Olympics

[Black Belt Jones]

How come the GB cycling team are struggling so much now in the velodrome?

I know they were mired with their connection to Sky at one point, and there's been a dramatic drop off in their performance.

Dave Brailsford is the main reason.

He's been gone a while, but the cracks were there last olympics. Also elements of everyone else catching up with aerodynamics, can't dominate forever etc.

Italy won the team pursuit yesterday against Denmark with Filippo Ganna driving them in from 1k out - absolutely historic effort. There's nothing you can do about that - he is currently in a class of his own. But Denmark burying the UK team pursuit is down to better coaching and training, shows standards have slipped post Brailsford.

 

[davek]

Dave Brailsford is the main reason.

He's been gone a while, but the cracks were there last olympics. Also elements of everyone else catching up with aerodynamics, can't dominate forever etc.

Italy won the team pursuit yesterday against Denmark with Filippo Ganna driving them in from 1k out - absolutely historic effort. There's nothing you can do about that - he is currently in a class of his own. But Denmark burying the UK team pursuit is down to better coaching and training, shows standards have slipped post Brailsford.

I never really bought the incremental improvements line adding up to the GB domination. If Brailsford and his crew were controlling things there had to be something more to it than that.

 

[PITA]

Ha Ha Ha Ha.

FFS. This is an incredible post...and not for the right reasons.

Still ignoring the issue.

 

[Shevin Keedy]

I never really bought the incremental improvements line adding up to the GB domination. If Brailsford and his crew were controlling things there had to be something more to it than that.

Dark arts you think? Murky shenanigans?

 

[Jimishorts]

Beach volleyballers wearing different brands. Very odd.

Gives the message the players are bigger than the brand.

 

[davek]

Dark arts you think? Murky shenanigans?

Well, in March the longstanding GB team doctor was found guilty of handing out testosterone to riders.

The whole of the previous GB successes in the velodrome going back a decade or more is looking seriously dodgy as bona fide winning performances. You can see the effect now without the Brailsford / Sutton / Dr Freeman influence.

 

[davek]

Still ignoring the issue.

What's the issue?

 

[verreauxi]

The boat wins the medal.

obvs.

I think that goes to the wind, no?

 

[BNJ1878]

Omnium consist of 4 events. First 3 events are independent (Sprint, Tempo, Elimination) and your points in these 3 events are combined to give you a score that you go into the Points Race with.

The points race is a bit strange as it basically consists of 10 individual sprints so your position only matters at the end of every 10 laps. And even then only the top three riders get points. It's impossible to control the whole race which is why you'll have people fall back for and bit and then come back to the front.

There are bonus points in 2 of the events for lapping the field which gives you 20 points. Once you rejoin the field though that becomes the front of the race, you are no longer in first place.

I appreciate the explanation.

Still doesn't make complete sense.

 

[Eggs]

Well, in March the longstanding GB team doctor was found guilty of handing out testosterone to riders.

The whole of the previous GB successes in the velodrome going back a decade or more is looking seriously dodgy as bona fide winning performances. You can see the effect now without the Brailsford / Sutton / Dr Freeman influence.

….you might be right although you are generally wrong.

I presume the cycling medalists were tested to extremes and I’m not aware of any positive outcomes. Until that happens I’ll believe they were clean.

I think GB concentrated on a sport they felt they could take to the next level (similar to rowing). Other countries are bound to catch up, plus we’ve still got many of the same riders who are now over the top. I expect there will be medals but not the barrow full of golds. Like rowing, that golden era is on the decline, it’s what happens.

 

[Eggs]

Omnium consist of 4 events. First 3 events are independent (Sprint, Tempo, Elimination) and your points in these 3 events are combined to give you a score that you go into the Points Race with.

The points race is a bit strange as it basically consists of 10 individual sprints so your position only matters at the end of every 10 laps. And even then only the top three riders get points. It's impossible to control the whole race which is why you'll have people fall back for and bit and then come back to the front.

There are bonus points in 2 of the events for lapping the field which gives you 20 points. Once you rejoin the field though that becomes the front of the race, you are no longer in first place.

….thought it was a fantastic watch. It must take super human effort and concentration to not only focus on getting points for yourself but watching what your closest competitors are doing.

A magnificent gold.

 

[davek]

….you might be right although you are generally wrong.

I presume the cycling medalists were tested to extremes and I’m not aware of any positive outcomes. Until that happens I’ll believe they were clean.

I think GB concentrated on a sport they felt they could take to the next level (similar to rowing). Other countries are bound to catch up, plus we’ve still got many of the same riders who are now over the top. I expect there will be medals but not the barrow full of golds. Like rowing, that golden era is on the decline, it’s what happens.

Utterly naive.

 

[wm02]

There’s something delightfully quirky about the triple jump

 

[Eggs]

Utterly naive.

….has a British cyclist ever tested positive at the Olympics? There’s been a lot of them, I’m sure they’ve all been tested numerous times.

 

[Moomin]

….has a British cyclist ever tested positive at the Olympics? There’s been a lot of them, I’m sure they’ve all been tested numerous times.

Lance Armstrong has never tested positive.