Pro-cycling thread

If you're game on for a race win but your shitty team kit will likely lose you that race, why wouldn't you fuck them off? Maybe he had a strop, maybe they reneged on an agreement to get him what he thought he needed for the win. It's not like his job is sitting in a cubicle typing all day and he's annoyed with the water cooler temperature.

No it's not.

Dennis was in the Boardman tunnel in May, so either he's very unhappy with his CdA or knows there's kit that'll make him faster that he can't use. Can imagine it having a huge impact in his confidence ahead of the TT.

Some thoughts from cyclist.co.uk
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/6659/pro-riders-and-teams-open-up-about-mental-health-issues

Also an interview with David Spindler, the Team Dimension Data shrink
https://www.stanleystreetsocial.com/stanley-street-podcast/2019/davidspindler
He was on the ITV commentary a few days ago. He was one of the people who helped Pete Kennaugh out of the saddle.

There was an angry exchange with DS in the team car just before he climbed off, no?

I'd bet the DS knows exactly why it happened but doesn't want to publicise it and piss off his sponsor or look like a cunt.

Fellow Australian Bernard Tomic had another wobble at Wimbledon this year

My mate's parents love him - he rents their house in Wimbledon for two weeks every year for many pounds and is gone in two days.

The Guardian is trying to link it to doping:

"The Bahrain-Merida team have been the subject of some controversy this year in the aftermath of the Operation Aderlass doping investigation, which is ongoing and had connected Milan Erzen, of the team’s management, to the investigation. Erzen has forcefully insisted that any allegations against him are false and unfounded.

Asked after Thursday’s stage if there were any other issues that may have led to Dennis’s sudden withdrawal, Stangelj said: “Come on, don’t put words in my mouth.”

Perhaps he got a sudden attack of conscience about the human rights abuses in Bahrain? Or disappointed he hadn't been invited on a casual lunchtime ride with Prince Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa like Nibali?

Bahrain Merida sports director Gorazd Stangelj was a time trialist with doping form.

The team told him halfway through a stage he can't have disc wheels or whatever tomorrow?

No he wasn’t. He was primarily a one day race specialist. I’d be surprised if he didn’t dope, given the era he raced in and the teams he raced for, but I’m not sure he was ever convicted of doping offences.

He’s a professional cyclist who is paid to ride on the equipment the team gives him. If he’s not happy with that, then don’t sign for the team. It’s not like he was surprised by a change in equipment sponsorship after signing for them, presumably for a lot of money, less than a year ago.

So are Fulcrum TT wheels shit then?

I know as much about it as anyone else.

Except that professional cyclists can have exception clauses in their contracts. It's also not like everything that happens at work is detailed in people's contracts. You've never had a contract for a role that was misrepresented or turns into something else entirely?

Vos is God.

Did Google do that? I'm not sure that's the translation.

It is.

They just updated it after that win.

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Your pixels are showing :P

Class act by Vos. Still the boss.

Daniel Friebe is saying Dennis did one because of an issue with/around his skinsuit. No source or confirmation but Friebe is there on the ground

Shit skinsuit+shit wheels+shit frame=how many watts potentially?

I just can't believe someone would walk mid-stage, the day before potentially winning a yellow jersey and not have a massive reason. All the talk of being a 'hothead' or mental issues just rings a bit hollow when personal ambition and interest would be so overwhelmingly in favour of being there today to win the stage. Speaks to me of something underlying in team management and concrete promises being broken else he's contractually fucked himself, which isn't what's being said by his DS either who is apparently totally mystified?

ES are saying about the skin-suit, and lots of maybes.

That Bora helper smacking his head from stepping back and falling looked so bad. Embarrassing, and bad.

I hope he got a brain scan - looked like he needed one.

Dunno what you're talking about

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That one is much better.

Sad to see Tony Martin chilling out and coming in over five minutes down in a time trial.

It's not his job now, but its sad to see him with his wings clipped.