Did anyone say doping scandal?

If you're paying attention, you'll realize that our picks were made before Basso, Ullrich, and Mancebo were ruled out. Right now everything is in chaos.

As far as I can tell these decisions have been made by team managers, not the Tour. So, don't be surprised if any or all get reversed. But this is serious stuff--Bjarne Riis is the guy who pulled the trigger on Basso.

The whole thing is fishy. We have accusations and undisclosed evidence released hours before the race, and amazingly it implicates several contenders. Now these guys are held out without the opportunity to appeal, and without ever having failed a drug test. And how is it that a GC contenders are an overrepresented group under fire here. There are other riders, but mostly domestique types. How is it that not one green jersey contender is implicated? Everyone else dopes but sprinters? I smell a rat--lots of them. I think cycling is dirty and tainted by doping, but I also think this drug scandal is tainted too.

What happens now? Good question. Leaving these guys out of the Tour based upon untested accusations is a travesty and it ruins the Tour. As for our picks...I guess it's good news for Leipheimer.

If Vino gets to ride this thing while those three (particularly Ullrich) are out, then he's going to be one happy dude.