the dark years left in the archives still exist in the form of “automatic buses”.
In the years after 2006, the Spanish court opened and closed the Operación Puerto case. Then turn it on and off again, then turn it on and off, until the trial starts in 2013.
By then, this is not a climax, but frivolous. In the same year, Armstrong, who was banned for life, admitted that he had taken doping throughout his career. The ADAADA rational decision document of the United States had previously explained all this in detail.
Fuentes was sentenced to a one-year probation but was released on bail, and his punishment was overturned three years later. The main legal issue is that stimulants were not a crime in Spain in 2006, so the authorities pursued Fuentes under the Public Health Law.
This case provides physical evidence of stimulant use at the time: EPO in the blood indicates that the driver used the drug in the off-season to boost red blood cells, and then stored the blood for reinfusion before the competition.
Fake names and passwords turned Puerto Rico into a dime shop novel: Basso: “I am Billio”, Scarborough: “I am Zapatero”, Fuentes: “I am The famous bicycle criminal”. Jorg Jaksche finally broke Mehta by telling everyone. From Ivan Basso’s “I Just Want to Dope” to Tyler Hamilton’s popular novel “The Secret Race”, the Opera House of Puerto Rico (Operción Puerto) provided it until 2006 Another example of cycling by the year.
It also exposes deficiencies in the anti-doping rules and helps to formulate non-compliance rules based on evidence other than analysis and testing. Hiding behind a wall of legal confusion and an elaborate calendar, two years later, Alejandro Valverde was finally clearly connected with Fuentes.
Ettore Torri, the anti-doping prosecutor of Italy’s CONI, used cunning and allegedly forged documents to obtain evidence. It was suspected that Valverde had blood during the Christmas holidays. Then, Valverde Wade (Valverde) was finally forced to enter Italy in the 2008 Tour de France, doping inspectors can obtain samples and prove Valverde’s content through DNA matching. He was finally suspended in 2010.
“I said it was not a game, it was more of a club championship. He asked me to clarify what I meant. So I said,’Yes, that was the club championship. The champion of the game was Fuentes’ client Jan Ur Richie’s second place is Fuentes’ customer Koldo Gil, third place is me, fourth place is Vientos, the other is Fuentes’ customer, and sixth place is Fränk Schleck’. Everyone in the court, even the judge, is laughing .This is ridiculous.
After the case was closed, the Spanish court continued to postpone any action by the anti-doping authority. The judge ordered the destruction of the evidence, and at the same time WADA and UCI were forced to appeal, until the final delay-the evidence in this case has long exceeded the time limit stipulated by the WADA rules.
When the evidence was finally handed over to the anti-doping authorities in July 2016, the facts were more than ten years old. A German researcher performed a DNA test on 116 blood bags and obtained 27 unique fingerprints, but could only confidently contact 7 athletes-4 active and 3 retired-but they are not participating in the sport yet clear.
Although there are suspicions that athletes from football, tennis, and track are involved in Fuentes’ doping ring, bicycles have been hit hardest in the media, and of course on Cyclingnews.
The case changed the way fans think about the sport, and now that Armstrong has admitted and the full scope of doping in the 1990s and 2000s has been clear, it is doubtful.
The Internet has surged from 40 million users to 4.5 billion users in the history of Cyclingnews, attracting new fans who follow its rising stars and hope that the sport has a higher integrity. As the Alderlass operation has shown, the establishment of WADA, the hard work of investigators, and the increasing independence of anti-doping agencies are still eradicating crooks.
Since the conversion to a single news post in 2009, Cyclingnews no longer has to resort to “news alerts”, replacing Dreamweaver and FTP with multiple iterations of content management systems and website design. We are still working on 24-7-365 to bring the latest news. At your fingertips.
Subscribe to the Cyclingnews newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information on how to do this and how we save your data, please see our privacy policy.
Cyclingnews is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our company website.
©Future Publishing Ltd., Amberley Dock Building, Bath BA1 1UA. all rights reserved. The England and Wales company registration number is 2008885.