Monday, January 09, 2012

"We're like puppets"










This rather unusual and hard-worded claim belongs to Mikel Astarloza. The 32-year-old at times lashed out in an interview with El Diario Vasco today - but also revealed he's in good spirits ahead of the upcoming season.

"(To maintain my fitness level) I used to simulate racing in training when I was out of the sport. I did a lot of motor-pacing. I rode from Behobia to Santesteban and back aiming to sustain 60km/h all the way. When my suspension ended, I started to compete. I did the Tour of Beijing and some other races, but I would have preferred to take part in more races than I did. I finished up in Lombardia, took two weeks off the bike, and resumed training in early November. Returning to competition was much easier that I had expected. I felt a bit rusty in the Vuelta a Burgos, but still my condition was better than I had imagined it would be. That being said, obviously I reflect on what happened (when I tested positive). I lost two years of my life, from 29 to 31, allegedly the best in an athlete's career. I will never get those years back. I realized we (the riders) were just needles in a haystack, puppets at a circus. In stead of being the protagonists in all this, we're like puppets".

Judging by his performances at the tail end of 2011, Astarloza hadn't lost much physically. Psychologically though, the suspension took its toll.

"Mentally I took a hit. But I did my best to improve also in that respect day by day. I started to feel better little by little, and my motivation came back. I just couldn't understand why this was happening to me! I continued with my life though, just how I'd always done. There were no big changes in my life", he explained.

Despite retirement representing a tempting option, the former Ag2r rider kept at it. According to himself, because he just loves riding his bike.

"My desire is still there. If I was only interested in the money, I wouldn't have returned. I'm still motivated for taking by bike out for a spin. But above all, I was keen to compete again. I don't like to ride my bike, I like to race."

Being accepted back into the fold more often than not represents a tough proposition for former cheats. The peloton was kind on him though, and not only the Euskaltel riders.

"My relationship with the riders and staff is still good. Riders welcomed me back, and they were glad to see me. That also goes for the riders and directors at Ag2r. During my time out, I came to realize I had more friends than I though I did."

6 comments:

Stephen said...

I still think there was something wrong with his case, it just didn't seem right somehow...perhaps I'm too generous but I can only wish him well for the comming season.

Kristof said...

he seems a nice guy, but let's be honest, he had epo in his blood, there can't be no discussion about that... It can not be compared with the Contador case. I will never trust Astarloza again...

Magnus said...

I'm going to have to go with Kristof on this one I'm afraid

Bolsen3 said...

I just don't like this guy. Okay, I can forgive him for using EPO (like Kristof says, there's really no doubt about it). But what I can't tolerate is him continuing to lie about it, trying to score some sympathy. Pathetic...

Stephen said...

I appreciate everyone’s point of view about EPO but he has always vehemently denied doing anything wrong. Even when it would be easier to say ‘I did it’ and try to get a lighter sentence he keeps saying that he is innocent. There was no spike in results, he’s been consistent all through his career, not looking to move teams (or be moved on by the team)...I don’t see what, at the age of 29, would be his motivation? His comments about ‘puppets’ is interesting in that it seems to indicate that something happened that was out of his control...and he seems very bitter about it. I just think that it seems an odd case and leaves me with a nagging doubt. I’m not naive enough to believe that he wouldn’t dope but neither am I willing to blindly accept that just because someone has been found guilty that they are unquestionably so.

Bolsen3 said...

How many cyclists have actually admitted that they doped? Most of them keep on denying it all for years, or until they're six feet under.

You must remember that doping for years and years were a huge part of cycling. I bet many cyclists never looked at doping as cheating at all. They live in denial. He is judged, it's just as easy as that.

Of course nothing in life is 100% certain. But all logic would suggest that the chance of Aztarloza being innocent are close to nothing...

 

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