Giro 2011

5k

2.5 and HTC train leading Cav out. Cav 5th in train.

2k and four left in train

It's for Cav to lose!

big crash

chute!

Last K three left

Come on renshaw

what a lead out!

very close!

Spectacular. Text book but still close

Back on topic - has Cavendish won yet?

Yes.

Translation of Cva speking in Italiand:

"Mumble mumble, my team great mumble gasp"

thanks, I just got the gasping for air, but nice to see Pettachi had no chance, he was well outclassed.

So Cav heads for the beach for the rest of the Giro!

Who won?

Bugger, I was looking forward to watching that this evening. In stead, I've seen in on a tiny screen with whispered Italian commentary.

Who won?

see andyp at #437

Wooooo!

I like watching when I know who wins, it's more relaxing!

There's an awful lot of assumptions in there, and very little fact.

What makes you think Geraint Thomas is clean? Is it because he's British and clearly therefore immune to cheating? If he was Italian you'd not even have noticed.

If you read what I've said, you'll find I'm assuming a grand total of fuck all, mate.

I don't think Thomas is clean - I'd like to think he is, but I've no evidence of that, just as this list doesn't prove one fucking way or another if any of these riders have doped.

My point is, without all the information relevant to the blood values, this list is pretty close to meaningless and should be disregarded.

That's what annoys me.

He probably has shown some odd blood values, **but that is before the fact that he's had his spleen removed has been take into account. **
There are any number of factors why blood values might appear dodgy, but until those factors have been presented alongside the incidents of fluctuation, then that list is almost meaningless.

Whoever leaked it wants a jolly good sacking, with a large dose of prosecution.

And a slap.

If you read what I've said, you'll find I'm assuming a grand total of fuck all, mate.

I don't think Thomas is clean - I'd like to think he is, but I've no evidence of that, just as this list doesn't prove one fucking way or another if any of these riders have doped.

My point is, without all the information relevant to the blood values, this list is pretty close to meaningless and should be disregarded.

Ooooh - keep your hair on!

I've highlighted the statement in your original post that strikes me as being a major assumption, we have no idea what the removal of a spleen does to blood values.

As to purpose of the list, it was intended to ensure targeted testing of those riders the UCI thought to be most suspicious based on biological passport data and other intelligence. We can infer very little from it but can assume that the UCI believe Thomas is worthy of closer scrutiny.

It's such an odd list you can use it to confirm almost any belief or prejudice you already have: French riders are clean, RadioShack is dirty, Wiggins and Thomas are too good to be true, so is Cav. Millar is a cheat, Millar is clean. Contador deserves the benefit of the doubt, and so on.
Or to confirm that the UCI haven't a clue what they are doing. Or are spot on. That the biological passport is a mess or a useful weapon.
I think they have said that part of their assessment is results - Menchov in the Giro, for example, who can believe that performance? - and part of it is ambition, which sounds odd but would have been a reliable suspicion had it been applied to Armstrong in 99, for example.
Personally I say Go Gadret! Or maybe not.

http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-43a74501-c531-4060-a2a5-522769ca1de1-raisport.html#p=0

time to bring out the lederhosen, ompah band, and von trapp family..

All aboard the cheat wagon! Next stop, Etna's summit!

Apparently Chicchi (seen holding on to the rear windscreen wiper) was just one minute slower on the ascent than Contador. One can see why!