The professional cycling thread
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Still plenty of racing to be done, but that has made it interesting for sure.
Riddle me this, Froome was stronger than Bertie pre tour, evidently, they both went to the tour shortly after, Froome broke his hand, but presumably was able to turbo train quite soon after, Bertie breaks his leg, only started riding the other week, but somehow is now better than Froome who had the less severe injury AND was better than Bertie pre tour. Mental.
Riddle me this, Froome was stronger than Bertie pre tour, evidently, they both went to the tour shortly after, Froome broke his hand, but presumably was able to turbo train quite soon after, Bertie breaks his leg, only started riding the other week, but somehow is now better than Froome who had the less severe injury AND was better than Bertie pre tour. Mental.
Grandfondo said:
So why don't the GC riders race all the Grand Tours?
Its not the best way to peak, for sure. But having time off the bike totally, which we are led to believe bertie has is not good news and is this performance is seriously questionable based on what we know about Froome and Quintana.okgo said:
Grandfondo said:
So why don't the GC riders race all the Grand Tours?
Its not the best way to peak, for sure. But having time off the bike totally, which we are led to believe bertie has is not good news and is this performance is seriously questionable based on what we know about Froome and Quintana.Grandfondo said:
As you have said many times that leg strength is not needed in cycling so aerobic fitness could have been maintained with an indoor hand cycle could it not?
He could have been riding on the turbo with the other leg, research has shown that exercising one leg reduces detraining in the leg that isn't being used. The thinking is that the brain sort of uses the other leg even though it isn't physically being used. But maybe he could have had a cast on and been able to ride on the turbo with that on? But yes, handbike would reduce cardiovascular detraining. Ultimately, there are adaptations in the specific muscles used for a sport, otherwise a top swimmer could jump on a bike and be competitive, and they can't do that. It isn't so much the force as the oxygen delivery and consumption - mitochondria and capillaries.okgo said:
Grandfondo said:
As you have said many times that leg strength is not needed in cycling so aerobic fitness could have been maintained with an indoor hand cycle could it not?
He could have been riding on the turbo with the other leg, research has shown that exercising one leg reduces detraining in the leg that isn't being used. The thinking is that the brain sort of uses the other leg even though it isn't physically being used. But maybe he could have had a cast on and been able to ride on the turbo with that on? But yes, handbike would reduce cardiovascular detraining. Ultimately, there are adaptations in the specific muscles used for a sport, otherwise a top swimmer could jump on a bike and be competitive, and they can't do that. It isn't so much the force as the oxygen delivery and consumption - mitochondria and capillaries.okgo said:
Still plenty of racing to be done, but that has made it interesting for sure.
Riddle me this, Froome was stronger than Bertie pre tour, evidently, they both went to the tour shortly after, Froome broke his hand, but presumably was able to turbo train quite soon after, Bertie breaks his leg, only started riding the other week, but somehow is now better than Froome who had the less severe injury AND was better than Bertie pre tour. Mental.
Well I think had contador not crashed in the tour he would have beaten Froome. He was in super shape plus contador always rises to the occasion of the grand tours.Riddle me this, Froome was stronger than Bertie pre tour, evidently, they both went to the tour shortly after, Froome broke his hand, but presumably was able to turbo train quite soon after, Bertie breaks his leg, only started riding the other week, but somehow is now better than Froome who had the less severe injury AND was better than Bertie pre tour. Mental.
So even pre tour I feel contador had the edge. He fell off his bike and sustained iirc a hairline fracture so not as severe as it sounds although still bad.
Has some time off [recovers], trains intelligently, rides out of his skin - has a little luck and hey presto!
Also, I don't think he would have lost as much form/fitness as some people assume. A 85-90% Contador is still pretty handy.
Either that or his been eating some funny stuff again.
It was a pretty awful TT stage though, as Bertie said, you had to have done your homework and really know whats round the corner, especially on the tight and twisty sections. Great rides from Uran and Evans today too. I'm not sure I am a fan of these mountain TT stages with all the twisty bits but the usual suspects are all there or thereabouts come the finish!
I'd like to see the GT contenders/Team Captains ride all three though, maybe the UCI could make teams nominate 5 riders who will ride all three then let the teams choose from the remainder of their riders who make up the other four places. To me there is no reason why they cant ride all three, sure races might be a bit slower, there might be fewer attacks, they will suffer from fatigue etc etc but there is no physical reason why they couldnt ride and be competitive, relative to the other GT riders in the other teams, in all three races. Every one would be on a level playing field (bar those who faked injuries and missed a race
) and there would be no need to target the Giro/Vuelta or le Tour because you were scared you would be suffering too much to ride consecutive GTs...
I'd like to see the GT contenders/Team Captains ride all three though, maybe the UCI could make teams nominate 5 riders who will ride all three then let the teams choose from the remainder of their riders who make up the other four places. To me there is no reason why they cant ride all three, sure races might be a bit slower, there might be fewer attacks, they will suffer from fatigue etc etc but there is no physical reason why they couldnt ride and be competitive, relative to the other GT riders in the other teams, in all three races. Every one would be on a level playing field (bar those who faked injuries and missed a race
) and there would be no need to target the Giro/Vuelta or le Tour because you were scared you would be suffering too much to ride consecutive GTs...pablo said:
these mountain TT stages
It wasn't.Good (expected win) for Martin today, brilliant rides from both Contador and Uran, Contador really bossing the TT. Totally gutted for Quintana, as I think he was the only one realistically capable of beating Contador for overall, thought I feel he could possibly still make the podium at a stretch. It will be interesting to see how Movistar play this out with Valverde in such a strong position and apparently with good form. Had a feeling that Froome wasn't at his best, but he just looked s
t from the start - all over the place on the bike, pushing a massive gear. Completely out of sorts, he won't make the podium. Tomorrow's stage finish looks a real humdinger - last 9 ams is nearly 8%. Valverde or J-Rod for the win. Contador to cover attacks with relative ease.Mega lolled at Canc whining like a little girl about the road surface in today's TT- this from a bloke who floats over the cobbles, and I think he was also penalised 7 seconds for drafting - ha ha.
Edited by mcelliott on Tuesday 2nd September 22:03
Ok it wasn't a mountain TT stage at all but it seems to be the new thing to make the TT stages lumpier than in the previous races and the whole changing bikes for a tiny advantage thing is just crap viewing imo, have a hilly TT and force them to use drop bars or use a flatter course and they can use their TT bikes but I can't stand watching them change bike, it would add more of a tactical element were they forced to climb on the TT bike or get low on the drops...
There is no chance Froome would have been well beaten by Nibali, the same Nibali that went backwards on every climb when they all raced not long before the tour. Possibly Bertie, but in shape Froome is still the best GC rider around. Shame he isn't on it at this one. But all to play for. Tomorrow will be interesting!
All these what if's... 
As I remember it it looked like Froome and Contador were head and shoulders above the rest before they both hit the deck in the TdF.
What we have now is an under trained Froome due to his injuries, and Contador... well... either he was training at full capacity very soon after retiring from the TdF or there's something funny going on. He's an unrepentant convicted cheat, so I have no shame in voicing my concerns about him!
P.S. that's not libelous, it's public record
As I remember it it looked like Froome and Contador were head and shoulders above the rest before they both hit the deck in the TdF.What we have now is an under trained Froome due to his injuries, and Contador... well... either he was training at full capacity very soon after retiring from the TdF or there's something funny going on. He's an unrepentant convicted cheat, so I have no shame in voicing my concerns about him!
P.S. that's not libelous, it's public record
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