The professional cycling thread
Discussion
There have been noises about moving off the TdF thread to a more generic one, and this seems like a good place to start*.
Wiggins announces he will return to the track after the 2014 season.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/23754381
Reasonably magnanimous by his standards. Would like to see him get one more Tour completion under his belt.
Personally a shade confused by people on other threads saying Sky wouldn't pick him as there are better riders in the squad - I find it very hard to believe he is the 8th or 9th best rider Sky have. Of course he can't climb like Froome, but he has the wallop to put in some valuable stints on the front, and also is a real engine for the TTT (if there is one in 2014).
Wiggins announces he will return to the track after the 2014 season.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/23754381
Reasonably magnanimous by his standards. Would like to see him get one more Tour completion under his belt.
Personally a shade confused by people on other threads saying Sky wouldn't pick him as there are better riders in the squad - I find it very hard to believe he is the 8th or 9th best rider Sky have. Of course he can't climb like Froome, but he has the wallop to put in some valuable stints on the front, and also is a real engine for the TTT (if there is one in 2014).
- awaits zero responses as the other thread rumbles on!
You have to say, he could do either (note not both!) Him vs Wiggins vs Martin for the TT would be grandstand stuff though.
Speaking of BW, Sky have name their team to do Tour of Britain.
Bradley Wiggins
Ian Stannard
Josh Edmondson
Matthew Hayman
Bernie Eisel
David Lopez
Reasonably strong line up.
Speaking of BW, Sky have name their team to do Tour of Britain.
Bradley Wiggins
Ian Stannard
Josh Edmondson
Matthew Hayman
Bernie Eisel
David Lopez
Reasonably strong line up.
Cavendish doing a decent turn on the front in the early stages. Him and Luke Rowe obviously there to do the donkey work early on to save the really destructive riders for the circuit.
I still find it interesting that the riders have the bibs and jerseys on, but the helmets and bikes are from their trade team. Is that preference of the riders? I presume being familiar with your kit is important?
Sounds like Wiggo has screwed up though, got himself on the wrong side of a split in the peleton.
I still find it interesting that the riders have the bibs and jerseys on, but the helmets and bikes are from their trade team. Is that preference of the riders? I presume being familiar with your kit is important?
Sounds like Wiggo has screwed up though, got himself on the wrong side of a split in the peleton.
Edited by Vocal Minority on Sunday 29th September 11:04
Dave Millar says one more season.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/24529061
So after 2014 it will be A' bientot Daveeeeeeeed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/24529061
So after 2014 it will be A' bientot Daveeeeeeeed.
Another professional cyclist in I doped in early-mid 2000s shocker
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/24751872
Ryder Hesjedal this time
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/24751872
Ryder Hesjedal this time
I shall don my flame proof suit and say this.
He is not an innocent, and I am not condoning what he did. Also, whilst I have no sympathy with him in his situation (he showed himself to be a pretty objectionable character during his period of 'defending' himself.
HOWEVER - He raises a valid point. The UCI need to employ more consistency. There are riders who have done the same as him, and been equally unrepentant, who have gotten off lighter (Virenque being an example off the top of my head).
It seems that his punishment was levelled in relation to his success. I suppose you could argue that is fair. But for the purposes of being as clear and transparent as possible, the UCI need to be more informative
He is not an innocent, and I am not condoning what he did. Also, whilst I have no sympathy with him in his situation (he showed himself to be a pretty objectionable character during his period of 'defending' himself.
HOWEVER - He raises a valid point. The UCI need to employ more consistency. There are riders who have done the same as him, and been equally unrepentant, who have gotten off lighter (Virenque being an example off the top of my head).
It seems that his punishment was levelled in relation to his success. I suppose you could argue that is fair. But for the purposes of being as clear and transparent as possible, the UCI need to be more informative
Well we all know the limitations of drug testing.
Are their currently any drugs that cannot be tested for? Eg. Like EPO, which they knew about for a decade before they could do anything effective about?
Apologies for a potentially naive question
ETA: neilr - I may have misread your post, but the UCI were not complicit in the back-dated prescription in 99 (As in a UCI official didn't administer it that was the US Postal doctor), the UCI just accepted it and I guess if they had before they didn't have grounds to reject it.
Not trying to be moral, just pedantic!
Are their currently any drugs that cannot be tested for? Eg. Like EPO, which they knew about for a decade before they could do anything effective about?
Apologies for a potentially naive question
ETA: neilr - I may have misread your post, but the UCI were not complicit in the back-dated prescription in 99 (As in a UCI official didn't administer it that was the US Postal doctor), the UCI just accepted it and I guess if they had before they didn't have grounds to reject it.
Not trying to be moral, just pedantic!
Edited by Vocal Minority on Monday 11th November 18:18
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