Doping

And it's not grossly different from Sky's approach in previous GTs is it?

Having just watched yesterday's stage, I might take this back!

And don't forget this is the B team; these are mostly the guys who did the Giro last year and didn't even get to do the Tour

Basically the opposite to what I said then.......

Yeah. I've missed most of the Giro footage so far but yesturday's Astana did NOT look in any way like Sky.

The Giro usually let's the younger Climbers loose. Cali' suites the Rouleurs more? And the Sprinters can get round.

Agreed. It was a rampage of a week's riding, the last two stages in particular.

They've been dominant, but not the only team working.

This what I notice, it only apparent due to their colourful outfit.

Where's the secret pro?

And what exactly did Richie mean?

Busted fridge?

It was either a very carefully constructed comment, or a slightly carelessly constructed one.

Regarding the scrutiny that a rider/team is under, anyone remember a certain Mr Armstrong?
Doesn't mean it's a clean race if they are under intense scutiny.
I really want to believe in the sport again, having been put off it for a number of years.
However, seeing Contador and Valverde are still racing, I can't help but feel that until the sport is rid of those two, as well as maybe numerous others I don't know about, the tours will hold no interest for me.
I've always preferred the spring classics, and as far as I'm aware - open to correction - there weren't any known dopers still riding. Were there?

bt

Valverde won 2!

Regarding the scrutiny that a rider/team is under, anyone remember a certain Mr Armstrong?
Doesn't mean it's a clean race if they are under intense scutiny.

Are you saying Armstrong was under intense scrutiny? Because he clearly wasn't.

Yes.
All of the doping controls while at all of the tours in which he competed, as well as out of competition controls.
I believed he was clean. Guess that makes me a sucker like everyone else who thought the same. Because he was tested so much.
I wonder if the UCI were under investigation for conspiracy, after Armstrong's 'donations' ?
I lost interest in the sport at this point. What is Verbruggen doing these days? Is he still involved with the sport?

bt

When Mick Rogers is saying this is the hardest GT first week ever and he hopes it slows down soon you know there's something up

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-the-hardest-grand-tour-of-recent-years-says-rogers

When Mick Rogers is saying this is the hardest GT first week ever and he hopes it slows down soon you know there's something up

That probably just means he's finding it hard to keep up now, for some unknown reason :-)

Nothing about that is particularly surprising, though. Tough stages + Astana (and Sky to a lesser extent) attacking to see if they could knock Contador down while injured. Astana only has one more top-ten GC position than Tinkoff and Movistar, and Sky is just behind with Konig in 11th.

Maybe I'm just being naive, but I also think people are jumping onto conspiracy theories one week into a tour. Astana may have blown their load trying to crack Contador, and pay for it for the next two weeks.

I'm enjoying the race and will continue to do so.

21 ARU Fabio ITA
22 CATALDO Dario ITA
23 KANGERT Tanel EST
24 LANDA MEANA Mikel ESP
25 MALACARNE Davide ITA
26 ROSA Diego ITA
27 SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon ESP
28 TIRALONGO Paolo ITA
29 ZEITS Andrey

These are all pretty strong all round riders. And clearly sent out to mix things up whilst Aru hangs tight with the leaders. Other teams seem a bit sprinter/rouleur heavy for what's been a bit of a lumpy week.

Personally I think Astana stink, but I also think they've been shrewd this week in getting a few wins under their belts on the lumpy stages when other teams are being a bit more cautious or not wanting to give anything away-Aru's obviously on form and knows it. Porte doesn't seem to have the same wingman in Henao or Nieve as Aru has in Kangert or Cataldo either.

It's not so different from when Sky have had Froome, Porte, Wiggins, Nieve and Kiryienka and Siutsou ticking away for 100km at the front, it's insane to watch and incredibly effective at making other more mortal teams look pathetic.

Saying all that, on the juice, all of the fuckers.

Oh yes! Trying to forget him. As well as our CURRENT Olympic champion. Lifetime bans are the only answer, IMO

bt

Did you read the CIRC? Armstrong did test positive, and early on in his career, but it was covered up. Helps to have friends in high places, that's why he got away with it for so long. Verbruggen is still honorary president and sent an extraordinary open letter when Cookson suggested he step down. Its worth a read!

I think with Astana it is the context: Vino, all those positives last year, the threat of the license being withdrawn and the subsequent audit, then they get to keep the WT license and they've just gone all out.

The uncomfortable bit about it, as several people have alluded to, you see them through the eyes that so many people view Sky with.

Circ? Not aware of that. Nor about Vino's exploits since Olympics. Or Verbruggens letter. Guess I've got some catching up to do! Lol.
sad that people view Sky with the same scepticism, but what can we expect if they're dominant. Although they booted out Tiernan-Locke pretty swiftly iirc

bt

The Secret Pro talks Aru Vs Henderson:

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/05/the-secret-pro-aru-vs-henderson-the-giro-and-more/

Aru suing is highly reminiscent of the way Armstrong used to. Just enforces omerta and makes Aru much more suspicious in my eyes

https://twitter.com/firsthippy/status/600361019479822337

wow, that dude on Twitter saying intelligent things has the same avatar as you hippy.

I was prepared to give Aru the benefit of the doubt but it stinks of the guilty hiding behind litigation, and discourages other pros speaking their mind, which is what we need most of all.