Swiss organizers canceled the Championship of Zurich bike race last month after nearly a 100 year run. Apparently it was easier to conduct the race while Nazis were trying to takeover the world than amidst the fallout from the latest doping scandals. Similarly, the Tour of Utah folded without major sponsors, though it wasn’t a super popular race anyway—I’m not sure you can blame Floyd Landis and Ivan Basso for ruining a race in Utah.

Fat Cyclist drew an interesting comparison between the NFL and pro cycling. For a first doping offense, professional cyclists are suspended for two years. They’re tested after every race or every stage of the race at an enormous cost. NFL players face random testing and lose ¼ of the season on a first offense, 3/8 of the season on the second, and a full season on the third.

I feel like a senator who’s voting to condone torture must feel, but I think the World Anti-Doping Agency made a huge error taking such a hard line against doping. I don’t like the alternative of turning your back on the problem, which would only mean that anyone who wanted to be a top rider would need to dope—but I think that’s pretty much the case anyway.

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