The professional cycling thread

[Highway Star]

Better than the Sky team for the Tour? I like Kennaugh and also Cataldo - thought he rode v. well in the Giro.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

pablo said:

Strong Sky team for Vuelta, Froome, Siutsou, Knees, Cataldo, Deignan, Kennaugh, Nieve, Kiriyenka and Luke Rowe...

Good to see Luke Rowe selected. He has quietly come on nicely this year.

[Gizmoish]

Cataldo, Deignan, Kennaugh, Nieve? That's a stage-hunting squad for when Froome hasn't got the puff.

[HereBeMonsters]

Grandfondo said:

HereBeMonsters said:

Once a cheater...

Are you including Millar in that statement?

I think those who have succumbed once will have a natural propensity to do so again, if they think they can get away with it. Or if they believe (as seemed to be the issue in the late 90s/early 2000s) "everyone is doing it, so I have to as well to stay competitive".

[okgo]

Gizmoish said:

Cataldo, Deignan, Kennaugh, Nieve? That's a stage-hunting squad for when Froome hasn't got the puff.

How is it any different to a proper team to help him in the mountains? Not sure there is much of a difference between the two...

[anonymous-user]

JTL claims blood samples skewed because he was on the lash on the 20th Sept celebrating the Team Sky deal, three days before the Worlds.... sample obtained on the 22nd was high in red blood cells and low in immature red blood cells. So three days before arguably the biggest race of his career to date, he goes out on the two nwith his friends and drinks 33 units of alcohol comprising "two bottles of wine and several glasses of gin and vodka".... sounds plausible to me...

[Rocksteadyeddie]

pablo said:

JTL claims blood samples skewed because he was on the lash on the 20th Sept celebrating the Team Sky deal, three days before the Worlds.... sample obtained on the 22nd was high in red blood cells and low in immature red blood cells. So three days before arguably the biggest race of his career to date, he goes out on the two nwith his friends and drinks 33 units of alcohol comprising "two bottles of wine and several glasses of gin and vodka".... sounds plausible to me...

Of course if that is a "plausible" defence for the bio-passport we might as well not bother with the whole carry-on.

[okgo]

What a tt. His time for owning up and retaining some respect has long gone.

[Gizmoish]

pablo said:

JTL claims blood samples skewed because he was on the lash on the 20th Sept celebrating the Team Sky deal, three days before the Worlds.... sample obtained on the 22nd was high in red blood cells and low in immature red blood cells. So three days before arguably the biggest race of his career to date, he goes out on the two nwith his friends and drinks 33 units of alcohol comprising "two bottles of wine and several glasses of gin and vodka".... sounds plausible to me...

33 units seems a surprisingly accurate number for someone who's had 33 units of alcohol to calculate.

[Matt_N]

Gizmoish said:

33 units seems a surprisingly accurate number for someone who's had 33 units of alcohol to calculate.

Along the lines of the big I am who was so wasted last night after 8 pints, 17 Jager bombs, 2 vodka and cokes and a Barcardi breezer

[GarryDK]

Gizmoish said:

33 units seems a surprisingly accurate number for someone who's had 33 units of alcohol to calculate.

This.

If I drank that much I wouldnt be able to tell you the time let alone how much I had drank! And isure as hell wouldnt go out on a massive bender if I had a huge race in a matter of days.

[Gizmoish]

In similarly dubious news: Betancur...
http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/08/news/overwe...

"...one pro said before the start of Wednesday’s stage, “Betancur might be overweight, but he’ll still drop us all on the climbs.”

Oh.

If only there were a precedent for such things...

[Grandfondo]

okgo said:

What a tt. His time for owning up and retaining some respect has long gone.

Maybe he had a Spanish steak then went on the lash!

[Rocksteadyeddie]

okgo said:

What a tt. His time for owning up and retaining some respect has long gone.

As excuses go it is at least original. Other than that I'm not sure there is much to commend it.

[Rich_W]

I think many people heard rumours about JTL and his "win at whatever cost" attitude around the time he started to win loads in 2012.

Also found it no surprise Brian Smith publically supported him, just like he supported his mate Lance. Odd that just like with Lance he goes quiet after the result.


But don't worry, soon you'll be able to go on a cycle tour with Jonny or maybe have him train you as he might become a coach.

Why would you take advice from him? Love how he's still blaming a "flawed Bio Passport system" Dick


Talking of Dicks. Vino has been charged for rigging Leige with Kolobnev in 2010. Would a guilty verdict make any difference to Astana employing him? Sadly probably not

Edited by Rich_W on Thursday 21st August 21:28

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Rich_W said:

I think many people heard rumours about JTL and his "win at whatever cost" attitude around the time he started to win loads in 2012.

Also found it no surprise Brian Smith publically supported him, just like he supported his mate Lance. Odd that just like with Lance he goes quiet after the result.


But don't worry, soon you'll be able to go on a cycle tour with Jonny or maybe have him train you as he might become a coach.

Why would you take advice from him? Love how he's still blaming a "flawed Bio Passport system" Dick


Talking of Dicks. Vino has been charged for rigging Leige with Kolobnev in 2010. Would a guilty verdict make any difference to Astana employing him? Sadly probably not

Edited by Rich_W on Thursday 21st August 21:28

BS is an interesting one isn't he? Given that he walked away from the sport due to his refusal to take drugs. One of the real lost talents to the sport. And yet oversaw JTL's miracle run. Odd contradiction.

[anonymous-user]

la Vuelta TTT was fun, crap course though but Quintana has a cheeky half minute on Froome and 17 seconds on Bertie...

[Dr Imran T]

pablo said:

la Vuelta TTT was fun, crap course though but Quintana has a cheeky half minute on Froome and 17 seconds on Bertie...

Yes, course wasn't the best but at least everyone stayed upright.

Shame trek took a tumble in practice.. Would have liked to have seen fab in red.

Yesterday's stage was great for the sprinters. That nacer has a good sprint on him for sure and made it look easy. Not sure what corn on the cob was doing?

What do we think about horner? Strange decision by the team that. Who else has signed up for that agreement? Seems silly if it is just one team.

1100 meter climb in today's stage should be fun :-)

[Highway Star]

http://www.mpcc.fr/index.php/en/membres-uk

11 (of 18?) World Tour teams are members - Sky, OPQ, Movistar, Trek, BMC, Cannondale are amongst those who aren't.

[mcelliott]

Going to shape up nicely this one, shorter stages means more aggressive racing - they've got the mixture spot on. Too bad about Horner, I always thought low cortisone would indicate someone was being a bit naughty however we'll know more in time I guess. Shame really as I quite like Horner, and I will miss his 'albatross' victory celebration.

Oh well that's one less for Quintana to spank.