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Vandenbroucke Attempts Suicide, Quick-Step Homes Raided in Belgium

By Jessica | Permalink |

No Comments | June 7th, 2007 | Trackback

Both of these bits of news were brought to my attention via Podium Cafe - I’ve been a little absent on the whole cycling news front, taking a wee break before the Dauphine and Tour, so I was saddened to read all this bad news just when I started checking back in again.

Frank Vandenbroucke attempts suicide - Doctors say he’s out of danger now, but he’s in serious condition (mentally, if not physically). I hope he gets through this; even people who are serious pains in the ass shouldn’t go like that.

Cyclists’ homes in Belgium were searched for doping paraphernalia - And that includes some Quick-Step riders. The raids themselves wouldn’t be newsworthy if they hadn’t come up with “large amounts of banned substances” at more than one place. Ouch.

Yesterday at work, one of my colleagues asked if there were any clean cyclists left at all. The answer is clearly yes - there were more than 100 guys riding the Giro last month, for instance. And while I wouldn’t be so bold (or naive) as to say that not a single one of them was involved in doping, I do think it was a much cleaner Giro than we’ve seen for years. There will always be cheaters - that’s the nature of a competitive sport. And even though it kind of sucks to be a cycling fan right now, I still hope the recent blanket approach to doping controls will have a positive effect - if not this year, then maybe in a few years. Who knows…