Your Tour de France comments

It seems I touched a few raw nerves with my column last week in which I criticised the Tour de France and all the doping scandals that accompany it almost every year.

The race, which finished in Paris last Sunday, was once again hit by controversy with four riders testing positive, including a stage leader.

It comes after a history of cyclists taking illegal drugs in this race, with cheating also rife in the 2007 version and countless incidents of riders being chucked out of the race.

However, everyone has an opinion, and while I called for the race to be scrapped, one reader Johan Stumpf wrote to me with slightly different views.

"I believe the press in general does not investigate the issue of doping in cycling objectively. My opinion is that doping is present in all sports, but that cycling is the only sport that makes it a serious issue.

"I saw some statistics that a top-level pro-cyclist gets between 20-30 times more blood tests per year compared to a top-level pro rugby player. It is also the only sport that does invasive testing during competition.

"My view is that other sports are too scared to open this can of worms, as it will have a similar effect of sponsors withdrawing and the public turning against the sport.

"Maybe it is time for some objective journalism, where some investigative work is done into just how much each sport actually tests and tries to control doping. Sadly, I think cycling is probably the best of the lot."

And in another letter someone only referring to himself as Harold wrote: "I believe that even in the Tour there are many honest athletes who need to be supported and encouraged. I can't help but feel proud when I see the grit and determination on their faces.

Perception

"Deal with the cheaters and leave the rest to go on with their business. Maybe the drug testing in other sports is not as intense, hence the perception that they are clean.

"I would like to see soccer being subjected to such intense scrutiny and let us see how many are caught, then we can come back and make an opinion.

"I could not help but feel proud as a South African when I saw JL Augustine tame that monster of a mountain, I did shed a tear. Barloworld should have continued to support such guys and only get rid of the crooks. Vive le Tour!"

In a third letter Ben Bechet had rather stronger views about my article.

"Rather than deride Mr Tarr's ignorant observations and half-baked comments, I would suggest he do some research and compare the amount of drug testing that happens in cycling compared with any other sport.

"The results, I'm sure, will return a positive that cyclists are the most tested athletes in the world and return a rather low percentage of positive results.

"He is living in a dream world if he believes that athletics, soccer (especially) and rugby are clean sports. The frequency and veracity of testing is just way below cycling's standards. He might just have to start boycotting all sports."

So that's some of the opinion, and one has to respect everyone's view, but I like the comments of Tour de France legend Eddy Merckx, a five-time winner of the event.

After last year's scandals he admitted: "My heart is no longer in it" in respect of his support for the Tour.

There was also strong reaction from Jean-Francois Lamour, vice president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, who called for the Tour de France to be banned entirely and for road cycling to be withdrawn from the Olympic Games.

And former British Olympic Association chairman Sir Craig Reedie suggested that road cyclists might be required to hold an "anti-doping passport".

So there you have it, a selection of views about the Tour de France, which I am sure, will be hitting our TV screens next year and have the usual fans following the action.

Don't get me wrong, it is a great race and 90 percent of the riders are clean and wonderful sportsmen.

I am just sick and tired of the cheaters who surface every year. Call me naive, but that is why I cannot take it too seriously.