Thursday 20 May 2010
One for the baldies........
Landis transcript - make what you want of it!
See below the transcript of the Landis email, is it any coincidence that Lance "crashed" and abandoned the Tour of California today? Interesting times!
2002: I was instructed on how to use Testosterone patches by Johan Bruyneel during the During the Dauphine Libere in June, after which I flew on a helicopter with Mr Armstrong from the finish, I believe Grenoble, to San Mauritz Switzerland at which point I was personally handed a box of 2.5 mg patches in front of his wife who witnessed the exchange. About a week later, Dr Ferrari performed an extraction of half a liter of blood to be transfused back into me during the Tour de France. Mr Armstrong was not witness to the extraction but he and I had lengthy discussions about it on our training rides during which time he also explained to me the evolution of EPO testing and how transfusions were now necessary due to the inconvenience of the new test. He also divulged to me at that time that in the first year that the EPO test was used he had been told by Mr Ferrari, who had access to the new test, that he should not use EPO anymore but he did not believe Mr Farrari and continued to use it. He later, while winning the Tour de Swiss, the month before the Tour de France, tested positive for EPO at which point he and Mr Bruyneel flew to the UCI headquarters and made a financial agreement with Mr. Vrubrugen to keep the positive test hidden.
2003: After a broken hip in the winter, I flew to Gerona Spain where this time two units (half a liter each) were extracted three weeks apart. This took place in the apartment in which Mr. Armstrong lived and in which I was asked to stay and check the blood temperature every day. It was kept in a small refrigerator in the closet along with the blood of Mr Armstrong and George Hincapie and since Mr. Armstrong was planning on being gone for a few weeks to train he asked me to stay in his place and make sure the electricity didn't turn off or something go wrong with the refrigerator. Then during the Tour de France the entire team, on two different occasions went to the room that we were told and the doctor met us there to do the transfusions. During that Tour de France I personally witnessed George Hincapie, Lance Armstrong, Chechu Rubiera, and myself receiving blood transfusions. Also during that Tour de France the team doctor would give my room mate, George Hincapie and I a small syringe of olive oil in which was dissolved andriol, a form of ingestible testosterone on two out of three nights throughout the duration.
I was asked to ride the Vuelta a Espana that year in support of Roberto Heras and in August, between the Tour and the Vuelta, was told to take EPO to raise my hematocrit back up so more blood transfusions could be performed. I was instructed to go to Lances place by Johan Bruyneel and get
some EPO from him. The first EPO I ever used was then handed to me in the entry way to his building in full view of his then wife. It was Eprex by brand and it came in six pre measured syringes. I used it intravenously for several weeks before the next blood draw and had no problems with the tests
during the Vuelta. Also during this time it was explained to me how to use Human Growth Hormone by Johan Bruyneel and I bought what I needed from Pepe the team "trainer" who lived in Valencia along with the team doctor at that time. While training for that Vuelta I spent a good deal of time training with Matthew White and Michael Barry and shared the testosterone and EPO that we had and discussed the use thereof while training.
Again, during the Vuelta we were given Andriol and blood transfusions by the team doctor and had no problems with any testing.
2004: Again the team performed two separate blood transfusions on me, but this time Bruyneel had become more paranoid and we did the draws by flying to Belgium and meeting at an unknown persons apartment and the blood was brought by "Duffy" who was at that time Johans assistant of sorts. The second of which was performed on the team bus on the ride from the finish of a stage to the hotel during which the driver pretended to have engine trouble and stopped on a remote mountain road for an hour or so so the entire team could have half a liter of blood added. This was the only time that I ever saw the entire team being transfused in plain view of all the other riders and bus driver. That team included Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie and I as the only Americans.
2005: I had learned at this point how to do most of the transfusion technicals and other things on my own so I hired Allen Lim as my assistant to help with details and logistics. He helped Levi Leipheimer and I prepare the transfusions for Levi and I and made sure they were kept at the proper temperature. We both did two separate transfusions that Tour however my hematocrit was too low at the start so I did my first one a few days before the start so as to not start with a deficit.
2006: Well you get the idea....... One thing of great significance is that Riis and explained to him what was done in the past and what was the risk I would be taking and ask for his permission which he granted in the form of funds to complete the operation described. John Lelangue was also informed by me and Andy Riis consulted with Jim Ochowitz before agreeing.
There are many many more details that I have in diaries and am in the process of writing into an intelligible story but since the position of USA Cycling is that there have not been enough details shared to justify calling USADA, I am writing as many as I can reasonably put into an email and share with you so as to ascertain what is the process which USA Cycling uses to proceed with such allegations.
Look forward to much more detail as soon as you can demonstrate that you can be trusted to do the right thing.
2002: I was instructed on how to use Testosterone patches by Johan Bruyneel during the During the Dauphine Libere in June, after which I flew on a helicopter with Mr Armstrong from the finish, I believe Grenoble, to San Mauritz Switzerland at which point I was personally handed a box of 2.5 mg patches in front of his wife who witnessed the exchange. About a week later, Dr Ferrari performed an extraction of half a liter of blood to be transfused back into me during the Tour de France. Mr Armstrong was not witness to the extraction but he and I had lengthy discussions about it on our training rides during which time he also explained to me the evolution of EPO testing and how transfusions were now necessary due to the inconvenience of the new test. He also divulged to me at that time that in the first year that the EPO test was used he had been told by Mr Ferrari, who had access to the new test, that he should not use EPO anymore but he did not believe Mr Farrari and continued to use it. He later, while winning the Tour de Swiss, the month before the Tour de France, tested positive for EPO at which point he and Mr Bruyneel flew to the UCI headquarters and made a financial agreement with Mr. Vrubrugen to keep the positive test hidden.
2003: After a broken hip in the winter, I flew to Gerona Spain where this time two units (half a liter each) were extracted three weeks apart. This took place in the apartment in which Mr. Armstrong lived and in which I was asked to stay and check the blood temperature every day. It was kept in a small refrigerator in the closet along with the blood of Mr Armstrong and George Hincapie and since Mr. Armstrong was planning on being gone for a few weeks to train he asked me to stay in his place and make sure the electricity didn't turn off or something go wrong with the refrigerator. Then during the Tour de France the entire team, on two different occasions went to the room that we were told and the doctor met us there to do the transfusions. During that Tour de France I personally witnessed George Hincapie, Lance Armstrong, Chechu Rubiera, and myself receiving blood transfusions. Also during that Tour de France the team doctor would give my room mate, George Hincapie and I a small syringe of olive oil in which was dissolved andriol, a form of ingestible testosterone on two out of three nights throughout the duration.
I was asked to ride the Vuelta a Espana that year in support of Roberto Heras and in August, between the Tour and the Vuelta, was told to take EPO to raise my hematocrit back up so more blood transfusions could be performed. I was instructed to go to Lances place by Johan Bruyneel and get
some EPO from him. The first EPO I ever used was then handed to me in the entry way to his building in full view of his then wife. It was Eprex by brand and it came in six pre measured syringes. I used it intravenously for several weeks before the next blood draw and had no problems with the tests
during the Vuelta. Also during this time it was explained to me how to use Human Growth Hormone by Johan Bruyneel and I bought what I needed from Pepe the team "trainer" who lived in Valencia along with the team doctor at that time. While training for that Vuelta I spent a good deal of time training with Matthew White and Michael Barry and shared the testosterone and EPO that we had and discussed the use thereof while training.
Again, during the Vuelta we were given Andriol and blood transfusions by the team doctor and had no problems with any testing.
2004: Again the team performed two separate blood transfusions on me, but this time Bruyneel had become more paranoid and we did the draws by flying to Belgium and meeting at an unknown persons apartment and the blood was brought by "Duffy" who was at that time Johans assistant of sorts. The second of which was performed on the team bus on the ride from the finish of a stage to the hotel during which the driver pretended to have engine trouble and stopped on a remote mountain road for an hour or so so the entire team could have half a liter of blood added. This was the only time that I ever saw the entire team being transfused in plain view of all the other riders and bus driver. That team included Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie and I as the only Americans.
2005: I had learned at this point how to do most of the transfusion technicals and other things on my own so I hired Allen Lim as my assistant to help with details and logistics. He helped Levi Leipheimer and I prepare the transfusions for Levi and I and made sure they were kept at the proper temperature. We both did two separate transfusions that Tour however my hematocrit was too low at the start so I did my first one a few days before the start so as to not start with a deficit.
2006: Well you get the idea....... One thing of great significance is that Riis and explained to him what was done in the past and what was the risk I would be taking and ask for his permission which he granted in the form of funds to complete the operation described. John Lelangue was also informed by me and Andy Riis consulted with Jim Ochowitz before agreeing.
There are many many more details that I have in diaries and am in the process of writing into an intelligible story but since the position of USA Cycling is that there have not been enough details shared to justify calling USADA, I am writing as many as I can reasonably put into an email and share with you so as to ascertain what is the process which USA Cycling uses to proceed with such allegations.
Look forward to much more detail as soon as you can demonstrate that you can be trusted to do the right thing.
Strawberries and Cream
Wednesday nights are to cycling what strawberries are to cream; meant for each other. My sons birthday dinner took precedence last night and I was disappointed to miss the ride and such an audacious sight as seeing Lance take the tape! One would have thought that his only chance of wearing the Green jersey was if Sian had done a coloured wash with Pozatto's favourite socks and Lance's prized white rapha jersey!
What a week it has been for cycling, with Landis, Vino missing the break and the vintage stage of the Giro only to be topped off by a win by our very own Lance.
Chapeau to you Lance, chapeau.
What a week it has been for cycling, with Landis, Vino missing the break and the vintage stage of the Giro only to be topped off by a win by our very own Lance.
Chapeau to you Lance, chapeau.
Tuesday 18 May 2010
Life Lessons (kindly provided by B Lees)
83-year-old triathlete taught lessons in living
By JEFF KLINKENBERG© St. Petersburg Times, published September 5, 2000
Jim Ward, the world champion triathlete who passed away at age 83 on a Labor Day bike ride, was a wonderful friend -- not only to me but to countless triathletes all over the world.
He died five miles into a planned 30-mile ride while accompanied by friends on the Pinellas Trail.
"He had just passed me," said Millie Hamilton. "Suddenly he lost his balance and rode off the trail, struggled to get back on, and then just fell hard on his face. He didn't move. He didn't groan. It was like he was dead before he hit the ground."
Jim Ward was a boxer, football player, husband, father, soldier and diplomat before he entered his first triathlon at the age of 68. Ten years later, he was the oldest person ever to finish the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. He did the 2.4-mile swim, the 112-mile bike ride and the 26.2-mile run in less than 17 hours.
He suffered a stroke three years ago that paralyzed him briefly, but was in such good physical condition that he recovered quickly. A month after his release from the hospital, I accompanied him on a 6-mile run through Seminole Park. A couple of times that day I felt he was running slow for my benefit.
One of my great joys was going on a bike ride with him. We'd meet behind a liquor store near Tyrone Boulevard and do about 20 miles after breakfast. And as we pedalled, Jim talked the entire way.
He talked about his children, his grandchildren and the sport he loved. He talked about good nutrition, and the need to take vitamins, and the best way to work out, and the need to take a rest once in a while.
Last time we rode, he told me a story I'd never heard before, about his commando work behind enemy lines in Burma during World War II. Bad enough he'd been shot at, but one day as he stalked through the jungle, he suddenly felt in grave danger. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a tiger ready to pounce. It let him pass.
I always thought Jim had the heart of a tiger. And I never wanted to believe he'd die. He gave physically active middle-aged and elderly people hope. Not hope that we could be world triathlon champions like him -- but that we could choose to live our lives with joy.
He attended my 50th birthday celebration at a bar on the beach. Late in the evening, after the beer had been flowing for hours, Jim decided to dance. He was an enthusiastic dancer who liked to boogie.
Jim invaded the dance floor and grabbed the arm of a stranger who must have been six decades younger. He proceeded to dance her into the floor.
"I don't know what you're drinking," the lead singer of the band called down from the stage. "But I want some."
Jim was taken to Largo Medical Center after his apparent heart attack on Monday. After doctors did what they could for him, they allowed his friends in to say their good-byes.
Dead, Jim was lying on a cart. His feet poked out from under the sheet.
He was still wearing his cycling shoes.
Monday 10 May 2010
Needlework
Some of you must have been worrying about my substantial weight gain and what on earth I have been doing to gain such a vast amount! Well my secret is well and truly out, I have been doing some embroidery..... Here is one I did earlier. If you want any of your items done bring them along on Wed, make sure your name is inside them on a bit of paper in the zipped pocket or written on a label! If you can't make Wed and still want something done tough! Joking aside email me off the group.
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