Pro-cycling thread

1992, when Jacky Durand and Thomas Wiegmuller were part of the early break and stayed away.

He did. He dropped all the favourites on the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont.

Thanks. Will turbo that later.

Bettiol was one of the favourites the year he won wasn't he? I remember Sean Kelly talking him up all race.

No Eurosport since I dropped my Virgin sub down. GCN paid for again. It's gonna drop out like a bastard all through Flanders isn't it? #csb

I don't know if he was a favourite, especially as he'd never won a race as a pro, but he'd looked strong at E3, where he finished fourth, and was considered an outside bet by some. He won it in style, dropped everyone on the Kwaremont and wasn't seen again until the finish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWcdIbobDSc

There is no dedicated thread but I think it's worth a discussion. The media storm around Emily this week has been horrendous. I think she has been very brave to come out and transition publicly, and has followed all the rules set by BC and the UCI to become eligible to race in the women's category, but despite this, the idea that she could still have an unfair advantage over the other women means she's not being allowed to race at all, despite doing everything by the book.

We now don't know if she really would win everything by a country mile as claimed by the media, or if her performance would be the same as other women in the competition.

I found this article which seems well written and balanced. It suggests that the reason given for not letting Emily compete is that her registration as a male rider has not expired.

https://inews.co.uk/sport/cycling/emily-bridges-transgender-cyclist-banned-national-championships-explained-1549566

The fact is BC have moved the goalposts. She complied with the testing and met the thresholds but because other athletes are unhappy, it has found another excuse.

That's not a fact though, is it? The UCI moved the goalposts, by raising this new issue that because Emily still has a male license, then she is ineligible. BC were blindsided by that I believe.

Yes, it's convenient that they didn't bring up the license issue until a few days after it became a national news story though, right?

This is the crux of the argument, from that article:
"And scientific evidence points to transgender athletes holding a significant advantage over biological females. Sharron Davies, the former swimmer, equates the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sport with doping. The big difference of course is that transgender athletes do not deliberately set out to cheat. They – and women – are let down by insufficient guidelines: scientists say that there are a lot more variables to monitor than just testosterone levels when it comes to advantages or otherwise in strength and endurance."

What's not reported as much, but was mentioned in this Cycling Weekly article (https://www.cyclingweekly.com/fitness/i-just-want-to-be-competitive-again-trans-cyclist-emily-bridges-on-preparing-to-race-in-the-female-category), is that the other effects of hormone therapy is that it reduces the red blood cells in the blood which means that even though a person going through transition might retain some physical advantages, they no longer have the energy to power the increased muscle mass/larger frame as efficiently.

The real question is, do those effect reduce the performance to the point that it's equal/fair when competing against other women, which is what is hard to objectively prove or disprove without real racing results or more research specifically into elite trans athletes.

No surprises that it’s white middle aged men playing gatekeepers who have the most to say about it on the various Facebook groups.

I don’t have a definitive position on it and I don’t think my opinion is that important on the matter. I do think governing bodies are worried that it shines a light on some fallacies within sport.

Edit; I also wish it was approached with more compassion and less vitriol.

Yes, it's convenient that they didn't bring up the license issue until a few days after it became a national news story though, right?

This UCI regime will do everything they can to avoid bad publicity, and I think in their minds, a transgender athlete winning a race would be perceived as such. I think the whole situation is incredibly unfair on Emily, who has done everything asked of her, and just wants to race.

The sigma sport matt stevens interviews pippa york puts a good personal perspective on it.

https://youtu.be/5abgXEWQPlI

Pointless splitting hairs over who has moved the goalposts. It’s been made clear that neither is on her side.

I'm not pointlessly splitting hairs. BC are a rules-based organisation, and they've set out rules and criteria that any trans athlete needs to follow. Emily has done this and, as I understand it, BC were satisfied that the rules had been met, then in wade the UCI, who BC are, like any other national cycling federation, sub-servient to, and come up with a new reason that excludes her.

It's a shit situation, and the UCI are actively making it worse.

Ineos having an easy ride here so far

... and Trek , and Bahrain .... Come on Fred ... !

The ag2r neckwarmers are nice.

TurnPid lurking now

Anything interesting happen in the first two hours?

Heinrich Haussler is wearing gloves and Robbie McEwen has gone off to enjoy a delicious beef lasagna prepared by his mum.

Lots of chat about donks.

You didn't mention Pog on the deck