2008 Cycling Lowlights: Biggest Dope (r), Riccardo Ricco

Hands close together, Ricco prepares for the inevitable: Hand cuffs and a two year ban

With an unprecedented arrogance and unapologetic stance, Riccardo Ricco looked into the eyes of the world media during the Tour de France, and admitted that he had used the banned blood booster CERA to achieve his form for the Tour de France. He explained that he was under pressure from team management ot perform, and that he was told that CERA was undetectable. The truth proved otherwise though, and Ricco soon found himself kicked out of the Tour and slapped with a two year ban for his actions. For his disdainful actions and complete lack of remorse, Riccardo Ricco is EuroPeloton's choice for biggest dope of 2008.

Ricco is an amazing cycling talent, capable of sharp accelerations on the steepest mountain roads. His explosiveness animated the 2008 Giro, but due to his cheating in the Tour, it is assumed that he did the same at his home tour. Ricco's idol, Marco Pantani, also had his share of controversy regarding drug use, and "The Cobra" seems determined to align his cycling fate as closely as possible to "il pirata". And once off his ban, the lithe climber is already claiming that he'll be back stronger than ever once his ban ends.

Over the next two years Ricco will have an opportunity to seek counsel from the appropriate professionals with a hope that he'll be able to find the proper priorities when his ban ends. A 25 year old with many years of cycling left in his legs, Ricco will have zero room for error when he returns. His next offense for cheating will result in a lifetime ban, ending any hope that he may have for glory. Hopefully Ricco will return older and wiser, ready to make the right decisions befitting a great athlete and role model. But until then, he'll be remembered as the biggest dope of 2008.