"A New Stage - TdF 2008"

Yes.  It makes me sad every time I see it. 

They play it way too much...it's almost every commercial break!  I feel like they should cut back if they really want to shift the focus off doping.  Why not have a commercial focusing on anti-dopers? 

Unfortunately, that's a reality.  People will always think they are guilty.   

I think the commercials are offensive. If they want to get out of the doping muck, why are they focusing on it and dragging it out for viewing every 5 minutes?

There's zero tolerance, and then there's botched tests, poor lab practices, tests that aren't reliable indicators of positive or negative but are used as unequivacal 100% "proof" anyway, an extremely limited ability on the riders' side to defend themselves, and damage to riders' careers. If you've only got about 10 good years of pro cycling, then 1-2 gone for accusations (can't ride while accused, and why does it take so freakin' long to get to a decision???), and another 2 for punishment AFTER they come to a decision pretty much screws people for good. That isn't a temporary ban from cycling, it's a career-ending sentence. Fine if that's what people want to happen to end the doping, but don't go calling it a temporary suspension.

I would agree that zero tolerance could be a good thing IF and only IF, the UCI managed to clean up it's own act and address the testing problems, shoddy lab practices, test reliability, rider defense issues, and manage to mete out some form of actual justice in a reasonable time frame. I doubt there'll be any commercials about that.

Of course my perspective is a USA-based one in which people are innocent until proven guilty, and I know that elsewhere in the world that is not an assumption.

The doper commercial shows Vino, Floyd, Rassmussen, the guy from T-mobile, and who is the guy getting up on the podium in green?

I though it was good the first day, trying to change the image of "The Tour de Farce"  but I feel every break, or every other is too much now.  Luckily I Tivo the live race and can zip through the comercials during the week.  It still s/b played, just not as much 2 or 3 times in the 3 hours coverage.

 I dont care really for the 'extended coverage" either, Bob Roll can be such an 'educated idiot' sometimes.  And one more Rant - Does Vs. really have that good of quality programing at 5:30am that they cant show more of the race live?  (we can only watch it online in the US) I know, paid advertisers take precedent, I have to learn how to make a fortune in Real Estate or get the latest 'Girls gone Wild' video. 

Right or wrong, the whole "Take Back The Tour" campaign seems to follow the idea that it's time to face the problem head on and not to hide from the past.

I agree it is a bit of bad taste to use images of suspected/convicted dopers as part of the adverts. But then, I think everyone feels like the long string of doping scandals has really "Ripped the Heart Out of the Tour".

I don't think it was trite when Bob Roll said during the Pre-Race Coverage that The Tour would have a pretty difficult time overcoming yet another doping scandal.

It was good to see both of the two American Teams touting their own internal drug desting program. (ACE is what I think they are calling it) They seem to suggest that for now, riders don't get the benefit of the doubt and it is up to the team to prove they are riding clean.

"Brand New Start" commercial:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=36350237

Erik Zable

In 2007 he admitted to doping during his training for the 1996 TdF.  He said that he used EPO for a week before stopping due to side effects.

So, as you can see ASO are really consistent when choosing which teams/riders are allowed to ride the Tour.

Haven't read other replies, so some one has probably already said what I'm about to say...

I despise that commercial. So much focus on the negative.

I really DO like the other one, where there's no background music, and it starts off "Screw the dopers..."

Are you sure it's non-doped?

TJ

A few more riders in that clip,  So that is Erik Zabel in the green with the kid on the podium?  hmmm.....Who is the last rider in the clip wearing a Saunier Duval?  Is that David Millar?

Yes, David Millar is in the Daunier Duval kit.