Cycling 2014

**Real ale Madrid** · 09/06/2014, 9:44 PM

Did we know that Chris Froome had asthma before today?

**Mr A** · 10/06/2014, 7:46 AM

No. Unfortunate for a top cyclist to first have a disease affecting the blood and then one affecting the lungs. He really can't catch a break.

**Macy** · 10/06/2014, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

No. Unfortunate for a top cyclist to first have a disease affecting the blood and then one affecting the lungs. He really can't catch a break.

No mention in his book either, apparently. I'm not saying he is or he isn't, but it beggars belief that Walsh can be so sure of him, whilst being openly sceptical of others who have a much more consistent career path.

**Mr A** · 10/06/2014, 11:09 AM

Yeah.. Froome suddenly got it together at the Vuelta a few years ago and went from being a guy who wasn't going to get any sort of decent contract renewal to suddenly being a GC contender. Now he can outclimb Contador and out-TT Cancellara on his day.

Walsh has totally lost the plot.

Either Froome is possibly the greatest cycling talent of all time, or there is something else going on.

And incidentally- an inhaler can make an unbelievable difference on the bike. A couple of weeks ago I went for a spin on the bike and was utterly fecked after my usual 20k lap with a 15% ramp near the end, really in bits, because my asthma had affected my lungs. Usually I don't bother with the inhalers this time of year as the asthma rarely affects me- but really I'm meant to take it all year round. I took a few puffs after this spin and went out and did the same lap again not twenty minutes later and this time it was so much easier it was amazing to me. If it makes that much difference to a rotund bloke on a hybrid the difference it must make to a top pro in the mountains must be very significant.

**Dodge** · 10/06/2014, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Yeah.. Froome suddenly got it together at the Vuelta a few years ago and went from being a guy who wasn't going to get any sort of decent contract renewal to suddenly being a GC contender.

He was by far the strongest rider on that Vuelta too, despite being a late call up. He would have won it easily if Sky weren't trying to hand it to Wiggins. The year before he was 5th in the Commenwealth games time trial

**Real ale Madrid** · 10/06/2014, 11:28 AM

Froome is ludicrously thin as well at the moment. He made Contador look like a fatty on the bike yesterday, and he is hardly motoring on just bread and water himself.

**Macy** · 10/06/2014, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

He was by far the strongest rider on that Vuelta too, despite being a late call up. He would have won it easily if Sky weren't trying to hand it to Wiggins. The year before he was 5th in the Commenwealth games time trial

Worth remembering who he was second too (and actually beat on the road) too!

**Mr A** · 10/06/2014, 1:40 PM

Piece on this: http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/...r-video-125751

"At last year’s Tour de France, Froome said that TUEs are “rather personal” and that he did not have any"

"The UCI’s rules say that the requirement of a TUE depends on the drug which is used to treat asthma. You do not need an exemption for Salmeterol (up to a daily dose of 1600 micrograms) and/or Formoterol (up to a daily dose of 54 micrograms). Terbutaline requires an exception."

**Mr A** · 10/06/2014, 1:42 PM

That reminds me.. whatever happened to that Cobo bloke....

Edit.. also- things are getting weird: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/s...esearch.health

"Irish scientists may have a drastic answer to the great asthma epidemic. It is called bilharzia."

So.. the parasite goes, causing asthma to return. May actually make sense.

**Real ale Madrid** · 10/06/2014, 9:44 PM

But Froome doesn't actually have asthma right?

**Mr A** · 11/06/2014, 9:12 AM

He says he has exercise induced asthma.

**Mr A** · 13/06/2014, 10:15 AM

Deignan will race the Tour of Switzerland. Probably mostly in support of Wiggins.

Konig is 14th for Netapp at the Dauphine for Netapp- hardly inspiring. Big showdown at the weekend but if he doesn't improve they may well decide focussing on him at the Tour isn't a good bet and will bring Bennett. Meanwhile, an interview with Bennett on CN: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/incy...-rider-profile

**Mr A** · 15/06/2014, 4:28 PM

Deignan second in Switzerland today, and 7th overall.

**Mr A** · 20/06/2014, 3:49 PM

Roche shoring pre Tour De France form: http://www.stickybottle.com/races-re...-route-du-sud/

Martin doesn't look like making the Tour it would seem. He's going to do the national championships though, which Roche isn't.

**Mr A** · 21/06/2014, 2:53 PM

Roche wins stage 2 of Route du Sud! Get in!

Deignan with another good ride to take 6th in today''s stage of Tour of Switzerland.

Edit:
Video:

Report:
http://www.stickybottle.com/races-re...-stage-yellow/

Should be able to finish it off and take the overall today.

**Mr A** · 22/06/2014, 1:54 PM

Overall win confirmed. Nice.

**bennocelt** · 22/06/2014, 7:48 PM

Some of that tour is nearby, pity as football takes preference!

**Mr A** · 22/06/2014, 10:47 PM

Bennett also won today. A Kermesse in Belgium. http://www.stickybottle.com/races-re...ay-in-belgium/

**Macy** · 23/06/2014, 8:56 AM

Deignan must be in with a shout of going to the Tour - he's about the only Sky climbing domestique showing any kind of consistent form. I know it wasn't the plan, but who else have they that's showing any form?

**Dodge** · 23/06/2014, 9:43 AM

Originally Posted by Macy

Deignan must be in with a shout of going to the Tour - he's about the only Sky climbing domestique showing any kind of consistent form. I know it wasn't the plan, but who else have they that's showing any form?

Unless they're being "cycled" to peak at the Tour...