Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso are out of the Tour, along with a number of other pro cyclists. The Spanish doping scandal is apparently widening to encompass some of the top contenders in the Tour...all of whom are required to prove their innocence instead of having guilt proved against them.

Just heard the news. I was hoping Basso would be a real contender. My son, a former pro-cyclist, mentioned several weeks ago that there had been a number of cyclists banned because of alleged drug violations. In fact, I think one of the Spainish teams was almost completely eliminated. Waiting to hear more.

This does give several of the American riders a better chance. I still remain a Tour fan.

I heard this early this morning, and am very disapointed. I was looking forward to a good race between Basso and Ullrich, with one of them taking the yellow jersey in the end.

It's especially a shame for Ullrich----he's getting up there in age, and might well not try again next year.

historytraveler---I believe it's the Liberty Seguros (sp?) team that lost their sponsor, possibly leaving Vinukurov without a chance to race too, even tho' he's not implicated.

You can get the latest on cyclingnews.com. I'm so disappointed about Ullrich. My husband, also a former pro, says this could very likely be the end of his career. I was really hoping this was Ullrich's year to win.

The renamed Liberty Seguras team has dropped below the six required now, making it unlikely that V. will be able to startThat's the latest, at any event, although anything seems to be possible now.

Why is it bad news. I want a man to win, not the best drug. Shameful--for all the sports. I wish they would kick Barry Bonds to kingdome come.

Bonds will get what he deserves: scorn from all decent people.

Underhill & ezian,

You're right about Libery Seguros.Couldn't remember the team's name. I feel sorry for A.V. What a disappointment that must be and not his fault at all.

I have no problem with dismissing teams/cyclists that have positive drug results. Regardless, it's still too bad.

One of the reasons my son dropped out of pro-cycling (at an early age) was the drug problems. But cycling may well get this solved before baseball does.

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This does give several of the American riders a better chance.
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but it's a team sport and basso was on a american sponsored team. no one wins with these scandals.

And Mr. Armstrong just reached an "undisclosed settlement" with the newspapaer that accused him of doping back in 2004.

Well ... maybe Mr. Armstrong stepped out just in time ... Who knows?

Why is this bad news?

People who want to make a lot of money by being professional athletes should, at least, do it on their own talent and merit.

We leave for France to follow the tour tomorrow, so I'll be watching very carfully to see how this all plays out. This will be our 6th year following the tour and every year you think it couldn't get any stranger and it does.

I wonder how wild the tour will be this year, in the past fans would get violent when their favorite rider was knocked out of contention, especially the Basque & Spanish fans.

Jan Ulrich has the most passionate fans and the largest fan base we've ever seen every year. They even have their motor homes professionally painted with his picture & team colors.

We do have to remember that these riders were not "caught" doping, their names were on the list of patients of a doctor Fuentes, who was buying large amounts of performance enhancing drugs & blood doping supplies. They haven't actually been found guilty of anything as of yet.

I certainly am saddened by this but I have to say I am very glad that no American's were on that list.

They haven't been found guilty but they signed an agreement that if they are under investigation for drug use they are suspended from competition. And the bags of blood for transfusion they have found are coded with names and can undoubtedly be DNA matched. THAT is cheating.

Oh! I never said that they were not cheating. I just wanted to point out that there had not been conclusive evidence tying each of these riders to the blood bags & drugs yet, and that the investigation was just beginning.

The operative word being yet. I fully expect that overwhelming evidence will be found that there was massive cheating both by individual riders and whole teams & their Director Sportifs.

But even though there is cheating, I still believe that the majority of the riders are clean. I know I'm niave, but I love the tour and hate to think of the possibility of losing such a fantastic event because there are a always those who will cheat.

It has to be seriously disappointing for German fans, but I can't get any of them to talk about the TdF now anyway. They all say, "Wait til after the 10th". Or maybe after the semi finals, if Germany gets eliminated from the World Cup.

I am excited that this may give Hincappie a chance. Today ranks second by 3/4 of a second. He's got proven climbing skills so if Discovery does for him what they have done for Lance in the past, he may have a chance.

Then there was poor Floyd Landis..."for want of a nail."

No kidding! And still in the top 10.

I'm routing for our "Georgie". We got the team autographs last year & I had a chance to talk to him a bit, he is a big ham, he reminds me of a big kid. It's so obvious he just loves cycling & the Tour.

walkinaround...Basso is a member of CSC, not an American sponsored team.

Ira.. I cetainly agree that one should compete on their own talent/merit but perhaps what was meant by 'bad news' was that some don't adhere to this philosophy.

Looking forward to the next three weeks.