Pro-cycling thread

Not wanting to wish bad things of anyone, but maybe the curse of the rainbow jersey will return?

The same people hating on Sky are the same people painting Pantani and JaJa all over the roads.

Except me. I hate on Sky AND Pantani, JaJa and Merckx and every other doper. :)

Just watch Sagan basically wear it for another year: https://www.instagram.com/p/BocHRz3HXc0/

But you love Evans even though there’s not a chance he did this clean.

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What if I don't like Sky but like Valverde?

Rubbish troll is rubbish.

That was the first year of the biological passport, and many of those who were still doping were busted through targeted testing at the Tour, I.e. Kohl and Beltran. That targeting was based on intelligence gathered by the bio passport.

As he did throughout his career, Evans passed every test he was subjected to.

How come Rabobank’s Menchov wasn’t found out then? I thought their entire team was doped up to the gills?

What if I don't like Sky but like Valverde?

Valmerde

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/denis-menchov-given-two-year-doping-ban-130083

He was, but later in his career, once the UCI had built up enough of a case against him.

In the early years of the biological passport, the UCI were very cautious in bringing cases, preferring to use targeted testing to catch out those they suspected of doping. Most of the early cases brought using passport data were small fry riders, partly because the UCI were worried that if they went for a big name they'd challenge them through the arbitration system and maybe even raise a civil case.

Valverde cheated. He got caught. He was less than repentant.

He is one of the few remaining in the peloton of 'that' generation. It is hard to argue that the majority of professionals were clean in his early career. In earlier generations, doping was less systematic or scientific, yet arguably as omnipresent. From the early days of strychnine, via amphetamines and pot Belge, illegal advantage has always been sought. Many of these villains were just normal guys desperate for another contract.

Should we condemn them? Yes.

We can only hope that the nuclear arms race on doping will finally won by the testers (no, not of the MDCC variety), for the long-term health of all who take part.

I suspect this is true of most major and minor sports.

Shit, I didn't even get a chance. What @andyp said.

Sagan’s English language autobiography is published today.

I’d love to know how John Deering got the ghost writing gig.

And Inrng has done a good posting on AG2R’s finances;

http://inrng.com/2018/10/the-finances-of-ag2r-la-mondiale-matmut/

John Deering

Who?

Doesn't he own a tractor company?

I thought he made posh tea.

He was the Linda McCartney team press officer, and wrote a book about that called “Team on the Run”.

He’s written other books in cycling but he’s not exactly well known in the way Peter Cossins or Richard Moore or William Fotheringham are.

I’ve a belter of a story about him but it’s very definitely one for the pub.

Which pub? I'll be there in 20.

The Old Ticket Office at Cambridge station? It’s easy from Liverpool St, which would be great if you still worked there.

Cool. I'll see you there in 20 (insert suitable unit of time here). #details

Actually looks like a good pub. https://twitter.com/otocambridge

The beer is good, and they have a gluten-free one on draught.

Today's desk beers include a Nomad Supersonic Finger Lime DIPA and a Brewski Mango & Peach DIPA. They've probably got extra glutens..

Today's desk beers alcopops include a Nomad Supersonic Finger Lime DIPA and a Brewski Mango & Peach DIPA.