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I would like to think that sort of cheating is unlikely at the top level due to the amount of people that would need to be complicit. I reckon you would get opposition riders speaking out too as in a lot of ways it seems worse than doping - After all you still have to pedal when doped.TheFrog wrote:Did any of you guys see the youtube video where a guy was filming a few races (pro level and semi-pro) with infra-red cameras to detect motors in the bikes? I haven't seen it, but apparently there is plenty of cheating, though they give no names on the video.
One wonder what UCI is doing if it is that easy to catch the cheaters...
TheFrog wrote:Did any of you guys see the youtube video where a guy was filming a few races (pro level and semi-pro) with infra-red cameras to detect motors in the bikes? I haven't seen it, but apparently there is plenty of cheating, though they give no names on the video.
One wonder what UCI is doing if it is that easy to catch the cheaters...
What makes you think it's easy to catch?nardol wrote:TheFrog wrote:Did any of you guys see the youtube video where a guy was filming a few races (pro level and semi-pro) with infra-red cameras to detect motors in the bikes? I haven't seen it, but apparently there is plenty of cheating, though they give no names on the video.
One wonder what UCI is doing if it is that easy to catch the cheaters...
Doping is one thing but this is just too easy to catch. I don't believe this.
Lance Armstrong says he and his teams would have won the Tour de France multiple times if the entire peloton was riding clean during his now-stripped reign of seven victories from 1999 through 2005.
Although Armstrong told Tirico his decision to dope was a mistake, he also said he wouldn't change a thing in his career, and he was proud of the efforts he and his teams put into the Tour preparation outside of their use of performance enhancing drugs.
"What did we say? We said we worked the hardest, had the best tactics, best team composition, best director, best equipment, best technology, recon the courses. All the things we said, we did. We left out a part, but we did all that stuff. Because now this one thing is part of the story doesn't erase all that. All that happened," Armstrong said. "If you just had this one thing and did none of that, you get last."
When Tirico asked Armstrong to recall why he and many of his US cohorts decided to use performance enhancing drugs, the Texan said it was their belief that they needed to dope to compete in Europe.
"That wasn't just a feeling, that was a fact," he said. "I don't want to make excuses for myself that everybody did it or we never could have won without it. Those are all true, but the buck stops with me. I'm the one who made the decision to do what I did, and it was ... I didn't want to go home, man. I was gonna stay.
"I knew there were going to be knives at this fight, not just fists. I knew there would be knives. I had knives, and then one day, people start showing up with guns. That's when you say, 'Do I either fly back to Plano, Texas, and not know what you're going to do? Or do you walk over to the gun store?' I walked to the gun store. I didn't want to go home.
Armstrong pushed back against claims that he was the ring leader who cajoled others into doping.
"There are a few things that are just not true about the story," he said. "I mean, there's a lot true, but this idea that myself or anybody forced or mandated or encouraged anybody else to cross that line, just isn't true. It's not true. Absolutely not true.
"We did what we had to do to win. It wasn’t legal. It probably wasn't the best decision, but look, we wouldn't have won had we not. But I wouldn't change a thing. I've said that three times. I would not change a thing," Armstrong said, pausing briefly between each word for emphasis.
Landa not staying anywhere very long doesn't bode well for him eitherBullettyme wrote:Just read there that Mikel Landa is off to Bahrain Merida. Serious jumping of ship at Movistar.
Jeepers, what's happening at Movistar?Bullettyme wrote:Just read there that Mikel Landa is off to Bahrain Merida. Serious jumping of ship at Movistar.
That kid is special alright. I chanced upon him in the Junior race at the Worlds last year and it was the most dominant thing I'd ever seen.DOB wrote:Mas is going, but he’s going to find it empty when he arrives. Valverde is going to start transitioning to a coaching/development position.
Amazing win by Remco Evenepoel at San Sebastián over the weekend. 19 years old, dropped due to mechanical issues on the 2nd last climb, comes back, attacks between limbs, and solos over the final climb for the win.
Just saw this - really sadLandOTurk wrote:Bjorg Lambrecht: Belgian cyclist dies following crash during the Tour de Pologne
https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/49243277
RIPI guess the constant tension in the team over who was leader just means everyone wants to gtfo and give themselves a chance elsewhere.Beaver_Shark wrote:Jeepers, what's happening at Movistar?Bullettyme wrote:Just read there that Mikel Landa is off to Bahrain Merida. Serious jumping of ship at Movistar.
Quintana, Landa, Carapaz all gone and Valverde is 40 next year.
There were rumours that they had offered Enric Mas a contract, so maybe he's definitely going there.
Without Doctor FerrariXupi wrote:Remco Evenepoel is the new Eddy Merckx.
Maybelexpat wrote:Without Doctor FerrariXupi wrote:Remco Evenepoel is the new Eddy Merckx.
Really classy dedication after the win too. Can see how much it meant to him.Xupi wrote:Remco Evenepoel is the new Eddy Merckx.
I followed that guy in the junior races. He could break away from the bunch and solo to victory over 40km, winning with 10min lead over the second placed rider.DOB wrote:Mas is going, but he’s going to find it empty when he arrives. Valverde is going to start transitioning to a coaching/development position.
Amazing win by Remco Evenepoel at San Sebastián over the weekend. 19 years old, dropped due to mechanical issues on the 2nd last climb, comes back, attacks between limbs, and solos over the final climb for the win.
Terrible.Salanya wrote:Just saw this - really sadLandOTurk wrote:Bjorg Lambrecht: Belgian cyclist dies following crash during the Tour de Pologne
https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/49243277
Far too young, and he had so much promise. His poor family
If rugby had the number of deaths at pro level that cycling has in the past 10 years, there’d be people calling for it to be banned outright. It’s hard to see how you have a sport like road cycling and avoid such risks, though.TheFrog wrote:Terrible.Salanya wrote:Just saw this - really sadLandOTurk wrote:Bjorg Lambrecht: Belgian cyclist dies following crash during the Tour de Pologne
https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/49243277
Far too young, and he had so much promise. His poor family
Every time I watch a race, I shiver at the risks these guys take for their lifes. Rugby is nothing in comparison to cycling.
Think he needs to get away from Sagans team to get more opportunities. He won't get to ride the tour with Sagan at Bora for exampleBullettyme wrote:Three in a row for him yesterday, his first sprint was a real thing of beauty. Showed some proper muscle to get himself in front. He's in great form.
Quite right, he's been linked with Quickstep and Viviani has moved to Cofidis so there is an opportunity there. Might find out soon enough, or perhaps after La Vuelta which he's due to ride.blindcider wrote:Think he needs to get away from Sagans team to get more opportunities. He won't get to ride the tour with Sagan at Bora for exampleBullettyme wrote:Three in a row for him yesterday, his first sprint was a real thing of beauty. Showed some proper muscle to get himself in front. He's in great form.
Odd move for Viviani - he's not the fastest sprinter out there but he will pick up wins, although are Cofidis still after a World Tour slot?Bullettyme wrote:Quite right, he's been linked with Quickstep and Viviani has moved to Cofidis so there is an opportunity there. Might find out soon enough, or perhaps after La Vuelta which he's due to ride.blindcider wrote:Think he needs to get away from Sagans team to get more opportunities. He won't get to ride the tour with Sagan at Bora for exampleBullettyme wrote:Three in a row for him yesterday, his first sprint was a real thing of beauty. Showed some proper muscle to get himself in front. He's in great form.
Fair enough. Cofidis are one of those weird teams that are at the tour each year without seemingly ever doing anything other than have Bouhanni cause a fuss. I know as pro-conti they are there without much expectation but other pro-conti teams at least seem to occasionally do something of note.DOB wrote:A good read on how Viviani ended up with Cofidis.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vasseur ... mechanics/
Vasseur seems to have his head screwed on as a DS. I can see Cofidis climbing back up the rankings with these signings.
I find it bizarre that a lot of the comments don't rate Viviani. I think he is a fabulous rider and seems to have the same ability as Cav had to jump wheels and pick the right option.DOB wrote:A good read on how Viviani ended up with Cofidis.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vasseur ... mechanics/
Vasseur seems to have his head screwed on as a DS. I can see Cofidis climbing back up the rankings with these signings.
He's just not quite as quick as the other top sprinters. Feeds a bit more on scraps comparatively.BlackMac wrote:I find it bizarre that a lot of the comments don't rate Viviani. I think he is a fabulous rider and seems to have the same ability as Cav had to jump wheels and pick the right option.DOB wrote:A good read on how Viviani ended up with Cofidis.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vasseur ... mechanics/
Vasseur seems to have his head screwed on as a DS. I can see Cofidis climbing back up the rankings with these signings.
That's why I like him. Real competitor. His win in the Euro's was really impressive.blindcider wrote:He's just not quite as quick as the other top sprinters. Feeds a bit more on scraps comparatively.BlackMac wrote:I find it bizarre that a lot of the comments don't rate Viviani. I think he is a fabulous rider and seems to have the same ability as Cav had to jump wheels and pick the right option.DOB wrote:A good read on how Viviani ended up with Cofidis.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vasseur ... mechanics/
Vasseur seems to have his head screwed on as a DS. I can see Cofidis climbing back up the rankings with these signings.
He's had a great 2 years at QS, but, Olympics apart, his years at Sky were nothing stellar, so there must be a suspicion that his true level lies somewhere between.BlackMac wrote:That's why I like him. Real competitor. His win in the Euro's was really impressive.blindcider wrote:He's just not quite as quick as the other top sprinters. Feeds a bit more on scraps comparatively.BlackMac wrote:I find it bizarre that a lot of the comments don't rate Viviani. I think he is a fabulous rider and seems to have the same ability as Cav had to jump wheels and pick the right option.DOB wrote:A good read on how Viviani ended up with Cofidis.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vasseur ... mechanics/
Vasseur seems to have his head screwed on as a DS. I can see Cofidis climbing back up the rankings with these signings.
Just saw this. Why no Thomas or Bernal? Has Carapaz left Movistar yet for Ineos?blindcider wrote:Vuelta time approaching:
Ineos taking joint leaders with Geoghegan Hart and Poels
Movistar taking three leaders again in Valverde, Carapaz and Quintana
Astana taking Lopez and Fuglsang
Lotto-Jumbo taking Roglic, Kruijswijk and Bennett
Mitchelton-Scott seemingly taking Chaves
Got to fancy Roglic I think. The bookies certainly do.
Too mountainous for Thomas, Bernal is probably too young to put through the stress of another 3 week tour.LandOTurk wrote:Just saw this. Why no Thomas or Bernal? Has Carapaz left Movistar yet for Ineos?blindcider wrote:Vuelta time approaching:
Ineos taking joint leaders with Geoghegan Hart and Poels
Movistar taking three leaders again in Valverde, Carapaz and Quintana
Astana taking Lopez and Fuglsang
Lotto-Jumbo taking Roglic, Kruijswijk and Bennett
Mitchelton-Scott seemingly taking Chaves
Got to fancy Roglic I think. The bookies certainly do.
I'm more surprised Sivakov isn't there.blindcider wrote:Too mountainous for Thomas, Bernal is probably too young to put through the stress of another 3 week tour.LandOTurk wrote:Just saw this. Why no Thomas or Bernal? Has Carapaz left Movistar yet for Ineos?blindcider wrote:Vuelta time approaching:
Ineos taking joint leaders with Geoghegan Hart and Poels
Movistar taking three leaders again in Valverde, Carapaz and Quintana
Astana taking Lopez and Fuglsang
Lotto-Jumbo taking Roglic, Kruijswijk and Bennett
Mitchelton-Scott seemingly taking Chaves
Got to fancy Roglic I think. The bookies certainly do.
Carapaz will join Ineos in the off-season