Stupid Little Cobra

Posted on 07/17/2008 at 2:09 pm by Bob Cesca

Riccardo Ricco — “the Cobra” — has been caught doping in the Tour de France. Watching him climb like a maniac, I should’ve known something was askew. Stupid, stupid rider.

UPDATE: Bill Strickland:

Because I felt sure Ricco would get caught, I felt free to enjoy his performance. He was beautiful when he rode, and he was doomed, and he carried around a picture of Marco Pantani. I love the quote he gave, after he won Stage 9: “I was impressive, I went very fast.” It reminded me of a stoner saying, “I’m so high,” as if he, too, had become a spectator to the feats of his own body, as if he were standing outside of himself somehow and couldn’t hold back his own wonder at what was happening.

By the way, I wonder when or if they’ll nab Schumacher for his insane Stage 4 time trial.

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  • Slowrider

    I was rooting for the little cheater too…Sucks to find out he’s just a phony. At least they caught him I guess?

  • Bob_Cesca

    Me, too. I was looking forward to seeing him battle Contador next year, too.

  • thelastgunslinger

    It so happens this is the only stage I’ve caught so far and the way he rode was so awesome and now this. I don’t get it. How could he think he would get away with this? In this climate? God how freakin dumb. Something’s gotta be done really soon or this tour is gonna be a total joke, now and for years to come. Ridiculous.

  • Bob_Cesca

    Gunslinger — I think the Tour is better than ever because of these idiots. They’re being caught one-by-one and the competition is the most honest it’s been in years. The 1990s were so laced with EPO and anabolics, I can’t look at those races without seeing drugs. But now… much, much better. Now imagine if MLB, the NBA or the NFL had the same doping controls. There’d be no-one playing. The Pro Tour is the most difficult sport in the world and most of the riders are clean. That’s pretty great.

  • Slowrider

    They’re definitely picking the last ones off one by one…I agree this must be the cleanest it’s been in years. The stages should only get better with narrow time gaps we’re seeing. I’m guessing the finish will be amazing unless someone pulls a larger lead.