ABSTRACT
Despite the visual spectacle of some events, the mass publicity and heroic displays of strength and endurance by riders in physically exhausting races, for many people professional road cycling has become synonymous with drug-taking. After several high-profile drugs raids involving well-known cyclists and prominent events, the sport has been widely dismissed as unethical and unclean. With many fans disenchanted by the current state of the sport, road cycling is losing its credibility fast and, critically, sponsors are becoming more reluctant to offer funding to teams taking part.
