2018 PRO thread

[cdncyclist]

Looking at the backgrounds of the other WT teams, riders and staff it’s pretty clear that Sky is one of, if not the cleanest team in the sport Jiffy bags, TUEs and ventolin are nothing compared to what the others have been up to for decades.

The hypocrisy is what makes cycling so amusing!

Completely agree, and much of this comes from those that are not only ignorant, but unaware of their ignorance. There are orders of magnitude of difference between EPO and salbutamol but people seem to think they are equal. Frankly I think the biggest doping issues in the sport are those that are currently allowed by the rules (TUE for systemic corticosteroids and opiates (tramadol).

But the racing is cracking, this tour is fantastic!!

[TonyM]

Sometimes the common sense helps....
Remember Armstrong was never tested positive.....

I have my opinion but I really still enjoy watching the TdF, Giro etc.....
With or without Sky the stage was great to watch! I also really enjoy watching the interviews of the different riders!

[bilwit]

the issue is - most successfull cyclists have a record of wins going back to their junior years. SKY's leaders don't (and although Wiggins was a superior athlete, track is not road racing). in a discipline where consistency allows improvement over the years, seeing a dude transforming from mediocre to unbelievable over a season or two is - what? amazing? suspicious? in my book it's disturbing and symptomatic - perhaps not a direct proof, but a clear sign of fraudulent practices.

Wiggins was a junior world champion on the track and showed that he had a big engine throughout his entire career, most especially at an individual level and not just team pursuit only. That demonstrates he has always had a big engine and the potential was always there. There are plenty of track riders who transitioned to the road, maybe less common these days since there are more established road development programs out there. Thomas even showed world class pedigree before going on the road too, to a much lesser extent but still. Froome did and showed literally nothing at any point before being told he might be cut on the eve of the 2011 Vuelta, at which he became one of the greatest climbers in the world. That is unbelievable to me. And no, don't mention the stupid bilharzia excuse. If you actually do your research you'd find that it's pretty much impossible for him to have had.

[TonyM]

Some riders had a black armband. Like Nibali and a Groupama/fdj (Italian?) rider.

Does someone know the reason?

[jorisee01]

Some riders had a black armband. Like Nibali and a Groupama/fdj (Italian?) rider.

Does someone know the reason?

Was it for Casartelli?

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[TonyM]

Some riders had a black armband. Like Nibali and a Groupama/fdj (Italian?) rider.

Does someone know the reason?

Was it for Casartelli?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Thanks!

I just read his story on rouleur. Sad.
https://rouleur.cc/editorial/darkness-a ... asartelli/

[Rondje]

Some riders had a black armband. Like Nibali and a Groupama/fdj (Italian?) rider.

Does someone know the reason?

Was it for Casartelli?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Thanks!

I just read his story on rouleur. Sad.
https://rouleur.cc/editorial/darkness-a ... asartelli/

I don't think that is the reason. On Belgium television, they asked a DS of Sagan and said it was due to one of the old founders or directors of liguigas team passed away.

[rainerhq]

[KB]

And no, don't mention the stupid bilharzia excuse. If you actually do your research you'd find that it's pretty much impossible for him to have had.

I'm not saying that his results are not suspicious, but how is it impossible to have had it? He was born in a place where it's highly prevalent. I worked in Nigeria for many years where it's also a major problem. And I worked with someone who did his National Service in Egypt after the war where even swimming was banned and a serious offence. I suffered with an ear infection for many years that led to a small op and this was due to swimming in a pool a few times. The tropics for whitey is a major problem. Generally, blacks are tougher than we are so they tend to cope better.

[wingguy]

the issue is - most successfull cyclists have a record of wins going back to their junior years. SKY's leaders don't (and although Wiggins was a superior athlete, track is not road racing). in a discipline where consistency allows improvement over the years, seeing a dude transforming from mediocre to unbelievable over a season or two is - what?

But most successful cyclists were focussed on the road in their junior days and early 20s. The nature of the BC program at the time meant that the best British talent was funnelled into the Olympic track program. There is a clear difference between training to win things on the road and not being able to, and training to win things on the track so therefore not shining on the road.

To categorise Wiggins and Thomas as mediocre bike riders before they started winning road races is laughable. Claiming Thomas suddenly got this good on the road over a season is also a lazy characterisation that simply isn't true.

[wingguy]

Sometimes the common sense helps....
Remember Armstrong was never tested positive.....

That's not true.

[bikewithnoname]

Thomas has got 2 Olympic golds right?

[micky]

Some riders had a black armband. Like Nibali and a Groupama/fdj (Italian?) rider.

Does someone know the reason?

Was it for Casartelli?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Thanks!

I just read his story on rouleur. Sad.
https://rouleur.cc/editorial/darkness-a ... asartelli/

I don't think that is the reason. On Belgium television, they asked a DS of Sagan and said it was due to one of the old founders or directors of liguigas team passed away.

Exactly, it was the old Liquigas boss who passed away.
Many of the ex Liquigas team riders are at this TdF.

[maquisard]

no way the jawbones are super cool and unique (dare I say "old school" ?) at this point. The new Flight/Field Jackets are horrible. Froome used to do the all-white-jawbones in 2012 too

Ha, I ride all the time with a pair of fluo-yellow Jawbones, love them!

[wingguy]

Adam Blythe said on Eurosport it's because Thomas has loads of prescription lenses stockpiled for them. Decent chance he was taking the piss though