2018 PRO thread

[Hawkwood]

The progression of Froome is much more suspicious. He really came from nowhere.

I'd like to hear the actual come from nowhere theory from the conspiracy theorists. It was suggested that Froome was on the ropes in his career and Sky suggested to him that he was on the cusp of getting fired and then all of a sudden he's like a new rider.

So how does a 3rd tier rider about to be fired come up with the resources to transform himself? Are you guys saying that Sky has the secret drugs available and is just waiting for their riders to get desperate enough to say yes to their program?

This article sums it up pretty succinctly.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/other- ... 68940.html

Bit of an odd article, and in one part I checked the figures don't work out. Plus the writer states that Froome was approaching being the greatest cyclist ever as we can scrub Anquetil and Merckx from the record books for doping, and states there is an asterisk against Hinault. In the case of Merckx the writer cites four doping cases, but I can only find three. He then goes on to quote the Hungarian who's appeared on documentaries about motor-doping, however this guy appears to have made stuff up, the wheel motor idea for intance where when he was pushed he couldn't show a working model.

[Leviathan]

Having no explanation doesn't remove doubt and skepticism at my side, I'm sorry. And the way Sky communicates and works with the media simply doesn't work in their favor. Maybe that's also why the media doesn't have the most positive pov in their publications of Sky.
I don't let stuff like this influence my joy to watch cycling. I do however find the Sky train boring. But it's up to other teams to beat it. Not like AG2R, Bahrein and Movistar do by helping them. But by attacking like Kruijswijk did yesterday. Because that really influenced the Sky train being burned down earlier than planned.

Totally agree with this point and would add that jiffy bags and doctors refusing to testify hardly serve to promulgate the idea of a "whiter that white" Team Sky.
However, by assuming that Sky are the only ones doing it, and/or having some secret sauce which is a) undetectable and b) unique to them, I think the doubters are essentialy revealing their own nationalistic biases (as indeed are the Brits jumping to protect Froome and Sky)
But god I wish Movistar would do SOMETHING.

[beswiss]

However, by assuming that Sky are the only ones doing it, and/or having some secret sauce which is a) undetectable and b) unique to them, I think the doubters are essentialy revealing their own nationalistic biases (as indeed are the Brits jumping to protect Froome and Sky

Exactly + it gets blown up if a team has more success...

- Dylan van Baarle gets a lot of stick/attention when he admits to use an inhalator. When Dumoulin said he used the Salbutamol inhalator in the past, he didn't get a lot of attention.
- Yates asthma ban seems OK whereas Froome's TUE case isn't.
- AG2Rs 2015 doping scandals seem to be OK for the French public.
- Team Sky s domination is boring / bad for cycling, their budget kills the sport in many Dutch media. Boels-Dolmans is great for women's cycling though according to same media (even though more dominant bar 1 rider)
- Froome s ride over Zoncolan is suspicious. Annemie van Vleutenin Giro Rosa is great (although demolishing a field day after day and going faster up Zoncolan than many male pro)
No questions asked about her rising to the top at later age...

I'm hoping Tom Dumoulin wins this tour though because he has most flair. I enjoy watching great rides and am not frustrated when G or Froome or Bardet wins.

Seeing Jalabert at the TV when he says the French public is respectful for all riders in general is cringe worthy for me though.

[Monkeyfudger]

Gilbert would have had that on a Venge...

[LouisN]

Now that's "WW's pro thread" spirit


Louis

[euan]

Thomas' closest rival is the World ITT Champion, who just finished second at a gruelling Giro, as is capable of riding with argueable a much fresher rider.

Yet Thomas is the one thats suspicious. People need to be consistant, either they all are, or none of them are.

[robertbb]

Thomas' closest rival is the World ITT Champion, who just finished second at a gruelling Giro, as is capable of riding with argueable a much fresher rider.

Yet Thomas is the one thats suspicious. People need to be consistant, either they all are, or none of them are.

I just assume they all are and watch for the racing/scenery.

[Nefarious86]

The progression of Froome is much more suspicious. He really came from nowhere.

I'd like to hear the actual come from nowhere theory from the conspiracy theorists. It was suggested that Froome was on the ropes in his career and Sky suggested to him that he was on the cusp of getting fired and then all of a sudden he's like a new rider.

So how does a 3rd tier rider about to be fired come up with the resources to transform himself? Are you guys saying that Sky has the secret drugs available and is just waiting for their riders to get desperate enough to say yes to their program?

This article sums it up pretty succinctly.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/other- ... 68940.html

Bit of an odd article, and in one part I checked the figures don't work out. Plus the writer states that Froome was approaching being the greatest cyclist ever as we can scrub Anquetil and Merckx from the record books for doping, and states there is an asterisk against Hinault. In the case of Merckx the writer cites four doping cases, but I can only find three. He then goes on to quote the Hungarian who's appeared on documentaries about motor-doping, however this guy appears to have made stuff up, the wheel motor idea for intance where when he was pushed he couldn't show a working model.

It's the same inconsistent babbling that goes on in here day after day, draw your conclusions then amble on rambling till the words fit your bias.

Thomas' closest rival is the World ITT Champion, who just finished second at a gruelling Giro, as is capable of riding with argueable a much fresher rider.

Yet Thomas is the one thats suspicious. People need to be consistant, either they all are, or none of them are.

Hey hey hey, you leave logic out of this witch hunt, you hear me

However, by assuming that Sky are the only ones doing it, and/or having some secret sauce which is a) undetectable and b) unique to them, I think the doubters are essentialy revealing their own nationalistic biases (as indeed are the Brits jumping to protect Froome and Sky

Exactly + it gets blown up if a team has more success...

- Dylan van Baarle gets a lot of stick/attention when he admits to use an inhalator. When Dumoulin said he used the Salbutamol inhalator in the past, he didn't get a lot of attention.
- Yates asthma ban seems OK whereas Froome's TUE case isn't.
- AG2Rs 2015 doping scandals seem to be OK for the French public.
- Team Sky s domination is boring / bad for cycling, their budget kills the sport in many Dutch media. Boels-Dolmans is great for women's cycling though according to same media (even though more dominant bar 1 rider)
- Froome s ride over Zoncolan is suspicious. Annemie van Vleutenin Giro Rosa is great (although demolishing a field day after day and going faster up Zoncolan than many male pro)
No questions asked about her rising to the top at later age...

I'm hoping Tom Dumoulin wins this tour though because he has most flair. I enjoy watching great rides and am not frustrated when G or Froome or Bardet wins.

Seeing Jalabert at the TV when he says the French public is respectful for all riders in general is cringe worthy for me though.

Sums it up pretty well.

[AJS914]

Back to the racing - Sky needs to gain time on Dumoulin. G has 1:50 on Dumoulin and Froome only 11 seconds on him. If they all follow each other through the Pyrenees and nobody gains time, Dumoulin could win the race in the ITT.

[Wookski]

Back to the racing - Sky needs to gain time on Dumoulin. G has 1:50 on Dumoulin and Froome only 11 seconds on him. If they all follow each other through the Pyrenees and nobody gains time, Dumoulin could win the race in the ITT.

My prediction is big Tom loses at least 2 mins in the Pyrenees. I just can’t see him pacing himself the way he has in the Alps. I’m happy to be proven wrong as he’d make a great champ.

[TonyM]

Check his interview (with English subtitles).
Big Tom think that he will not be able to win the TdF if Thomas/ Froome don't have a bad day...

https://youtu.be/7KZ5q2Ujjec

[Wookski]

Check his interview (with English subtitles).
Big Tom think that he will not be able to win the TdF if Thomas/ Froome don't have a bad day...

https://youtu.be/7KZ5q2Ujjec

Well that’s a revelation- somebody call Mensa!

[TonyM]

Check his interview (with English subtitles).
Big Tom think that he will not be able to win the TdF if Thomas/ Froome don't have a bad day...

https://youtu.be/7KZ5q2Ujjec

Well that’s a revelation- somebody call Mensa!

Not sure I get your point....

Tom Dumoulin is a nice guy. He thinks that he can't either win the TT or make a significant difference on the TT with Froome (or Thomas).

[Daniel1975]

The Alpes are more in his favour. The Pyrenees are different climbes. Less easy to find you pace, more changes in gradient.
Froome is always strong in the 3th week, we don’t know about G this year.
1 CF, 2 TD, 3 G ?

[TonyM]

My guess is 1. CF/ Sky, 2. GT/ Sky, 3. TD/ Sunweb...
And PS/ Bora green jersey hopefully he will be able to get the Champs-Elysés stage! Or maybe Demare or Kristoff ??