Gewiss literally came to prominence by getting the 1-2-3 at Fleche Wallonne.
Cycling thread
- Thread starter Bruce Wayne
- Start date
Gave it a go on zwift, not sure you would have benefitted from air conditioning in the way I didMy time for Hautacam - 1 hour
Pogacar's time for Hautacam - 33.27
The saddest thing is, that was probably my fittest ever year, and I was thinking a VAM of over 1,000 for an hour is good going. These guys are on another planet.
It strikes me as quite funny that Froome, Wiggins and that generation were often tainted by accusations, yet their performances were some way below that from the 90s and 00s, yet since Covid, performances have gone through the roof and people are just shrugging their shoulders and saying we're having truly transformational gains in a handful of years.
I'm not so sure Dave. The media now are so chummy with the athletes that no one really asks questions. There isn't a David Walsh, and Kimmage is pushed to the sidelines. GCN et al are just cycling PR.
One thing I find interesting is that, if you look at a proam race, like the Maratona, the times haven't really changed much
en.wikipedia.org
You would think that those at the sharp end will invest a decent amount in new bikes, and probably eat the wizzy nutrition products that allow you to consume more carbs. They may even live in the mountains so have altitude baked in. Yet the times are steady, unlike the pro ranks, where things have got hugely quicker in the last few years.
Maratona dles Dolomites - Wikipedia
You would think that those at the sharp end will invest a decent amount in new bikes, and probably eat the wizzy nutrition products that allow you to consume more carbs. They may even live in the mountains so have altitude baked in. Yet the times are steady, unlike the pro ranks, where things have got hugely quicker in the last few years.
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
Walsh and Kimmage both went against the grain of their craft, but there'll always be a journalist who'll turn up and dismantle a myth.
Just a matter of time with Pogacar. IMO his achievements this season are going to have a cost for the sport.
I got into the sport because of Pantani and he always contended that his suspension in 99 was a stitch up because he was too dominant in that year's Giro. He's probably chuckling looking down on the dominance Pogacar shows in every race he rocks up at.
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
The world wants fairy stories.
Covid has possibly amplified that because we all want to forget and put what was a catastrophe for the species behind us and get back to the bread and circuses.
The daft thing about it all this is that if no one breaks ranks into the stratosphere then suspicion is managed by the industry. Pogacar has blow it apart for over a year. You cant do that. You cant elevate in that way without a lot of scrutiny.
I suppose this is what I struggle with the most. The Sky era was typified by the whole marginal gains thing, and they were supposed to be the best because of looking under every stone for improvements. Despite this, they were way down on the EPO era riders, and the Sky train thing was supposed to be boring because they climbed at a tempo, as that was simply the most efficient way to ride.
Now, in a handful of years, riders are knocking the EPO era times for six and attacking left, right, and centre, having seemingly found all sorts of "marginal gains" that had evaded the Sky era teams.
I've said for a while now that with Pogacar, we're seeing things that have never been seen before. The history of the sport suggests you simply have to view that with suspicion. Throw in the terrible track record of those heading up the UAE team and it does seem unusual.
Rita_Poon
Player Valuation: £100m
There are a set of Dr's blending microdose PED's. Get the right blend into the right athlete that responds just right and keep the scrutiny down.
The French super plod took and kept urine samples from the 1998 tour. When EPO testing was discovered they retested and found most of the cheats. That system should be ongoing. As testing gets more thorough and accurate, the dopers of yesteryear ought to be outed and destroyed in terms of career and involvement in any sporting endeavour.
There have to be penalties. But, how many times can cycling be the sacrificial lamb that allays fears from Olympics and World cups?
As trust, faith and belief in yet another generation of stars is burned, what cost the involvement to the big money profile types in Tennis, in Boxing, in Basketball. (who drugs checks all those mma disasters?)
The French super plod took and kept urine samples from the 1998 tour. When EPO testing was discovered they retested and found most of the cheats. That system should be ongoing. As testing gets more thorough and accurate, the dopers of yesteryear ought to be outed and destroyed in terms of career and involvement in any sporting endeavour.
There have to be penalties. But, how many times can cycling be the sacrificial lamb that allays fears from Olympics and World cups?
As trust, faith and belief in yet another generation of stars is burned, what cost the involvement to the big money profile types in Tennis, in Boxing, in Basketball. (who drugs checks all those mma disasters?)
Pog is the best I've seen since Merckx and I can only barely remember him.
However his performance is absolutely mind-blowing and sadly my first thought is not what an incredible athlete he is but that it is impossible to achieve without drugs.
If he's clean then he's superhuman.
However his performance is absolutely mind-blowing and sadly my first thought is not what an incredible athlete he is but that it is impossible to achieve without drugs.
If he's clean then he's superhuman.
Rita_Poon
Player Valuation: £100m
Regularly fell afoul of much less strict and much less precise drug testing.
I liken the generations to tennis. Not the players but the technology. Comparing Merckx then to Pogacar now is like comparing Fred Perry with his wooden racket to Carlos Alcaraz now with his composite graphite racket. Had blood boosting, transfusions, EPO and all the designer stuff to cheat with been available then, he or someone else would have been using it and winning with it.
Evenepoel abandons.
Not too surprised, but Remco has called it quits today.
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