2013 Pro-cycling season thread

There's no doubt that Basso doped before his bust.

But since his return he's probably been the most transparent cyclist in the peleton, working with the late Aldo Sassi, regularly posting his blood values on the web, posting his daily training schedule, wattage etc. He caught the prevailing mood long before most and realised to regain credibility he had to build trust.

That deserves more than derision in my opinion.

Basso was a client of Fuentes. He certainly doped at some point in his career, and he's never been repentant about it to my knowledge. I'd say he's fair game.

Of course he doped, and he lied about, continues to lie about it - he was banned for 'intending' to dope, which is truly funny.
I don't want to sound bitchy, Jimmy, but 'to my knowledge' is another phrase you should use with caution.

That's a nice story. But he's always maintained he merely 'attempted doping', and obviously someone who was so clearly guilty of doping is going to go all out with the PR to demonstrate how clean he is.

He may well be, and may have been for a while, but he was certainly neck deep in it at some point.

Anyway, wrong thread. I'm sure Basso is a lovely chap, just a shame he cheated.

Of course he doped, and he lied about, continues to lie about it - he was banned for 'intending' to dope, which is truly funny.
I don't want to sound bitchy, Jimmy, but 'to my knowledge' is another phrase you should use with caution.

I was using it with caution: To my knowledge he hasn't been repentant or fully admitted doing it (see above), however I am not all-knowing, so the caveat is I could be wrong. If I am wrong I will cheerfully admit it.

While slagging you off behind your back ;)

So... how much did Farrar pay Sagan to let him win?

Good interview with Jens Voigt after his win yesterday.

Blinding quote at 1.30.
http://www.bicycling.com/video/jens-voigt-attacking-confidence

That was him being interviewed after his failed attack on stage 4. He attacked and won on stage 5, and couldn't even speak at the finish, but he is motherfucking Jens Voigt alright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhfBn8AYCLA

Wiggo pulling out of Giro, Hesjedal not feeling that great, Hushovd generally poorly.
General trend seems to be that recent heroes are fading from the picture in the 2013 season? Or is this normal for pro cycling?

Catching up on ToC after being laid low but some fucking norovirus bollocks. Crazy the contrasts in the roads anditions. Wiggins should've race that. Wide roads and hot sum, no problem with ridiculously low BMI he's got

Didn't he overheat at the Vuelta though?

Catching up on ToC after being laid low but some fucking norovirus bollocks. Crazy the contrasts in the roads anditions. Wiggins should've race that. Wide roads and hot sum, no problem with ridiculously low BMI he's got

That decision would've broken the internets.

There's been enough bollocks on forums about his decision to ride the Giro, can you imagine how much shit would've been posted if he'd gone to California for a training race?

Sky aren't riding it this year anyway.

I see Fat Pat's managed to announce via official UCI press release that he was nominated by Swiss Cycling despite the nomination probably being impossible under UCI rules which say you can't be a member of two federations at one, with Irish cycling saying he is still a member there.

He's amazing.

I was joking! Realistically I know he wouldn't ride Cali

Menchov or Cobo are better bets.

But there are often rumours that a big name is about to be done on the bio passport and it's only really happened once (if you consider Pellizotti a big name).

Denis has suddenly retired permanently in the middle of the season citing a knee injury

Hmmm. Secret Pro predicted a GT winner is about to be done, and Basso and Menchov have both gone to ground

Would anyone be surprised??

Ever?

No.

Shame isn't it?

If you're a pro-rider you're suspicious. If you're a pro-rider and winning you're even more suspicious. And I'd include Wiggo and even Cav in that. The swines.

Sniff

wash your mouth out. Cav is god

You can't prove a negative. You believe someone is clean on faith rather than knowledge. It's a lovely fucking war.

Yeah I know but its cav init

Oh I don't believe for a second he dopes, but I just can't *know *

And there's the rub

Uran's agent is using the Giro to put his boy into the shop window, speaking to L'Equipe he's said he's likely to leave Sky to go for a leader's spot in next year's TdF, and likely team being touted as OPQS.

I don't blame him for looking for other teams, he certainly has GT potential and is arguably now behind Porte in the pecking order at Sky. I do wonder who much support he's get from OPQS since they are one-day specialists and their TdF team for the foreseeable future will be built around Cav and his quest for Merxk's stage win record.

If I were Uran, I'd avoid OPQS like the plague. Leferve's record of signing GC riders is appalling.

Does anyone remember Mercado, Pecharramon or Rujano?

They have the rouleurs to put together a pretty decent GT team and the Velits brothers can provide good support in the mountains. A bigger pay cheque and a real shot at Vuelta or Giro sounds quite decent to me.