The Tour de France finishes in disgrace in Paris tomorrow after one of the most disastrous races in the long history of the world's most famous cycling event. Almost three weeks after it set off from London in a blaze of optimism and colour, the riders and organisers now find themselves battling to save not just the race but the future of cycling itself. In a sport where drugs scandals are commonplace, the scale and breadth of this week's doping revelations have been unprecedented.
On Tuesday the pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov and his Astana team were thrown out of the race after the Kazakhstan rider tested positive for blood doping. Although this was a huge blow for the race, worse was to follow when the race leader Michael Ragsmussen of Denmark was sacked by his team for lying about his whereabouts in the build-up to the tour, when he missed drug tests.
Never before in 104 years has the race leader been expelled during the tour. Doubt was cast over last year's winner Floyd Landis the week after the tour finished and the 1998 race was dogged by persistent scandals involving the Festina team but the ramifications of losing the leader in the final week of the race may be immense.
Already, sponsors are expressing unease at continued involvement in the race unless there is a root and branch cleaning up of the sport. Television stations in Germany have also expressed their dismay by refusing to air the race. The lifeblood of the professional cycling circuit is money and this type of pressure may prove to be a very effective weapon in bringing the sport to its senses.
It is a dreadful indictment of cycling and many of its leading riders and teams that this point has been reached. The endless fascination with the Tour de France has been built on admiration for the remarkable athletes who battle it out over three weeks through gruelling stages. That trust between public and rider has long been shattered and only the most draconian action by the sport's governing body - the International Cycling Union (ICU) - will help restore some semblance of credibility.
However the omens are not encouraging. Although the ICU argues that its improved detection methods have led to the latest disclosures and expulsions, it finds itself at odds with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) which feels that cycling's governing body has not been severe enough in dealing with the doping issue. Unless these two bodies present a united front, it is very hard to see how further progress can be made.
The drug cheats will continue to sully a once great pursuit and only radical intervention will save it from a slide into sporting obscurity.