Francisco Mancebo's win a couple days ago, elicited a micro-rant from me.  The Man of Bugs replied yesterday with a defense of Mancebo.  Rather than paraphrasing, here is his comment

 

"I thought it was a rather gutsy performance - especially getting the jump on the two guys that caught him. If it turns out he was on dope, then I hate him. But for now it was really quite an amazing performance.

Yes, he retired rather than deal with Puerta. And Basso was suspended. And so was Tyler. And Landis. And Lance probably doped - at least at some point. What are you gonna do - root against everyone and be inspired by nobody?"

 

Ted's points are good.  But, because my posting the other day was so brief, I will delve deeper into my philosophy in regards to doping, suspensions, redemption and what stirs my dislike for Mancebo.  And along the way, reply to Ted in a longer format than I cared to put in a comment

 

In a perfect world I want to see the doping eliminated.  Most people do.  Nothing needs much explaination on that front.

 

My critical comments about Mancebo had nothing to do with his performance.  I, too, thought the ride was quite impressive and I would not have expected to outsprint Nibali and Van de Walle.  Mancebo was physically strong and tactically savvy.

 

As much as I dislike dopers, I am a forgiving person provided the rider has paid for their crimes.  The old saying "Trick me once, fool me.  Trick me twice, fool you" is not a perfect explanation of my feelings but it is as close as I can think of right now.  I am usually willing to give a second chance, just don't make a fool of me a second time.  I hold no ill will toward Basso, Hamilton, Landis.  Often I root for riders like them to return successfully from a doping suspension in the hope that they are racing clean.  This is where Mancebo runs afoul with me.  He never paid for his actions.

 

When Operation Puerto became news, multiple riders were excluded from the Tour de France because they were rumored to be implicated in the scandal.  Among those excluded was Mancebo.  When his team, Ag2r, agreed to remove Mancebo from the Tour squad, Mancebo promptly 'retired'.  That was Mancebo's first strke in my book.

 

Admittedly, Mancebo's retirement is a bit of an assumption of guilt on my part.  There was no proven guilt or conviction.  However, what 29yr old would give up a successful and lucrative career that he has spent his entire adult life and much of his childhood pursuing at the mere rumor of involvement in Puerto?  I can only assume guilt at that point.  That was strike one.  Fool me.

 

Spain then completely fumbled the entire Puerto investigation and has allowed most of the involved parties to go free.  Other implicated riders from Italy and Germany were ultimately shown to be involved in Puerto.  The fact that Spain played Keystone Kops with Puerto does not give Mancebo a free pass in my book.  After realizing that he could skate free on the doping charges, he decided to un-retire and went back to racing in 2007 and escaped ANY penalties for what was, in my book, an tacit admission of guilt when he 'retired'.  Strike Two.  Fool you, Francisco.

 

Even if Mancebo had been unable to find work for 2007, I could cut him some slack for having missed a significant period of racing.  However, I dont consider 'retiring' for three months any kind of penalty and until he pays his dues or is proven innocent, Mancebo will forever be in my doghouse.

 

 

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