Planet Rugby Forum

Gospel wrote:Gah.

The longer British Cycling [the National body] have a pro tour trade team the more likely it is they will discover riders on their roster who've decided to cheat. First there was JTL and his dodgy tests while at Endura. Then there's ex-Sky rider Michael Roger's getting pinged for doing a Contador with his steak. And now this. I sincerely hope for all concerned that Sergio's anomalous values are simply down to a quirk of his own Columbian physiology and not PEDs.

Presumably the readings which SKY took were out of kilter with his biological passport readings.

Santiago Botero had abnormally high natural haemocrit readings because he was born and lived at altitude.
It didn't stop him (allegedly) doping though.

Milan - San Remo

I f**king love this race.

BlackMac wrote:Milan - San Remo

I f**king love this race.

This.

Been looking forward to this all week. Well set up now

Just caught the finish.

Don't think anyone would've picked Kristoff beforehand.

eldanielfire wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

BlackMac wrote:Worrying times for Cavendish. He can't even get himself in position to compete, never mind win.

He is no longer with team SKY so can't take the undetectable drugs anymore.

Shame

Gospel told me Team Sky don't take drugs because Dave Brailsford said so. And that makes it FACT!

I was only joking. Sorry I forgot about all you barmy lot who believe team SKY must be on drugs because they are not failing any tests.

Great finish. Not many people give Cavendish the credit he deserves for being the gutsy little bastard he is to contest these races. He will be annoyed he sat up a bit and Swift nicked the podium place.

DOB wrote:Just caught the finish.

Don't think anyone would've picked Kristoff beforehand.

Enjoyed that. Not really sure what the new climb is going to add, as this course is just right to give the sprinters a sniff but not the upper hand as they'll be f**ked after 300k. Really impressed by Swift, didn't see that coming from him at all. He's got a good kick on him, so will be interesting to see if he can carry the endurance into the rest of the season. Cav gave it his all and fair play for making it all the way and contesting when Sagan faded. Canc looked furious, think I read that he has been on the podium in the last ten monuments, which is insane.

On the Kristoff front, I follow a few cycling journalists on Twitter. Daniel Friebe was telling anyone who would listen a month ago how much of a good shout Kristoff was for the win at 100-1. And then failed miserably to put any money on it.

BlackMac wrote:Great finish. Not many people give Cavendish the credit he deserves for being the gutsy little bastard he is to contest these races. He will be annoyed he sat up a bit and Swift nicked the podium place.

I thought Swifty just had more in the tank. Great ride by the young fella. He stayed glued to the leaders through the last 20kms.

Anonymous wrote:

eldanielfire wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

BlackMac wrote:Worrying times for Cavendish. He can't even get himself in position to compete, never mind win.

He is no longer with team SKY so can't take the undetectable drugs anymore.

Shame

Gospel told me Team Sky don't take drugs because Dave Brailsford said so. And that makes it FACT!

I was only joking. Sorry I forgot about all you barmy lot who believe team SKY must be on drugs because they are not failing any tests.

I was taking the piss. If you don't believe me, you can check from my posting history I have always defended Team Sky/British Cycling from doping accusations at their success. I have some other criticisms, but claiming they must be doping has never ever been typed out by me.

eldanielfire wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

eldanielfire wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

BlackMac wrote:Worrying times for Cavendish. He can't even get himself in position to compete, never mind win.

He is no longer with team SKY so can't take the undetectable drugs anymore.

Shame

Gospel told me Team Sky don't take drugs because Dave Brailsford said so. And that makes it FACT!

I was only joking. Sorry I forgot about all you barmy lot who believe team SKY must be on drugs because they are not failing any tests.

I was taking the piss. If you don't believe me, you can check from my posting history I have always defended Team Sky/British Cycling from doping accusations at their success. I have some other criticisms, but claiming they must be doping has never ever been typed out by me.

You're a f**king idiot regardless.

Gospel wrote: You're a f**king idiot regardless.

For not claiming Team Sky dope? Or for cracking a joke at your complete blindness of all faults British Cycling teams have?

eldanielfire wrote:

Gospel wrote: You're a f**king idiot regardless.

For not claiming Team Sky dope? Or for cracking a joke at your complete blindness of all faults British Cycling teams have?

Sure it is sport. You f**king lemon.

Christophe Bassons has just had his book published. Should make an interesting read to see how he was treated by others beside Armstrong

Gospel wrote:

eldanielfire wrote:

Gospel wrote: You're a f**king idiot regardless.

For not claiming Team Sky dope? Or for cracking a joke at your complete blindness of all faults British Cycling teams have?

Sure it is sport. You f**king lemon.

You are making no sense fruitcake.

E3 Harelbeke. Anyone watching. I f**king love this time of year. Cobbled classics coming think and fast.

BlackMac wrote:E3 Harelbeke. Anyone watching. I f**king love this time of year. Cobbled classics coming think and fast.

Yep, great racing. Sagan was always a big favorite in the group and did what he needed to do. Canc looked massively strong though trying to chase back on after getting caught behind the crash. Bodes well for him into the bigger races to come.

Another good performance from Thomas, showing again he's got a decent engine when he stays on his bike. Will be a bit disappointed at missing out on second at the end.

We're about a month away from the Giro so a few classics on the way. When is the Tour of Flanders on? Paris - Roubaix must be on shortly as well.

iarmhiman wrote:We're about a month away from the Giro so a few classics on the way. When is the Tour of Flanders on? Paris - Roubaix must be on shortly as well.

Dates of the ones that matter here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/26663953

Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday

Margin_Walker wrote:

iarmhiman wrote:We're about a month away from the Giro so a few classics on the way. When is the Tour of Flanders on? Paris - Roubaix must be on shortly as well.

Dates of the ones that matter here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/26663953

Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday

Paris-Roubaix on the cobblestones is brilliant to watch.

iarmhiman wrote:

Margin_Walker wrote:

iarmhiman wrote:We're about a month away from the Giro so a few classics on the way. When is the Tour of Flanders on? Paris - Roubaix must be on shortly as well.

Dates of the ones that matter here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/26663953

Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday

Paris-Roubaix on the cobblestones is brilliant to watch.

Should be fun... watching anyway.

Right, work has been a disaster the last weeks but that is coming to an end.

Just got round to watching highlights of La Primavera. Will update the OP over the weekend.

Spring: excellent time to follow Pro Cycling and personally put in serious miles.

Let's get keen.

FFS. Was looking forward to watching Stannard in Paris-Roubaix

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/p ... ack-119547

Ghent-Wevelgem won by Degenkolb in the end. If ever someone deserved a wake up call it's this bloke:



Mentalist

Margin_Walker wrote:FFS. Was looking forward to watching Stannard in Paris-Roubaix

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/p ... ack-119547

Ghent-Wevelgem won by Degenkolb in the end. If ever someone deserved a wake up call it's this bloke:



Mentalist

Bugger. Sky's season really not shaping up well. He would have been a certainty for the tour team but you wonder if he will get his form back in time

As for that prick in the road!!

BlackMac wrote:

Margin_Walker wrote:FFS. Was looking forward to watching Stannard in Paris-Roubaix

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/p ... ack-119547

Ghent-Wevelgem won by Degenkolb in the end. If ever someone deserved a wake up call it's this bloke:

Spoiler: show

Mentalist

Bugger. Sky's season really not shaping up well. He would have been a certainty for the tour team but you wonder if he will get his form back in time

As for that prick in the road!!

He's by a distance my favorite Sky rider. Massive engine, loves the rain, mud and cold. Also always on the attack when he's let off the leash.

Like you say, will be touch and go for the tour.

“But the Tour starts in Yorkshire this year and I’m a British rider, so I’m pretty sure I’ll be there. That gives me another focus and something to work towards.”

Jeez, that's optimism for you...

Tour of Flanders on Eurosport now for anyone interested.

What a win Cancellara

That was a great race. Pure drama at the end with the final four. Great attempt by Kristoff to bridge back onto them.

Had just about everything. Love this time of year.

Dave Brailsford has quit British Cycling to focus on Team Sky.

Can't say I'm surprised as his heart really isn't in it and he was criticised for not even being at this years world championships following a relatively poor GB performance.

Paris - Roubaix today. Got to think it is going to take something special to beat Canc.

Contador won the basque country tour this week easily. Notable for me for Ben Swift winning the penultimate stage after getting over some decent hills in elite climbing company. Looks in great shape and could be in with a chance of being given free reign in the Giro to go stage hunting, given Sky don't look like they'll launch a credible GC bid.

Roubaix is shaping up magnificently. Just through Arenberg.

Sean Kelly stating he couldn't piss without pain for a week afterwards.

trains

Completely brutal viewing. Massive amounts of luck and strength needed. I took the Kelly story to mean he couldn't take a shit in comfort for a week afterwards

fudge that for a game of soldiers.

Pace has slowed a little after the Arenberg allowing the field to close up again.

Edit - Jesus that crash. Shocking riding at the front

cancellara down

Top race. They're absolute animals these boys.

Trek rider probably just f**ked up his win bonus.

Just joining this. Canc out?

Edit. Just seen him.

Wow great move from Boonen. That'll spark things up.

BlackMac wrote:Christophe Bassons has just had his book published. Should make an interesting read to see how he was treated by others beside Armstrong

I am told that Armstrong was the man who made his life a misery, were there others?

Would be so great if Boonen won 5.

TheFrog wrote:

BlackMac wrote:Christophe Bassons has just had his book published. Should make an interesting read to see how he was treated by others beside Armstrong

I am told that Armstrong was the man who made his life a misery, were there others?

Ostracised by his own team and most of the peloton. His teammates at FDJ stopped pooling prize money with him. It's all widely documented, he was treated like shit.