Dopers...they're bad...they're bad

Dopers/cheaters have long been a problem for all sports and society for that matter. Whether its shaving points in a game or swindling persons out of money on scams. They are all equally destructive. Over the last few years, sports have taken a huge hit with athletes who choose to cheat and use drugs to get ahead. One story that just blows my mind and continues to make headlines is that of Patrick Sinkewitz. This guy is a total jag. The former rider for T-Mobile was kicked out of Le Tour this year for artificial testosterone in his system. He didn't even bother to deny it or try to have his B-sample tested. Now normally I will hold a little bit in my heart for those riders who are born on or around my birthday, Tom Boonen(Oct16), Patrick Sinkewitz(Oct 20) and we were all born in the same year 1980! But Sinkewitz is not deserving of any such praise because of his cheating lifestyle.

Now, here is a guy who is at the top of cycling, the ProTour and riding with a pretty sweet contract, many a young pros would give everything to be in his shoes. Unfortunately, they aren't allowed or don't get the chance to prove their worth because of jags like this guy. After being fired immediately from T-Mobile, he went in front of German cycling officials months later to discuss his lifetime of doping practices and the doping that was going on at the 2006 Tour at Camp T-Mobile. This was also the year that Der Kaiser was prohibited along with Ivan the Terrible and some other riders as part of El Puerto, a huge blood doping scheme. Well, Jag Sinkewitz later admits in testimony that he has doped his entire career. Do these guys actually think that no harm can be done to their body? It seems they lost the feeling, the feeling that so many of us get from just riding and racing our bike. Remember its suppose to be for fun right???

Well, now the latest development is Mr. Jag is appealing his lenient one-year ban from racing. So this guy screws over his team, his sponsors, his fans, the cycling public and thousands of aspiring pros. He admits to all of his doping and how he did it his entire career and now he wants no punishment. Ridiculous! This guy should be banned forever from cycling.

I just had an incredible week of training and I used hard work and nutritious food to fuel me....Training for me is so much about trying to see how far I can push my body. I don't have the greatest palmares but for me training and racing are all about the rush and the ride. Records will continued to be set but they will also be broken and there will be new winners each year. But what will withstand it all are the feelings and memories you take away from the experiences. So get out and ride!

Chow,
Matthew