On: How I became a drug cheat athlete to test the system

[utefan001]

In cycling one key is drafting. We have a few guys where I live that do well in big national races. When they show up on the Saturday group ride, weaker riders can keep up thanks to the advantage of drafting. A rider has to be about 30% stronger than me to pull away when I am drafting him.

[jusben1369 → utefan001]

But the EPO user gets to draft too. So this is not an answer to the question about how can a clean cyclist compete against a doping one.

[nl → utefan001]

Which is why Grand Tours are really a test of climbing and time trialing ability.

[bmj → nl]

And surviving three weeks of racing, often over very difficult terrain.

Your "average" pro cyclist (the domestiques) dope because that's the only way get through a grand tour. It's not about going faster, it's about survival.

[mauricemir → nl]

And tactics knowing when to husband your teams strength and when to push to get your GC contenders time advantage.