** FILE ** Marco Pantani of Italy takes part in a sit-in as riders stage a protest, saying they are fed up with the lack of respect showed to them and with the press coverage concentrating on the use of performance enhancing drugs instead of the sport, at the start of the 12th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Tarascon-en-Ariege and Le Cap d'Agde, southern France, in this July 24, 1998 file photo. On Wednesday, July 25, 2007 dozens of Tour de France riders demonstrated their anger over repeated doping scandals by staging a silent protest at the start of Wednesday's 16th stage. The protest came a day after star rider Alexandre Vinokourov and his Astana team were sent home after he tested positive for a banned blood transfusion. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)