Okay I'm going to post one last time on this thread.First of congrats to Mike for destroying the challenge (and Hall too).....and to everyone who took part for that matter.Well, again I want to emphasize that I believe Mike is as clean as they come. Honest, hardworker, very consistent (in road ultras/marathons) and mentally tough.As far as PEDs go in ultras, yeah top guys are juicing for sure (and a few have even been caught!). Lets not be naive here. I'll admit I don't know the exact mechanics of how EPO works (never been around the stuff and I would instantly distance myself from anyone that was using). I've read up on some stuff (took enough bio and chem labs in college) and I've raced dopers firsthand though. Like I mentioned in earlier posts the top clean guys can usually just get a feeling for how someone is performing anyway. Numbers and progression don't lie either with training/racing performances. There are suspicious performances and non-suscipicious performances. What Wardian did (in my book) is not suspicious....it falls right in line with that he's always done. (A 3-time Olympic trials qualifier who's run 2:17 and specializes in back-to-back events with long flights/travel all the time)...Finally, no I don't believe you have to be injecting EPO during a week-long challenge or 7 day stage race to reap the benefits anyway (but you have a good point which I think probably helps prove Mike's innocence) . I think the top ultra guys that are doping would actually be doing cycles 3-12 weeks out from their goal race (when training the hardest) for better recovery. That's exactly why EPO's effects are long term....you can go without the juice for weeks or months probably and still have a big, added benefit. Yeah, guys during The Tour were using....but on the bike for several weeks and 3-6 hours a day it was different....it certainly seemed to help them. It certainly would be more risky too. Nah, I bet the top ultra guys will at least micro-dose off EPO at least a week before a race because everyone knows there is a race day test at events like Comrades and UTMB for an example. Only an idiot would come into a race glowing.
kjgl wrote:
you guys realize for EPO/doping to work in this 7-day scenario, he would have to juice up at night before the next day's race, right? This is completely what was disclosed by Operation Puerto, by Landis, et al TDF riders that have admitted to doping, how they would have to get the drugs during the tour at certain locations.
EPO is not use early in season and then not use again. It doesn't work that way. Sorry, Sage.