Pro-cycling thread

Not a tantrum at all and we still don't know why he left. How do you know he's not shitting blood or something?

It always comes back to the gooch with you. doesn't it?

Seems a reasonable assumption since the team said his choice to withdraw was nothing related to his physical condition

Twitter seems to suggest he may of have mental health problems, so pretty shit if his team are throwing shade at him for that

Nothing much more in GTs but they already have Nibbles.

He's off to Trek-Segafredo.

#reppedificould

Has anyone else noticed how much more interesting the sprints are, because Sago’s not guaranteed to win each one?

Was it last year or the year before where he complained that everyone was tagging him rather than racing? Maybe it was in the classics? I don’t see that so far this TdF and the sprinters all seem to be sprinting.

Twitter seems to suggest he may of have mental health problems, so pretty shit if his team are throwing shade at him for that

This was why I suggested everyone might want to stop casting aspersions without the full facts.

Have B-M actually thrown any shade? All I'd seen is a statement saying they support the welfare of their riders and there will be an investigation.

Who ever it was that interviewed at the end of the race (DS maybe) seemed pretty snoty about it saying they don't know why he got off, they did everything the could to convince him to continue but he can assure you it if nothing to do with his PHYSICAL condition

And he put the emphasis on physical, making it clear he was fit to carry on but decided not to

That may of just been heat of the moment frustration though having just lost someone you were banking on winning today's stage

Lots of sources saying this morning that he quit because he’s pissed off with the time trial equipment the team use.

A tantrum in other words.

Why’s that a tantrum??

The world time trial champion abandons the biggest race of the year the day before the only time trial in it because he’s pissed off about equipment he’s been using for at least seven months.

What would you call it?

And you know all the detail??

I don’t see what’s wrong with being pissed off or withdrawing services if agreements have or haven’t been made over working conditions.

If.

Think you’ve picked the wrong part to focus on there.

Just seems there is always an appetite to play the tantrum card when it comes to athletes, more so the higher up you go. Yet to me it seems quite natural that their demands would be rightly greater.

The Time Warp bike was launched middle to end of last season and Dennis would have won the world champs on it. As far as I can tell, most if not all of their suppliers have stayed over into 2019 so it doesn't seem like it should be equipment but who can tell, it may not even be about the TdF in 2019 at all. Could be as simple as them hiring a new GC lead for 2020 who takes what Dennis thinks is his spot if, as expected, Nibs leaves.

Edit - That's bollocks. He didn't ride for BM last year so wasn't on the Time Warp until this season.

Alex Dowsett 100/1 on Betfred to win todays stage, worth an E/W punt.

Maybe Dennis’ departure is good old-fashioned burnout?

To be honest, stepping off the bike and walking off without speaking to the team is unprofessional in the extreme. I'd say the same if a colleague at our company walked out without a word and didn't come back (obviously there's no indication that he won't ride for BM again).

It may not be a tantrum per se but it's certainly not professional.

secret pro reckons long term anger management/mental health issues at play. Clearly, whatever happened, team handled it poorly.

My point is neither party benefit here.
For the relationship to break down to this point there are failings on both sides. However one sides job is purely to manage yet all to often it seems the sportsman is blamed.

Particularly given most of the DS are from a bygone era where you just pulled yourself together, had a blood transfusion and got back on the bike.

From a podcast interview recorded in January:

‘‘To this day, there are times when I think 'what the hell am I doing?’,’’ Dennis said. ‘‘In 2018 I reckon there were half a dozen times when I thought 'I could quit – right now’ and January last year was the big one . . . I did not want to race my bike ever again. I was over this sport. But after a while you snap out of it and maybe it’s a a bit of a depressed period, for a week or something, then you realise why you like it again. I have these little periods when things aren’t going well, across the board, sometimes it’s a bit tough. It’s the same with every job . . . you’re bashing your head against the wall 'what am I doing? what am I doing?’ Eventually that wall shows a crack and you’re 'that’s why I’m doing it’, but I still go through those periods.’’

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/what-the-hell-am-i-doing-behind-rohan-dennis-tour-walk-out-20190719-p528v1.html

I'd say the same if a colleague at our company walked out without a word and didn't come back

I'd say they'd probably won the Euro millions Jackpot.

Cyclingtips got two anonymous ex-teammates going on record saying "he needs help".

Hey, who hasn't had a bad day at work when you think "what the fuck am I doing here when I could be enjoying myself with a few beers, watching the sport on TV.

Fellow Australian Bernard Tomic had another wobble at Wimbledon this year and Bora's Pete Kennaugh has moved to the media side of the fence.