EPO’s Amgen Tour of California
Independent Sources could fill a posting with steroid innuendo-laced jokes about Amgen’s becoming the title sponsor of the new multi-stage race in California. After all, Amgen makes erythropoietin (EPO) the blood doping drug that almost destroyed professional cycling. Watchdog groups have already jumped on this and criticized the announcement. We think the critics are wrong.
Please note that we are not soft on the steroid issue and our position on drugs in sports is clear. Lifetime ban of cheating athletes and wipe all tainted records off the scoreboard or at a minimum put an asterisk by them.
It’s Official: MLB Players Still Don’t Get Steroids Issue
Hall of Fame Hypocrite: Why Rafael Palmeiro Deserves Impeachment
Five Strikes and You’re Out!
TDF Update: Honey, where did you pack my EPO?
Amgen has been a longtime supporter of cycling in California via their sponsorship of the California aids ride. I frequently see the green Amgen jerseys on cyclists in the area. The sponsorship of this race is one more step in that direction.
Amgen’s involvement with this race is going to make them even more sensitive to the misuse of their drug in the sport. In the past what did they really care if some of the consumers (ie., people paying money for their drug) were cyclists? Now it would be a big corporate embarrassment.
Most importantly, the United States needs more high profile multi-stage races. The problem of course is money. If Amgen is the company that wants to step up and underwrite much of the costs, then good for them.
About the Tour of California:
Stage 6 goes from Santa Barbara to Thousand Oaks (probably finishing the stage somewhere in the Amgen complex in Thousand Oaks). This should be an incredible stage. (Complete route map here).
It appears that the tour will steer completely clear of Malibu knowing well of the disdain that city leaders have for cycling and the dangers of riding a bike there.
Addendum: Velochimp points out the benefits of ESPN2 putting pressure on OLN to become a little more timely in when they show the big races.
Here is a site that has links to the websites of most of the big teams expected to compete in the race.
technorati: tour of california cycling
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November 3rd, 2005 at 2:18 pm
This is great. Maybe the stretches on PCH (albeit to the north) will put pressure on CalTrans to make Highway 1, especially around Malibu, bike-safe …?