The professional cycling thread
Discussion
_dobbo_ said:
I see a lot of mocking comments about marginal gains, but you have to look at when they started that program and what happened to British cycling as a whole. Remember this wasn't just team sky, this was all of British cycling.
It went from occasional Olympic success and no tour winner in 100 years to incredible Olympic domination and near total domination of the TdF as well.
If a wholesale change in attitude and approach in cycling in this country didn't cause that, with marginal gains as a big part, then what did?
The million dollar question! It went from occasional Olympic success and no tour winner in 100 years to incredible Olympic domination and near total domination of the TdF as well.
If a wholesale change in attitude and approach in cycling in this country didn't cause that, with marginal gains as a big part, then what did?
_dobbo_ said:
I see a lot of mocking comments about marginal gains, but you have to look at when they started that program and what happened to British cycling as a whole. Remember this wasn't just team sky, this was all of British cycling.
It went from occasional Olympic success and no tour winner in 100 years to incredible Olympic domination and near total domination of the TdF as well.
If a wholesale change in attitude and approach in cycling in this country didn't cause that, with marginal gains as a big part, then what did?
I knew lads who took part in the TDF way back into the 1950's it was a culture shock of epic proportions we simply didn't have the quality or quantity of races to help improve our own talent and there was a gulf between home and the Continent. Fast forward to 1992 Chris Boardman and Peter Keen. The Lotus bike was one thing but Keen started looking ahead to what would be needed to win in 4 years time and he would track other riders times and progress it all started with these two people. Competition and success make good companions and just getting on to the Olympic programme is incredibly difficult so its taken 24 years to get to where we are today its hardly a magic bullet.It went from occasional Olympic success and no tour winner in 100 years to incredible Olympic domination and near total domination of the TdF as well.
If a wholesale change in attitude and approach in cycling in this country didn't cause that, with marginal gains as a big part, then what did?
JuniorD said:
_dobbo_ said:
I see a lot of mocking comments about marginal gains, but you have to look at when they started that program and what happened to British cycling as a whole. Remember this wasn't just team sky, this was all of British cycling.
It went from occasional Olympic success and no tour winner in 100 years to incredible Olympic domination and near total domination of the TdF as well.
If a wholesale change in attitude and approach in cycling in this country didn't cause that, with marginal gains as a big part, then what did?
The million dollar question! It went from occasional Olympic success and no tour winner in 100 years to incredible Olympic domination and near total domination of the TdF as well.
If a wholesale change in attitude and approach in cycling in this country didn't cause that, with marginal gains as a big part, then what did?
You owe me a million dollars....
I'm ducking out. Acknowledge that my opinion is perhaps controversial, but there's zero need to make assumptions about the type of cycling fan I am. For what it's worth, all assumptions about me were completely, significantly, wrong.
Crack on b
hing about Sky making it boring, or blaming the ACO, or pouncing on the slightest omission primarily driven through a desire for brevity. Indeed, it's obvious that as USPS and Sky are both focused on 'marginal gains' (or in industry, 'continuous improvement'), and USPS also doped, that clearly Sky are too...
I routinely look at the output of football supporters and think "why on earth would anyone want to associate with them?". Unfortunately, cycling is gaining a similar feeling.
On a lighter note, was having a great lively and competitive discussion with a Colombian cycling enthusiast at work yesterday. Talking relative performances of the teams, and Froome vs Quintana. Shame those sorts of conversations are so difficult to achieve online.
Crack on b
hing about Sky making it boring, or blaming the ACO, or pouncing on the slightest omission primarily driven through a desire for brevity. Indeed, it's obvious that as USPS and Sky are both focused on 'marginal gains' (or in industry, 'continuous improvement'), and USPS also doped, that clearly Sky are too... I routinely look at the output of football supporters and think "why on earth would anyone want to associate with them?". Unfortunately, cycling is gaining a similar feeling.
On a lighter note, was having a great lively and competitive discussion with a Colombian cycling enthusiast at work yesterday. Talking relative performances of the teams, and Froome vs Quintana. Shame those sorts of conversations are so difficult to achieve online.
Dont walk away, Sway I think everyone knows you are right but they cant admit it. They like the romance of the Italians winning everything, that marks them out as old-school (pre-Wiggins) and this new world order doesnt sit well for some... I was reading cycling news forum the other day (dont ever go there!) and the best the Sky-haters had was "at lest he'll never win the Giro...." I mean thats the level you have to drag yourself down to before you can argue with these people....
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 22 July 14:47
Cheers Pabs, but I really can't be arsed. It doesn't help that the commercial application of SDB's approach is my specialism... Indeed, a couple of years ago I had a chat with him, but there wasn't anything mutually beneficial at the time, I'd missed the boat a tad. Shame, I've worked for some of the best in class businesses in their respective industries, but never one I had a personal love (industry that is, kinda hard to have a non-professional love for farming/financial services/shipping/etc.!) - would have been fun.
Cycling news became st listed a decade ago. Bike radar became too much after Brad's win. Here has just reached my tipping point, no strop just cannot be fked.
Cycling news became s
t listed a decade ago. Bike radar became too much after Brad's win. Here has just reached my tipping point, no strop just cannot be fked. pablo said:
Dont walk away, Sway I think everyone knows you are right but they cant admit it. They like the romance of the Italians winning everything, that marks them out as old-school (pre-Wiggins) and this new world order doesnt sit well for some... I was reading cycling news forum the other day (dont ever go there!) and the best the Sky-haters had was "at lest he'll never win the Giro...." I mean thats the level you have to drag yourself down to before you can argue with these people....
Says the man who counts Miguel Indurain as one of his idols - haha.Edited by pablo on Friday 22 July 14:47
mcelliott said:
pablo said:
Dont walk away, Sway I think everyone knows you are right but they cant admit it. They like the romance of the Italians winning everything, that marks them out as old-school (pre-Wiggins) and this new world order doesnt sit well for some... I was reading cycling news forum the other day (dont ever go there!) and the best the Sky-haters had was "at lest he'll never win the Giro...." I mean thats the level you have to drag yourself down to before you can argue with these people....
Says the man who counts Miguel Indurain as one of his idols - haha.Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 22 July 14:47
the good thing about cycling is it isn't generally nationalistic and you can support a rider from anywhere in the world over a "British" rider.
SKY have pinned their Flag to the TDF and everything else is just a build up to JULY.
But cycling exists outside of July thank goodness and my favourite race The Tour of Lombardy is very late on add that to the early classics and its a really great season from March to October.
Back to the TDF bravo to those riders who hit the tarmac and got back on their bikes and finished they are incredibly brave and courageous.
SKY have pinned their Flag to the TDF and everything else is just a build up to JULY.
But cycling exists outside of July thank goodness and my favourite race The Tour of Lombardy is very late on add that to the early classics and its a really great season from March to October.
Back to the TDF bravo to those riders who hit the tarmac and got back on their bikes and finished they are incredibly brave and courageous.
Always amazes me this attitude bashing some British teams when they're on top, if it was a British wendyball team conquering their sport they'd be the best thing since sliced bread. Find it sad really. Me, I just love cycling and would watch anyway but seeing a British team or rider(s) doing well is a nice bit of cream on top.
Anyway back to the real discussion. Last real day today and all power to Yates's legs, amazed how he hung in yesterday again to keep the podium dream alive. Seeing how wollema cracked highlights the Yates feat even more. So the fridge is stocked ready for an afternoon in front of the TV for last day in the mountains.
Anyway back to the real discussion. Last real day today and all power to Yates's legs, amazed how he hung in yesterday again to keep the podium dream alive. Seeing how wollema cracked highlights the Yates feat even more. So the fridge is stocked ready for an afternoon in front of the TV for last day in the mountains.
I sort of vaguely like Froome in a nonspecific sort of way but I'm also really pulling for Yates now, it's been such an achievement for him to get this far at all, seeing him back on the podium would be awesome.
Also yelling for Rolland just cos I feel properly sorry for him after that crash yesterday, that was shockingly awful luck.
Also yelling for Rolland just cos I feel properly sorry for him after that crash yesterday, that was shockingly awful luck.
last day for anyone to make their mark then its all over. Just hope the Yates can find something today and get the deserved Podium he has been awesome. Froome is just made for this race in true GC style he can climb he can descend and he can TT even on the Sprinters stages he is always up near the front.
Weather to cause havoc again later?.
Weather to cause havoc again later?.
johnxjsc1985 said:
last day for anyone to make their mark then its all over. Just hope the Yates can find something today and get the deserved Podium he has been awesome. Froome is just made for this race in true GC style he can climb he can descend and he can TT even on the Sprinters stages he is always up near the front.
Weather to cause havoc again later?.
I hope not, yesterday's rain made the race a bit more of a lottery than it deserves.Weather to cause havoc again later?.
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