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Professional sport and all the riches it brings will make some athletes cheat and that will probably never change but I hate to see cheats /dopers represent their countries in the Olympics/Commonwealth games which then excludes good young riders the chance to shine in their national colours.
Grandfondo said:
Professional sport and all the riches it brings will make some athletes cheat and that will probably never change but I hate to see cheats /dopers represent their countries in the Olympics/Commonwealth games which then excludes good young riders the chance to shine in their national colours.
Have you listened to the R5 special from Tuesday night? it was fascinating, I would recommend you listen to it. pablo said:
Grandfondo said:
Professional sport and all the riches it brings will make some athletes cheat and that will probably never change but I hate to see cheats /dopers represent their countries in the Olympics/Commonwealth games which then excludes good young riders the chance to shine in their national colours.
Have you listened to the R5 special from Tuesday night? it was fascinating, I would recommend you listen to it. Fittster said:
Why can't you follow a sport if you believe the competitors are using drugs? I have no problem watching athletes regardless of the physical chemistry.
I think on some level We agree. the point I was making is if you can only comment about drug taking and nothing else then why bother.Any way I will be looking forward Paris Tours and watching the sprinters do their thing.
pablo said:
Tinkov is getting flack for his comments about riders doing all three GTs but I think its only what we want to see, I hate the way we very rarely get to see the best five or six riders go at each other over more than one race a season. What the public want is Quintana vs Contador vs Froome vs Nibbles vs Pinot vs VdB etc in every GT... hell if I had £1m to throw away I'd offer the same prize.
the UCI need to incentivise participation in GTs or raise the profile of the rankings format, MTB has the world cup which is accumulated points throughout the season and the world championships which is a one off event, Road needs the same thing but to increase the profile of the season long competition. I like the one day format of the worlds but it does seem that the guy who finishes the season with the hihgest UCI ranking gets lost in the noise.
Gosh - well said that man. the UCI need to incentivise participation in GTs or raise the profile of the rankings format, MTB has the world cup which is accumulated points throughout the season and the world championships which is a one off event, Road needs the same thing but to increase the profile of the season long competition. I like the one day format of the worlds but it does seem that the guy who finishes the season with the hihgest UCI ranking gets lost in the noise.
We need to see the best GT riders compete against each other. It's a little to hit and miss at the moment.
I also despise the current format of the Worlds. There should be better recognition for the most consistent rider that has accumulated the most points during the season.
The premier league points system is a good illustration of the best team at the end of the season - it's not about a 'one-off' match.
Dr Imran T said:
Gosh - well said that man.
We need to see the best GT riders compete against each other. It's a little to hit and miss at the moment.
I also despise the current format of the Worlds. There should be better recognition for the most consistent rider that has accumulated the most points during the season.
The premier league points system is a good illustration of the best team at the end of the season - it's not about a 'one-off' match.
They used to have this:We need to see the best GT riders compete against each other. It's a little to hit and miss at the moment.
I also despise the current format of the Worlds. There should be better recognition for the most consistent rider that has accumulated the most points during the season.
The premier league points system is a good illustration of the best team at the end of the season - it's not about a 'one-off' match.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCI_Road_World_Cup
They now have a points system:
http://www.uci.ch/road/ranking/
^^ OK so Valverde is the highest points scorer this season with 686. That's great it reflects his excellent form throughout the season and consistently high finishes.
Should it not be recognised during next season? instead we are going to have Michal kitkat-kowski donning the world championship stripes all season.
Doesn't make sense to me.
I think the point that Pablo raised was very valid.
Should it not be recognised during next season? instead we are going to have Michal kitkat-kowski donning the world championship stripes all season.
Doesn't make sense to me.
I think the point that Pablo raised was very valid.
Apparently so! :-) I know cannondale were losing a fair few and as Slipstream will run the team it makes sense they are bringing riders into the merger. Shame Cervelo don't seem like they will be represented in 2015 though.
Among the 14 riders who have contracts with Slipstream Sports for 2015 are Andrew Talansky, Daniel Martin, Ryder Hesjedal, Tom Danielson, Ben King, Nathan Haas, Sebastian Langeveld, Tom-Jelte Slagter, Nick Nuyens, Nate Brown, André Cardoso, Norman Hansen Lasse, Ramunas Navardauskas, and Dylan Van Baarle.
Read more at http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/08/news/slipst...
Among the 14 riders who have contracts with Slipstream Sports for 2015 are Andrew Talansky, Daniel Martin, Ryder Hesjedal, Tom Danielson, Ben King, Nathan Haas, Sebastian Langeveld, Tom-Jelte Slagter, Nick Nuyens, Nate Brown, André Cardoso, Norman Hansen Lasse, Ramunas Navardauskas, and Dylan Van Baarle.
Read more at http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/08/news/slipst...
Nibbles needs to get himself out of the train wreck that is Astana as quickly as possible... riding with a team doped up to support you isnt going to do him any favours until his Contract expires in 2016.... I'd be surprised if there arent one or two more positive tests reported in the coming weeks.
pablo said:
Nibbles needs to get himself out of the train wreck that is Astana as quickly as possible... riding with a team doped up to support you isnt going to do him any favours until his Contract expires in 2016.... I'd be surprised if there arent one or two more positive tests reported in the coming weeks.
And he's said that Olegs 3 GT offer is in humane apparently.Hmmm.....
STAGE DATE START AND FINISH DISTANCE DETAILS
1 Saturday, July 4th Utrecht / Utrecht 14 km
2 Sunday, July 5th Utrecht / Zélande 166 km
3 Monday, July 6th Anvers / Huy 154 km
4 Tuesday, July 7th Seraing / Cambrai 221 km
5 Wednesday, July 8th Arras / Amiens Métropole 189 km
6 Thursday, July 9th Abbeville / Le Havre 191 km
7 Friday, July 10th Livarot / Fougères 190 km
8 Saturday, July 11th Rennes / Mûr de Bretagne 179 km
9 Sunday, July 12th Vannes / Plumelec 28 km
10 Tuesday, July 14th Tarbes / La Pierre-Saint-Martin 167 km
11 Wednesday, July 15th Pau / Cauterets - Vallée de Saint-Savin 188 km
12 Thursday, July 16th Lannemezan / Plateau de Beille 195 km
13 Friday, July 17th Muret / Rodez 200 km
14 Saturday, July 18th Rodez / Mende 178 km
15 Sunday, July 19th Mende / Valence 182 km
16 Monday, July 20th Bourg-de-Péage / Gap 201 km
17 Wednesday, July 22nd Digne-les-Bains / Pra-Loup 161 km
18 Thursday, July 23rd Gap / Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne 185 km
19 Friday, July 24th Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne / La Toussuire - Les Sybelles 138 km
20 Saturday, July 25th Modane Valfréjus / Alpe-d’Huez 110 km
21 Sunday, July 26th Sèvres - Grand Paris Seine Ouest / Paris Champs-Élysées 107 km
One for the climbers, 6 summit finishes, time bonuses are back and whoever wins yellow will probably also win the polka and could even win the green jersey, madness!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/29721147
I don't understand why he would even consider dropping out because of the route. This years race proves that anything can happen and he is not exactly the worst climber in the world.
I don't understand why he would even consider dropping out because of the route. This years race proves that anything can happen and he is not exactly the worst climber in the world.
I too am surprised Froome is so vocal about his distaste for the course, it will be tough and there arent many easy days but that first week looks like it needs to be attacked and I wonder if he is concerned about someone then holding yellow to the end? surely there are enough hills between the north and Paris to warrant a few surprises?
Day trip to Le Harve anyone?! foot passenger on the ferry with the bikes?!?
Day trip to Le Harve anyone?! foot passenger on the ferry with the bikes?!?
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