TOUR DE FRANCE BOSSES SAY FIGHT AGAINST DOPING CONTINUES

Tour de France 2008 breaking news

Tour de France bosses Patrice Clerc and Christian Prudhomme have argued that Riccardo Ricco?s positive for EPO is actually good news because it shows the cheats are being caught.

?We can be optimistic. If you want to have a clean sport, you have to do the cleaning and that?s what happened with Ricco,? Clerc said in a packed press conference in Narbonne on Thursday evening.

Clerc said he had no information about what type of EPO was being used by the riders. He also refused to rule out more positive tests, saying he had "no idea" what the next few days might hold.

?We?re heading towards a more and more acceptable Tour. But we always said the fight against doping would be hard, long and difficult? Clerc said.

Christian Prudhomme admitted that he had seen Saunier Duval?s domination of the Hautacam stage, where they took first and second on the summit finish, as ?surprising.? But he had not been struck by the idea that it was more than coincidental that two of the three riders who have tested positive have been Spanish and that Saunier Duval are a Spanish team.

?They?re just riders who we have to catch and kick out, that?s all. It doesn?t matter what

nationality they are,? Prudhomme said. He also refused to confirm rumours that Saunier Duval will not be back in the Tour next year.

There was virtually no self-criticism from the Tour bosses during the half-hour press

conference, just repetition of the determination to drive out doping.

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: STAGE REPORTS

Stage 12: Cavendish makes it three

Stage 11: Arvesen wins

Stage 10: Evans takes yellow jersey by one second

Stage nine: Ricco wins in the Pyrenees

Stage eight: Cavendish wins again in Toulouse

Stage seven: Sanchez takes action-packed stage

Stage six: Ricco storms to win

Stage five: Cavendish takes first Tour win

Stage four: Schumacher wins TT and takes race lead

Stage three: Dumoulin wins stage from break

Stage two: Hushovd wins chaotic sprint

Stage one: Valverde wins

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: NEWS

Saunier Duval pull out of Tour

Tour's top ten changes

Ricco positive for EPO at Tour

Analysis: Tour de France rest day summary

Cavendish battles through Pyrenees

Evans suffers but takes yellow jersey [stage 10]

Analysis: Hautacam shakes up 2008 Tour

Ricco silences critics with solo attack in Pyrenees [stage nine]

Cavendish talks about his second stage win [stage eight]

Beltran heads home but doubts remain about other Tour riders

David Millar: the dope controls are working

Manuel Beltran tests positive for EPO at the Tour

Comment: How the Tour rediscovered its spirit

Doping back in Tour de France headlines

Millar: close but no cigar in Super-Besse [stage six]

Super-Besse shows form of main contenders [stage six]

Millar to go for yellow [stage six]

Team Columbia's reaction to Cavendish's win [stage five]

Cavendish talks about his Tour stage win

Tour comment: Why Evans should be happy [stage four]

Millar: Still aiming for Tour yellow jersey [stage 4]

Who is Romain Feillu?

Cavendish disappointed with stage two result

Millar too close to Tour yellow jersey

Stage 2 preview: A sprint finish for Cavendish?

Millar happy after gains precious seconds in Plumelec

Valverde delighted with opening Tour stage win

Comment: Is Valverde's win a good thing for the Tour?

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: PHOTOS

Stage 12

Stage 11

Stage 11

Stage 10

Stage nine

Stage eight

Stage seven

Stage six

Stage five

Stage four

Stage three

Stage two

Stage one

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: BLOGS

Life at the Tour part three

Life at the Tour part two

Life at the Tour part one

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: GUIDE

Tour de France 2008 homepage>>

News and features>>

All the riders (start list, list of abandons)>>

Day by day summary>>

Route & stages>>

Teams and riders>>

About the Tour>>

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