I just finished reading the last few days of Cyclingnews where I learnt that the whole Operation Puerto now involves a total of 58 riders. This is a real bombshell on the eve of the Tour de France, even more so because both Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso have now been suspended by their respective teams.

This whole investigation is going to really blow up, if it hasn't already. Back in 1998 during the TdF the hotel of the Festina team was searched and after the police found syringes and (I believe) satchels of blood, the whole team was thrown out of the Tour. Ever since professional cycling has had to try to rebuild its reputation, but further scandals such as those involving David Millar and Roberto Heras, have not made it any easier. It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow, in one way with the two favourites now out of the Tour, the race for the maillot jeune has completely opened up, unfortunately though for the wrong reasons.

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