Cycling 2011

**Mr A** · 10/06/2011, 10:41 AM

Contador accused of mechanical doping.

Whatever about this specific allegation, it seems incredible that the cycling authorities have stopped looking for this. Have they learned nothing at all from their past?

It really would depress you.

Also thought it was interesting that 5 of the Mexico squad tested positive for clenbuterol. Looks like dodgy meat again.

**Macy** · 10/06/2011, 10:49 AM

I honestly don't know for sure, but a few of the comments underneath suggest there were checks on several Giro stages. I guess the final bike used might not have been one with the motor though.

**Mr A** · 10/06/2011, 2:14 PM

Pretty bad crash for Roche by the sound of it.. he'll struggle to stay in contention.

Edit.. he lost 25 minutes. Hopefully he'll be able to continue, seems like it was a pretty serious crash. Martin finished in the top ten.

**Real ale Madrid** · 10/06/2011, 8:38 PM

Just finished David Walsh's book from Lance to Landis. Enjoyable read, reads like a crusade against Drugs rather than a set of stories, a must read for anyone interested / involved in the sport.

**Dodge** · 19/06/2011, 6:07 PM

Dan Martin won the Giro della Toscana

Seems the last spot on the Garmin Cervelo tour team is between him and Tom Danielson (who finished a good 8th in the Tour de Suisse)

**Mr A** · 19/06/2011, 11:32 PM

**Stuttgart88** · 20/06/2011, 2:32 PM

Pretty exciting finish to the Tour of Switzerland, Leipheimer time-trialling his way to a 3 (or 4?) second overall victory over Cunego. Cunego had a 2 minute lead to defend but didn't.

**Mr A** · 20/06/2011, 3:05 PM

John Gadret is going to ride the tour. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/john...tour-de-france

It would be great if he genuinely rode for Roche.

**Macy** · 21/06/2011, 10:05 AM

Danielson confirmed for Garmin for the tour, but full team not announced yet.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/dani...tour-de-france

**Mr A** · 21/06/2011, 10:11 AM

Doesn't look good for Martin but there is still hope I guess.

Radioshack confirm Deignan won't be selected: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/88...e-decided.aspx

**Dodge** · 21/06/2011, 10:35 AM

Garmin also announced that VanSummeran had signed an extended deal. Sorry that should read, Paris Roubaix winner Johan Vansummeran signed an extended deal

No why do that unless you're trying too either justify his inclusion or soften his blow.

The only other possible 'out' is Le mevel who rode hard in Itlay, but I'd imagine they'd like a French rider in the Tour

**Dodge** · 24/06/2011, 6:22 AM

No tour for Martin

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/88...n-Cervelo.aspx

**Dodge** · 26/06/2011, 3:07 PM

Matt Brammeier had a good weekend, winning the Irish time trial championship and then outsprinting Dan Martin to retain his national road race championship

So the Irish champions jersey will remain in the ProTour for another few months anyway

EDIT; Jaysus that was close

http://lockerz.com/s/114378165

**Macy** · 27/06/2011, 8:39 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

EDIT; Jaysus that was close

http://lockerz.com/s/114378165

Any kind of lunge from Martin and he'd have had it by the looks of that photo. I'd hope that Martin at least has a chance of going into the Vuelta as a protected rider. Mind you Vande Velde will probably crash out and Danielson will get sick at the Tour, and then Vaughters will just push his love children into the next Grand Tour...

**Stuttgart88** · 27/06/2011, 9:15 AM

So, how best to interpret Martin's standing at the moment?

A real talent, just not ready yet?
A decent cyclist, but not good enough - we're overhyping him a bit because we're so keen to see another Irishman go well in the TdF?

**Mr A** · 27/06/2011, 9:38 AM

I think he's the real deal, but the allergies hold him back a bit and mean he can be maddeningly inconsistent.

**Dodge** · 27/06/2011, 9:48 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

A decent cyclist, but not good enough - we're overhyping him a bit because we're so keen to see another Irishman go well in the TdF?

Cycling Quotient have him ranked 22nd in the world

The new IG pro cycling index has him ranked 14th in the world

Martin's won a ProTour title, numerous semi classics and a couple of mid ranked stage races. He's finished top ten in the hardest Grand Stage tour I've ever seen (Giro last year) and all while riding support for Vande Velde, Wiggins or Hysdjel (and even Farrar, Haussler and Hushovd)

He was picked for the 2009 Tour but got a late knee injury so Vaughters obviously thought he was ready then. its just that the Garmin Cervelo team is so strong now, he doesn't quite fit what they're looking for. He's almost too strong to be a domestique now but with the 2 leaders having finished top ten in the tour the previous 2 years, they couldn't really be left out

Will be interesting to see Martin being given the leader's role in the Vuelta though

**Macy** · 27/06/2011, 10:16 AM

To be a genuine Grand Tour contender, he'll have to work on his timetrialling a bit imo. I'm actually surprised he hasn't come on in that regard, as I would've thought Garmin would've been quite progressive in terms of equipment, access to wind tunnels etc. I think he's still young enough to develop. And he can win, so even if he doesn't emerge as a GC contender in a three week tour, he has a chance in the hilly classics (as his semi classics wins have shown) and there's several of week long tours as well. He has more potential than his cousin, imo.

I do like the ethos of Garmin, but I'm beginning to wonder are they trying to be too many things to too many riders. He clearly suffered because of this for the Tour this year - they're trying to do the sprints, overall, and stage wins and TTT. Maybe when the Cervelo merge works it's way out of the system it'll become clearer, and obviously Vande Velde and Danielson are both the wrong side of 30. Ryder Hesjedal is unlikely to get a course to suit him as much as last year either, so there could be a reassessment of his status there too. So in paragraph I've talked my way around from maybe he needs a move to that he should hang tight and let the team settle down!

On the allergies - it seems like it was a bit of freak how late they affected him this year, and he'd normally be over them by the Dauphine. Greg Lemond suffered from early summer allergies (undiagnosed until late in his career) - it was what he put down as the reason he could never be competitive at the Giro anyway.