Continue Reading Below Advertisement

dull the pain . In 1967, Tom Simpson was so full on amphetamines that he fell over dead at the top of a climb in the 13th stage, and in the last few years, riders have consistently been caught using EPO HGH and steroids . It may seem absurd that they would choose to use enhancers they know Tour officials would test for, but it's also possible that, given the ubiquity of drug use among racers, they just forget they aren't allowed to do it.

The most bizarre and horrifying method for cheating, however, is also incredibly difficult to detect. Blood doping involves a transfusion of blood rich in red blood cells, either from a donor or from the racer himself, so that the blood oxygenates better while riding. It is also my worst nightmare. It works because the blood can be drawn months in advance and then frozen until the riders need it. Lance Armstrong was accused by former teammates of blood doping, but to date they're only allegations that still eat up time during the current Tour de France even though he's not even racing.

Drug abuse is so intrinsic to cycling that there will never be a year where it isn't the spotlight of the Tour. What's more, the constant accusations among rival riders and even teammates has deteriorated any camaraderie the sport once had, which makes everyone in the Tour hard to root for and also leads to a lot more ...