‘Throw doping sinners out for life’, Joaquim Rodriguez
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver of Team Katusha has shared his anger on the cycling’s most discussed issue at the moment, the USADA investigation into Lance Armstrong.
His anger is justified, as the biggest doping scandal in the history of the sport has definitely overshadowed his performances and Rodriguez believes that those found guilty should be given a life-time ban.
He told nieuwsblad.be, “I know the road I've travelled; I do not think I ever had a problem with doping nor will I have. I want to help make this sport better".
"This sport has a past. That is also the reason why there are now so many anti-doping rules... We, the riders of today, are the real losers.
“We lose sponsors, money, credibility and love of the people. Let us also look ahead”.
"Throw doping sinners out for life, Doctors, riders, everyone involved," he concluded.
The 33-year-old filled his bag with several top finishes in the current season including La Fleche Wallonne, Giro di Lombardia and bagged multiple stages at the Giro d’Italia, Tour of the Basque Country and one stage at the Tirreno-Adriatico 2012.
He finished second overall at the Giro d’Italia, Tour of the Basque Country, third at the Vuelta a Espana and occupied the sixth overall position at the Tirreno-Adriatico along with the eighth place finish at the Clasica de San Sebastian 2012.
Rodriguez could not fulfill his ultimate goal of winning a Grand Tour in the season but managed to overcome the 2012 Tour de France winner at the UCI World Tour rankings.
The Spaniard rode marvelously throughout the 2012 season and topped the UCI 2012 Elite Men World Tour rankings with a total number of 692 points in his back pocket.
Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky became the first ever British cyclist to claim an overall victory at the Tour de France and also achieved the second overall spot at the UCI World Tour Elite Men rankings with 601 points.
Tom Boonen of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step (410), Vincenzo Nibali of Team Liquigas-Cannondale (400) and Alejandro Valverde of Team Movistar (394) secured the third, fourth and fifth positions in the respective order.
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