Geoff Thomas Foundation

REST DAY

PAU

WEDNESDAY, as the lads started off on another gruelling stage through the
Pyrenees, I had started off with the intention of helping the support crew.

But events took a very dramatic turn and led to a crazy two days for me and
the lads in Pau.

After the boys had left Foix on Wednesday, I drove one of the vehicles with
some of the film crew to the next stop in Pau, where we were going to spend the
next three nights, including Thursday's rest day.

Unfortunately, I had just sat down to a cup of coffee in our hotel bar when
all hell broke loose. Four of the Tour teams are staying in our hotel, among
them was the French team Cofidis.

The police came in, the staff said the doors were about to be locked and word
quickly spread that a Cofidis rider had failed a drugs test and police wanted to
search all their bags and vehicles while the rest of the riders were still out
at the race.

Soon after, the media turned up in droves and things really started to get
crazy.

It was an incident which yet again shows professional cycling in a bad light
although I would be quick to point out that it is not just cycling's problem.

As an ex-professional sportsman, I feel strongly that drug taking cannot be
condoned in any form. Every time you go out on a field, the players should start
on the same level. Victory should be down to hard work, dedication, natural
talent, of course.

Anybody who uses drugs to try and reach a level they cannot reach by natural
means is a cheat and should be banned from their sport. Not for one year or two
years but for life.

Don't you think that would eradicate the temptation for people? And, if
somebody did test positive, there would be no cloud over the sport, there would
be one bad apple sorted out and the sport would carry on without him or her.

Among the riders staying in our hotel were Brits Bradley Wiggins and David
Millar whom I've met a couple of times now. It was so late by the time we got
back from Loudenveille on Wednesday that I did not time to say hello to them but
I saw them over breakfast today.

I feel very sorry for Bradley, whose team Cofidis have been booted out of the
Tour because of one of their riders. He has always been staunchly anti-drug and,
seeing what he has done in his career and the way he conducts himself, I firmly
believe he is one of the cleanest, most honest sportsmen around.

Wiggs looked devastated this morning. Months of hard work and effort have
been thrown out because of one of his team mates.

David Millar, who is a lovely fella, was trying to cheer him up with his
wicked sense of humour and was even telling him how he might have a chance in
Saturday's time trial now because there is nobody else left riding the Tour!

Of course, David himself has admitted to drug use in the past and I think, as
in any legislature, you have to draw a line in the sand when you lay down new
rules. I wouldn't want David banned for life retrospectively for his drug use
and he was man enough to admit his errors and is now trying to make amends for
his mistakes.

But I can't help thinking that if a life ban had been the punishment when
David was first tempted to take drugs, he might have been dissuaded from doing
it.

This morning, with the lads looking forward to their rest day, I went down to
the start of the Tour in Pau to perform some media duties. I did interviews with
ITV, Eurosport, the Daily Mail, Cycling.TV, some of them at the hotel where
Rabobank and former yellow jersey wearer Michael Rasmussen were staying. You can
imagine the scene there!

I suppose the only positive to come out of the last couple of days is that it
makes the efforts of our guys all the more impressive given Team Thomas' strict
anti-drug policy. Saying that, there are still question marks about just what it
is that Dave Granger puts in the custard and rice pudding he eats mid-ride every
day.

But, for now, I'm proud to say we are one Tour de France team you can
guarantee is drug free!