It looks like it really was too good to be true for Stefan Schumacher at this past year's Tour de France, as the double time trial winner has tested positive for the new form of EPO, called CERA. In what is another black mark against cycling, Schumacher's positive proves that doping is still going on in cycling, even at the highest and most policed levels.
Fabian Cancellara was second in the first TT and Kim Kirchin for the second, so presumably the victories will be awarded to the big Saxo Bank time trial ace and the Columbia classics specialist. Now more than ever, teams must find the budget to finance internal testing systems for their riders. Teams like Saxo, Garmin, and Astana can feel safe that their riders (even Schleck!) are performing clean, but for the other teams, the picture is much more cloudy.
Without these rigourous testing procedures in place, performances of riders could, and should be called into question. As unfortunate as it is, a comprehensive internal anti-doping program is as important as team equipment these days. Without it, a team will constantly be looked at with suspicion.
Next for Schumacher will undoubtedly be a two year suspension, and a firing from his new team Quick Step. Quick Step boss Patrick Lefevre is now without a hilly classics contender, with the recent retirement of Paolo Bettini. Perhpaps Lefevre will rethink his plan and offer "il grillo" the money that the Italian was originally not granted. Hopefully there won't be additional positives in the coming days, but for some reason it seems like there will be.
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