The professional cycling thread

[Gizmoish]

Valentin Inglinskiy pinged for EPO during Eneco Tour.

Astana.

Ho hum.

[okgo]

Same old then.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

okgo said:

Same old then.

Still amazed Nibali avoided all the questions at the Tour.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

okgo said:

Same old then.

Still amazed Nibali avoided all the questions at the Tour.

He certainly had an easier time from the press than Froome (or Wiggins) - possibly because the French riders were doing better this year.

That said I believe that Nibali, Froome & Wiggins are clean.

[Dr Imran T]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Still amazed Nibali avoided all the questions at the Tour.

To be honest that's probably a good thing. Having followed pro cycling for a long time it gets to the point where people just question every good performance. As I have said earlier in this thread, the danger is that good riders can sometimes get discredited.

I know there is a lot of knowledgeable chaps on here and to some degree I can see the skepticism but it can be tiresome.

Cycling has come on a long way and we all know that there will always be a few that cheat. That happens throughout life where competition is rife. Cycling just seems to be burdened with some very high profile dopers, however unless people accept it for what it is and move on there's a danger it will overshadow good clean performances in the future too.

[London424]

Dr Imran T said:

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Still amazed Nibali avoided all the questions at the Tour.

To be honest that's probably a good thing. Having followed pro cycling for a long time it gets to the point where people just question every good performance. As I have said earlier in this thread, the danger is that good riders can sometimes get discredited.

I know there is a lot of knowledgeable chaps on here and to some degree I can see the skepticism but it can be tiresome.

Cycling has come on a long way and we all know that there will always be a few that cheat. That happens throughout life where competition is rife. Cycling just seems to be burdened with some very high profile dopers, however unless people accept it for what it is and move on there's a danger it will overshadow good clean performances in the future too.

I think another part of the problem is that when you are still finding out that riders are doping (and the assumption doping makes you faster/fastest) and you aren't winning...by implication surely all the others must be on something.

[okgo]

No, that is not right, that is the same as Lances 'level playing field' bullst. the drugs effect people in different ways, it doesn't mean suddenly he should be winning.

It has a big impact for sure, but among the pro peloton there are bigger gaps in natural talent than what EPO can add.

[London424]

okgo said:

No, that is not right, that is the same as Lances 'level playing field' bullst. the drugs effect people in different ways, it doesn't mean suddenly he should be winning.

It has a big impact for sure, but among the pro peloton there are bigger gaps in natural talent than what EPO can add.

I know that, and you know that...but for "joe public" they equate drug taking with winning.

If you look across many other sports it's the high profile winners that get the most attention (even though plenty of others get caught), just reinforcing the drug taking = winning mentality.

So I'm not saying anything about a level playing field etc. More about the general perception of drug taking and winning, and that in cycling especially that continued positive tests continue to taint and influence the thinking of success/performances at the front.

[Grandfondo]

London424 said:

I know that, and you know that...but for "joe public" they equate drug taking with winning.

If you look across many other sports it's the high profile winners that get the most attention (even though plenty of others get caught), just reinforcing the drug taking = winning mentality.

So I'm not saying anything about a level playing field etc. More about the general perception of drug taking and winning, and that in cycling especially that continued positive tests continue to taint and influence the thinking of success/performances at the front.

You have to look no further than this thread to see your point being made!

[okgo]

No we are using logical arguments to question a convicted cheat of his recent performance. I know you're trolling (badly) but at least take your head from your behind.

[JuniorD]

Really great Tour Of Britain diary by Sam Bennett, NetAppEndura

http://www.stickybottle.com/blogs/bennett-diary-a-...

[Grandfondo]

So should we use the same "once a cheat always..." argument for all convicted dopers who have good results post bans?
Or as long as there not in front of any fanboy favourites then it's ok!

Edited by Grandfondo on Thursday 11th September 15:44

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Grandfondo said:

So should we use the same "once a cheat always..." argument for all convicted dopers who have good results post bans?
Or as long as there not in front of any fanboy favourites then it's ok!

Edited by Grandfondo on Thursday 11th September 15:44

Stripping riders of all results prior to being caught might act as a better deterrent. Valverde (for example) is an out and out blood doper, got caught when his blood sample matched a bag seized in Operation Puerto, yet he got to keep ALL of his results. What were the blood bags for if not cheating?

[okgo]

Good stage again today. Looks like CF is finding his feet now.

One mountain stage left, then a TT. Can he overhaul 1 minute 20? Massive ask IMO, but I'll enjoy watching him try.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

okgo said:

Good stage again today. Looks like CF is finding his feet now.

One mountain stage left, then a TT. Can he overhaul 1 minute 20? Massive ask IMO, but I'll enjoy watching him try.

Great stage today and good to see Froome regaining his form. Real pity he lost so much time in the ITT which he usually very good at.

[Gizmoish]

Very big ask. But Bertie didn't look good today.

If he can nick a minute tomorrow and a few seconds of time bonus...

[mcelliott]

Gizmoish said:

Very big ask. But Bertie didn't look good today.

If he can nick a minute tomorrow and a few seconds of time bonus...

Absolutely no chance tomorrow, surely you must mean Saturday. Bertie will hang on, Saturday's stage suits him far better than today's - steep final ascent, right up his street. Froome will push him hard but won't overcome the deficit.

[Dr Imran T]

mcelliott said:

Absolutely no chance tomorrow, surely you must mean Saturday. Bertie will hang on, Saturday's stage suits him far better than today's - steep final ascent, right up his street. Froome will push him hard but won't overcome the deficit.

indeed, I think it is going to be hard to contador. Froome needs to put significant time into contador on sat as the final stage [ITT] is only 10km.

Very tough but huge respect for Froome - he's a real class act. I'm also glad to see him lead sky rather than wiggins he seems a lot happier these days too. Must hvae been the bad dynamics between him and wiggins that was causing some friction??? either way he's going to be fighting it out with Quintana/Contador and Nibali next season. I just hope they all enter the same grand tour, I don't care which one as long as they all all competing against each other.

[Grandfondo]

Ride of the day must go to Fabio Aru who is less than 2 minutes behind Froome and 5th overall.

[Gizmoish]

Yes. If Aru can keep his nose clean I look forward to him, Majka, Kwiato, Quintana and maybe Kennaugh at the top of GC in five years time.

(And of course I meant Saturday).