The professional cycling thread
Discussion
Some Gump said:
Surely that is a more simple test than all this blood passport malarky.
Just put JTL and Okgo in Richmond park on a sunday afternoon, winner gets their own bodyweight in wiggle haribo (important to make sure he really tries his best) .
If jTL isn't dropped by the time they pass the ice cream van, by definition he must be doping - NOONE beats Okgo down "barrel of beard" without either drugs or wind assistance...
A lot of effort to go to to still not be amusing. Just put JTL and Okgo in Richmond park on a sunday afternoon, winner gets their own bodyweight in wiggle haribo (important to make sure he really tries his best) .
If jTL isn't dropped by the time they pass the ice cream van, by definition he must be doping - NOONE beats Okgo down "barrel of beard" without either drugs or wind assistance...
Gizmoish said:
His usual bad day usually follows a really good day.
He's gone today though, big-time. Although in fairness - Nibali is climbing like a champion. Could win this tour at a canter.
That's the problem with Porte. On certain days he just loses so much time. That level of inconsistency is why he can't win grand tours. However, maybe this year with all the 'big boys' out there was chance that he could squeeze a podium position.. that looks pretty much impossible now. He's gone today though, big-time. Although in fairness - Nibali is climbing like a champion. Could win this tour at a canter.
His role as a domestique suits him perfectly, I don't think that will ever change. Good point raised by Boardman on the ITV highlights that Nibali can perform well in all conditions/stages. That consistency is key esp. over the 3 weeks.
I would have liked someone to really test Nibali, there only seems a battle for the other podium position now.
ALawson said:
Not at all, first comment from the wife watching the interview was "he doesn't even look like he has been on a bike today"! He did make it look quite easy.
Unfortunately, its what I thought too. You generally see people suffering in some form or other, but he just motored away from everyone. Perhaps its because his main rivals (the likes of Contador, Froome, Quintana) either didnt start the race or have dropped out however, we will never know. I can't see anyone getting near him to be honest, he looks like he's riding within himself when the others look cooked. mcelliott said:
Certainly not a superhuman performance from Nibali today, his watt per kilogram would indicate that. Certainly no higher numbers than supposed clean tour winners from the past - as an unfair comparison here's what Armstrong did in the ITT 2001 (Nibali did have a strong tailwind today though).
I don't think I've seen a stage result like that before... Obviously some riders will put time into others on a climb, but a time gap - even if it's only a second in some cases - between every single one of the top 21 riders on the stage seems somewhat unusual?Kermit power said:
mcelliott said:
I don't think I've seen a stage result like that before... Obviously some riders will put time into others on a climb, but a time gap - even if it's only a second in some cases - between every single one of the top 21 riders on the stage seems somewhat unusual?Not massive time gaps for his Nibsness again yesterday. Agree he looks the strongest in the race but he's not ripping it apart with enormous time gaps.
I hope Sky let Gerraint Thomas have a real crack at this for the rest of the race. Too late for a high overall but it would be very interesting to see how he could get on with the brakes off.
I hope Sky let Gerraint Thomas have a real crack at this for the rest of the race. Too late for a high overall but it would be very interesting to see how he could get on with the brakes off.
I cant decide what I think about this tour, part of me thinks it should be interesting not having Froome or Contador there, part of me thinks that the likes of Mollema, Van Den Broeck and Rui Costa are just letting Nibali waltz to Paris without a fight. Dont get me wrong, Nibali has done everything right and appears to be the class of the field but it looks to easy which could just be his talent outshining the rest. To be honest, if there were more big mountains the gap between Nibali and the rest would be huge, there is no Tourmalet, no Alpe dHuez, no Ventoux this year, for the GC riders, this should be a winnable tour now the favourites are out but those mentioned just seem to be struggling too much on these climbs.
I'm enjoying this French revival though...
I'm enjoying this French revival though...
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