Ricco rode away from his competition early in the year, but probably due to doping Without a doubt, the single biggest villain of the 2008 cycling season must be "The Cobra," Riccardo Ricco. The 25 year old Italian was found positive for the next generation EPO drug CERA at the Tour de France, leading to the eventual withdrawal of the entire Saunier Duvall team. His actions also began yet another doping scandal at the Tour. When the dust had cleared, not only Ricco but several others had been found positive for cheating.
Ricco's reaction to being found guilty was what separated him from the rest of the guilty riders. Ricco brazenly, and seemingly without any regret, admitted what he had done and questioned why it took so long to catch him. Taking an almost offensive stance, Ricco matter-of-factly admitted what he had done and seemed unaffected by the prospect of a suspension. Meanwhile, his sponsors and teammates were hung out to dry.
Riccardo Ricco is a young rider, and after serving his two year suspension, he will be back to the top levels of the sport again. He'll have a chance to prove that he can be as good clean as dirty, and perhaps his time away from the sport will provide him with some valuable perspective. For 2008 however, Ricco will be remember as the biggest villian by EuroPeloton, and probably the rest of the cycling world.
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2 comments:
If by "Villain" you mean "Douchebag", than I heartily agree.
Not only did he land a suspension and bring bad PR to the sport, he F-ed over all those people who are now out of a job because of the sponsorship he alienated.
If history is any guide it will show that he is a mediocre rider who needed the dope to get results. It seems that the guys who come off suspension to ride again never produce at anything like the level they did previously.
I have to say I'm very surprised at Ricco. I can't believe he is wearing his glasses inside the helmet straps (in the photo). That is what I'd call a cycling fashion faux pas!
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