The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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Confidence in WHAT?
Dear Editors,
I would hope that the UCI has internal review of its press statements (not to mention its doping tests).The UCI'srecent statement regarding Heras' B sample could be telling. TheUCI is quoted that it has "full satisfaction with the way the proceduresrelating to this case were carried out and reaffirms its unconditionalconfidence in the method used to trace EPO."Unconditional confidence?! What exactly does that mean?I would take that to mean that no matter how badly the lab has screwedup or how sketchy the unvalidated method, the UCI would still be confident.Makes we wonder about all the other tests that have been called into question.I have no personal reason to believe Heras or any other accused rider.The UCI would do well to publicize how the lab approaches quality controlin the assays. Otherwise the public skepticism regarding the tests remains.
Steve Wilcoxen
Research Associate
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care
University of MichiganIt may be cheating, but does it work?
Dear Velo,
I have resigned myself to accept that cyclists, trainers and docs associated with pro cycling are stupid. If Roberto Heras had good advice he would have wised up to the idea that taking EPO is like putting jet fuel in a Volkswagen.We know that elite athletes are likely supply-limited (i.e. the amount of blood you can get to muscle, the better); however, artificially increasing the lineal density of red blood cells within the capillaries of muscle (via EPO) makes no difference to the amount of oxygen that can be used.For there to be a benefit, long-term functional (coordination of capillaries and muscle fibers) and structural (increased capacity for diffusing oxygen, mitochondrial density) changes must occur. So here's to stupidity and another career tarnished.
Sincerely
Michael Kennedy
Edmonton, AlbertaWell, yes and no, Michael. Probably for isolated one-day events it makes less of a difference than some might suspect, but as a rider goes through a heavy season schedule or a three-week tour, red cell counts decrease by upwards of 10 percent due to hemolysis (destruction of red cells) and hemodilution (the increase of blood plasma as the body fights dehydration). It’s not inconceivable that a rider who starts a three-week tour with hematocrit (HCT) of, say, 45 percent will end up with an HCT of 39. Since the relationship between O2 processing and HCT is linear all the way to lactate threshold, in this example, keeping the rider’s HCT at 45 would give him a 15-percent advantage over a non-doped competitor by the end of a three-week tour.The advantage of adding red cells would mainly be to reduce fatigue when riders are functioning below maximum (and given their long schedules, most riders at the ProTour level operate at that submaximal fitness level in as many as 90 percent of the races in which they participate). There is also a slight additional advantage offered by having more protein (in this case, red cells) in the bloodstream, since it buffers acidity, which helps with anaerobic efforts.So you’re right in the sense that a rider taking on a 20-minute time trial at the start of a three-week race - like the opener at this year’s Tour – would not have a major advantage by doping. A clean rider could still compete on a relatively level playing field. But if you look at all the sub-maximum and anaerobic efforts over the duration of such an event, additional red cells would offer an increasing advantage as the weeks wear on.Is it just us or do you, too, miss the days when we used to just argue about the relative merits of Campy versus Shimano? - EditorPerhaps, they doth protest too loudly
Dear Editor,
It is hard to listen to the repetitive cries of honesty from our fallen champions. As a physician with experience with EPO and a prior chemist with lab experience, it almost makes you laugh at these guys' ignorance. Do they really think we believe they are innocent?
These tests are based on scientific data with strict standardsand tight controls. We are not ruining Heras' career, he failed a standardized, controlled test… twice!Tyler Hamilton had a hematocrit (blood count value) at the top 95th percentile. Was this just coincidence? And, when his blood showed foreign red cells via a very old, proven lab test used for years with medical certainty in the obstetrical field, it is wrong? No, first it was sabotage and then in court, it was possibly he was a chimeric twin, for goodness sake! This meant he had an in-utero twin that died prior to being born, but left blood cells around for Tyler to keep well into his cycling career… whew!No, unfortunately our sport is littered with cheats. It isn't,however, their fault. They are just doing what they have to do to keep up with everyone else who is probably cheating. Heras probably used micro-doses of EPO throughout the entire Vuelta, thereby skipping by the tests. He just got too much built up in his system and finally tested positive near the final stage. He had his lead, but his positive test was the result of daily micro-dosing that finally pushed him to a positive test.I wish we could clean up our sport, but unfortunately, as long as there is competition, there will be cheaters. It just hurts more when it involves your heroes. The majority of people really do not believe Hamilton or Heras. It is an insult to us all to keep lying about it. I am sure they realize now deep down inside they made a mistake. I guess their payback for that mistake is giving all their hard-earned money to the lawyers to try to get us to think there was some sort of mistake.Well, save your money, boys, because I don't buy it… and neither does my chimeric twin.
Scott Michener, MD
Lawton, OklahomaI have my doubts
Dear Editor,
Catching bad guys is something I have always loved to see. I felt good when they nailed Hamilton, Rumsas and Heras for doping. The "good guys" were winning. After reading about triathlete Rutger Beke, and how his positive EPO test from a triathlon in Belgium was overturned due to poor testing, I find myself doubting the "good guys."It turned out a high amount of protein in his urine looked like anEPO positive. Beke's feelings were that WADA was more concerned with getting a conviction, than making sure they got it right.Apparently there is a new, more accurate test for EPO, developed by a lab in Australia, but WADA claims their test is just fine. I like to see the bad guys caught, but I hate to see people railroaded.Until both sides of this clean up their act, I'm watching curling, where the worst doping is arthritis medicine.
Jim Maybee
Salmon Arm, British ColumbiaUhhhh, Jim, we really hate to burst your bubble, but you have to read this. - EditorPhilly LIVES!
Hi Velo,
Some of your readers apparently aren't seeing all of the details regarding the Philly week races. Yes, Wachovia is out as the sponsor and the USPRO race is now in Greenville, but contrary to what some of your reader's letters indicate, there is still going to be a race in Philly on the same weekend!I live in the Philly metro area and have been to the race numerous times. Personally, I'm sure the race tactics will be improved now that there isn't a race-within-the-race for the Americans. I am fed up with watching the American riders riding too conservatively and then losing out on the overall win. Remember the year Henk Vogels won? It was a great race and Henk is a freakin' stud, but George Hincapie and Freddie Rodriguez were just watching each other the last 5K, which no doubt helped Henk win. That scenario has gotten very old.I really doubt, by the way, that the crowd size will decline, if at all. Most of the "crowd," is usually composed of Philly residents getting blasted because they have an excuse to party and couldn’t care less that the USPRO title has left town.
Cheers
Spencer Dech
Lansdale, PennsylvaniaJust the facts, please
Dear VeloNews,
I was greatly disappointed to hear of the cancellation of next year's Barclay's Global Investors Grand Prix. Over the past several years, I have attended the race as a spectator and a host, entertaining clients and potential corporate sponsors. There are a limited number of great races with rich tradition in the United States and San Francisco was well on its way to joining this elite group.Clearly there is a lot of 'politics' at play between the Mayor's office and Board of Supervisors, but nobody is disputing the basic facts:
· An independent study commissioned by the Convention & Visitors Bureau estimated that the 2005 race generated >$10 million in economic benefits to local business and as much as $430,000 in taxes for the city.· The City negotiated a deal with the organizers in April of 2005 that included 40 percent of the event's profits (but no liability for losses) in exchange for discounting fees for police services 50 percent for every dollar collected in taxes. Wow! What a deal! Where can I go to get 40 percent of the profits, no risk of losses and a guarantee that costs will be half of income?· One of the major complaints cited by some Supervisors was an unpaid bill for police services from the 2004 race. However, the Mayor's office has indicated the revised bill for $90,000 was only sent one business day before last week's hearing. It is disingenuous to claim the organizers haven't paid a 2004 bill when they only received it yesterday! Since 2001, San Francisco cycling has paid the city more than $1.5 million for police services - that hardly sounds like "a bad actor that has repeatedly refused to pay its bills (Peskin)"· Various sources have estimated that between 100,000 and 500,000 spectators watch the race every year.The sport of cycling needs world-class events like the SFGP if it is going to compete in the sporting and entertainment sector against more 'mainstream' sports. If you live in San Francisco, urge your Supervisors to focus on the basic facts and economic benefits the race clearly brings to the city.
Paul Drees
Avondale, PennsylvaniaWho should pay, though?
Dear Velo,
If the SFGP really generates as much extra revenue for local businesses as its supporters claim, then wouldn't those local businesses be willing to sponsor the race at levels that would let the organizers pay for 100 percent of the extra policing instead of demanding that the city absorb much of the cost?I love bicycle racing, but it's a business and it should pay its own way without demanding handouts from the taxpayer.
Jonathan Gilligan
Nashville, Tennessee

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The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.