Yes we may have a new generation of riders now with more coming through but the 'Old Guard' are still there actively involved.
Is Contador the "old guard" or ....?
In recent years there has been a double standard for riders. The system is "we all know you dope but don't get caught" so Roberto Heras won the Velta, but then he didn't. Rassmusen was close to winning the TdF but then he didn't. Floyd won the TdF but then didn't. Contador won the TdF but then didn't.
I recently read Laurent Fignon's autobiog. It's a cracking read. But it's a great explaination of the current state of doping. In Fignon's day they all doped with amphetamines and similar. Fignon describes a particular day in the mountains at the end of his career when most of the peloton were on EPO. Riders of his own generation who had never been able to stick with him in the high mountains were keeping up almost without breaking a sweat. Fignon didn't take EPO as he didn't like the way it gives one a headache. So the riders of Fignons generation had a double standard with stimulants like amphetamines, which were seen as almost a bit of fun and EPO which was cheating. This has lead to the drugs vs detection arms race of today. Riders have never ridden clean in the past. But the drugs have got too good and that's why we have the situation we have today
The grand tours are decided in the drug testing labs now. Rather than televising the mountain stages they should just show the drug labs, in a CSI style. Big money pro cycling is not a sport. In a sport the winner crosses the line and there is a moment of victory. In pro cycling the winner crosses the line, a few days/weeks later he is banned, there is a legal challenge and months later the next guy down gets the prize money. The TdF is no longer the great spectacle. It's a qualifying session for entry to the great lab race.
So don't be too hard on Landis. He is what he is.
