Cycling 2014

[Dodge]

I don't want to put words in macy's mouth here but he means great as in exciting/a great tactician

I don't think anyone can deny that tbh

[Macy]

For me - cycling has turned very depressing the last year or two - and now with Irish cyclists all riding with teams connected to doping or past dopers - I'm finding it very difficult to watch at all to be honest - I wouldn't respond to comments on cycling normally but the assertion that AC is anything "great" is not right I think - just a personal opinion.

Pretty much what Dodge said. If you're going to watch it, which I do (and will continue to do), then I want to see attacking racing, different tactics, cross wind attacks etc. I don't want to see a mass time trial using power meters, or GT's won on time bonuses.

I accept that people don't have time for the sport due to it's past. What I don't accept is the way some people who'll dismiss cycling, then following athletics, tennis, even top level football that do sod all about doping.

Fair enough - I didn't realise. Maybe the phrase is "Froome is clean - as far as we can prove".

But he's never failed a test....

[Real ale Madrid]

Pretty much what Dodge said. If you're going to watch it, which I do (and will continue to do), then I want to see attacking racing, different tactics, cross wind attacks etc. I don't want to see a mass time trial using power meters, or GT's won on time bonuses.

....

No issue - but the original point I was making re. Contador is how do you know how good he is at anything on a bike - tactically, attacking wise, whatever; as everything he does is skewed by his past.

I accept that people don't have time for the sport due to it's past. ....

People have an issue with its Present as well - I see Maxim Iglinsky just got popped for using EPO - I think he just finished 96th in the Eneco Tour ....on EPO. Chapeau to anyone that finished ahead of him.

What I don't accept is the way some people who'll dismiss cycling, then following athletics, tennis, even top level football that do sod all about doping.
....

Off topic to what we were discussing but I completly agree - the latest US Open tennis winner is a testament to the hypocracy in relation to all sports - not a beep from anyone after he won.

[Acornvilla]

No issue - but the original point I was making re. Contador is how do you know how good he is at anything on a bike - tactically, attacking wise, whatever; as everything he does is skewed by his past.


People have an issue with its Present as well - I see Maxim Iglinsky just got popped for using EPO - I think he just finished 96th in the Eneco Tour ....on EPO. Chapeau to anyone that finished ahead of him.



Off topic to what we were discussing but I completly agree - the latest US Open tennis winner is a testament to the hypocracy in relation to all sports - not a beep from anyone after he won.

I seen lots of people raise the issue on twitter including several tennis journos. It was glucose tablets he was banned for thou right, something which is allowed outside of competitions, just not during tournaments? His ban was cut in half after appeal, people generally seem to believe Cilic's story (Which was that he was taking them not knowing if they were banned..) I never followed the story super closely thou, so I might have gotten something wrong.

[Real ale Madrid]

It was glucose tablets he was banned for thou right, something which is allowed outside of competitions, just not during tournaments? .

He got pinged for taking Nikethamide - a stimulant which has been banned since the 70's. So its not allowed in or out of competitions.

His ban was cut in half after appeal, people generally seem to believe Cilic's story .

Cilic says that the Lozenge he was given were glucose ones containing traces of the banned substance - which is correct.

But what I don't get is why was anyone associated with him was purchasing said lozenges - as these particular type of lozenges are marketed at mountain climbers who are looking to increase endurance at high altitude over short periods of time. Now anything who follows doping in cycling or in any sport knows that sets off all sorts of alarm bells. I think Cilic knew exactly what he was doing and should have been banned for 2 years - at least.

[woodyirl]

Who in their right mind sights down with an 18 year old and advices him, he should take EPO.

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-n...-epo-positive/

Feel massively sorry for Eddie Barr. The kid has such a bright future in front of him. Hopefully he can fulfil his potential. A lot of team interested in him

[Mr A]

The Contador case was interesting because it was found that the clenbuterol probably came from a food supplement rather than as part of doping, but because Contador had to explain why it was in his system and had said it came from beef he lost. On the other hand Michael Ashenden was in no doubt that Contador was blood doping. http://nyvelocity.com/content/interv...chael-ashenden So justice was done, in a slightly roundabout and unsatisfactory way.

That said, if you think about doping too much you can't enjoy as much sport any more. One of the reasons I drifted back to cycling was the realisation that while it's imperfect and has a terrible history, at least cycling tries to clean up. Most sports simply don't want to know and ignore the problem. There's too much money involved to risk exposing the dark side.

[Mr A]

Heart break yesterday with Mullen within less than a second of winning the time trial U23 world championship. Roche was part of the Tinkoff team that came 5th in the team time trial at the weekend. Strong Irish team for the road race this weekend.

Meanwhile Bennett has extended with Netapp until end of 2017. http://www.netapp-endura.com/en/news...old-reinforce/

[Dodge]

Michael O'Loughlin was 8th in the Junior Time Trial. Brilliant stuff

[Mr A]

Bad day for Roche in the ITT.

Meanwhile Darach McQuaid remains confident of bringing back the Tour of Ireland: http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-n...ery-confident/

[Mr A]

Eddie Dunbar the big hope for Ireland in Worlds junior race, currently live here: http://www.stickybottle.com/races-re...champs-action/

[Mr A]

Irish lads were prominent throughout but left behind towards the end. Nobody in top twenty anyway.

[Mr A]

Roche to Sky confirmed: http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,272...tFxHLgTcJzt.97

[Dodge]

NetApp Endura's main man signed for Sky too. Should lead to extra opportunities for Bennett

[Mr A]

True, but more competition for leadership role for Roche. Don't like Sky, but then Tinkoff aren't always easy to like either.

[Mr A]

Piece on that Roche move: cyclingtips.com.au/2014/10/roche-commits-to-working-for-froome-explains-why-sky-was-best-move/

[swinfordfc]

Dan is the man!

[Stuttgart88]

Just saw the finish. The speed he generated to get away from the pack was phenomenal. There was a brilliant view from the helictopter camera. The pack barely took any notice of him until he was gone, though it did look like they all left it to each other to respond. Cycling is funny like that sometimes. There were some top riders in that lead group too: Evans, Valverde, Costa, Sanchez.

[Mr A]

He timed it perfectly and executed it brilliantly. Caught the group by surprise and whoever chased knew they'd be dragging others back to Martin and would then get passed. He made it look very easy, a sign of his class. Am raging I did not have him backed, I had intended to do so unless the odds were very short.

[Mr A]

Deignan and Martin both going to the last Tour of Beijing. No start list yet so not sure whether Brameier will be there, I think not though.