http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-keeps-options-open-but-argos-rule-out-move

I have to admit JRod has me “Smeagolled”.  He has the capacity to outsprint anyone on a hill, he can break away at the last minute when all around him are chewing the handlebars.  He is a genius in one sense, his team gave him mediocre support this year and he was often the lone red shirt in a Sea of Sky black yet it cannot be denied he was there or there abouts everytime.

The problem is he seems to have the tactical equivalent to narcolepsy.  Sometimes he just goes to sleep on the job.  he basically lost 2 Grand Tours this year that should by all accounts have been his…

Maybe a move to another team would be good for him, somehow he reminds me of watching Scotland play rugby union.  Year in year out they have somewhere between 1-3 world class players, yet because they do not have the depth in the team they cannot ever be victorious…think Patterson, Richy Gray etc etc…

I just despair at seeing such an obvious talent continually “lose it” …. always the bridesmaid, never the bride…yet he tops the world rankings…this must drive him nuts!

In fact I cannot decide whether he is Smeagol…or me!!

That story Cav told of them sitting on the bus and him asking if he could have a chance and Wiggins immediately raising his hand and saying he’d give him a chance and Froome and others joining in was very touching.

Massive respect.

Didn’t sound like the inside of a Death Star, did it?

Massive respect.

@frank That was an INCREDIBLE sprint! Go Cav!

I’m not deleting your profile or anyone else’s. My minimum expectation is that you manage your own identity within the community well enough that you don’t need me to spend my time cleaning up your mess.

I think you ultimately mean well, but you are the only person here who has needed to change their handle in order to continue contributing – I’ve lost track of how many times. You are accusing several long-standing, well respected community members of being assholes; I suggest you examine your conduct and consider how you might be bringing this upon yourself.

And the new @unamed screen name, almost a stroke of genius. Is there some kind of saying. ‘one cog short of a full cassette?’ Surely someone can do better than that.

One cog short of a full cassette. I fucking love it.

@minion

@Buck Rogers

The palate has been cleansed.   Thank you gentlemen.

And the new @unamed screen name, almost a stroke of genius. Is there some kind of saying. ‘one cog short of a full cassette?’ Surely someone can do better than that.

@Steampunk What’s the opposite of nipple lube? Chain grime? Axle grit?

Versio.

@Steampunk What’s the opposite of nipple lube? Chain grime? Axle grit?

Assembly paste?

Can anyone introduce Versio to Karolinka?

I’m not convinced they’re not the same person…scary thing is she found me on twitter about 6 months ago (insert scared emoticon here)

This deserves the weekly V-jersey and a frowny emoticon…

It is this: I stand on the brink of finding myself agreeing with Marcus.

Should I take that final step into the abyss, I fear I shall never forgive you.

Ahh, quit your fucking whinging and get in the water’s fine. You won’t even remember what life was like on the other side.

Dear Versio / Unnamed / Whatever –

I like to think that I am a reasonable man. I understand that part of life’s rich tapestry involves the occasional interaction with folk whose views, and methods of espousing them, are not always to one’s taste. And I like to think that I am a forgiving man. Rare indeed is the person who has never made a mistake and so knows not the need for and bliss of forgiveness and redemption.  And I like to think that I am a patient man.  When patience is shown to me I recognise and cherish it, and I try my best to do the same for others (including those, such as small children and other lawyers, who demand much of it).

But you have threatened my ability to be reasonable, to be patient and to forgive.

Not by your incomprehensible ramblings.  Not by your petty needling.  Not by your barely-sophomoric sense of what I assume you think might pass for humour. Not by your pathetically puffed and preened grandiosity.

It is far, far worse than that.

It is this: I stand on the brink of finding myself agreeing with Marcus.

Should I take that final step into the abyss, I fear I shall never forgive you.

That may well be the most eloquently delivered backhanded compliment Marcus has received in a while…

I’m trying to channel that image as otherwise i keep vomiting into the back of my throat when i return to readng the  part about energy conservation and agreeing w @Marcus. Is that a sign of the apocalypse? Shit, still haven’t won a race! Cant i have a few more days. Please.

I like to think that I am a reasonable man. I understand that part of life’s rich tapestry involves the occasional interaction with folk whose views, and methods of espousing them, are not always to one’s taste. And I like to think that I am a forgiving man. Rare indeed is the person who has never made a mistake and so knows not the need for and bliss of forgiveness and redemption.  And I like to think that I am a patient man.  When patience is shown to me I recognise and cherish it, and I try my best to do the same for others (including those, such as small children and other lawyers, who demand much of it).

But you have threatened my ability to be reasonable, to be patient and to forgive.

Not by your incomprehensible ramblings.  Not by your petty needling.  Not by your barely-sophomoric sense of what I assume you think might pass for humour. Not by your pathetically puffed and preened grandiosity.

It is far, far worse than that.

It is this: I stand on the brink of finding myself agreeing with Marcus.

Should I take that final step into the abyss, I fear I shall never forgive you.

Anyone up for a nice sorbet?

yeah, why don’t we meet at the metro station just down the road.  I’ll be there in five minutes.

The cone looks like a V; hence it’s Velomi-Sorbet.

I think popcorn is more appropriate.

@unnamed
Just get into the office to day after a cycling-related bender to read all of your shit. Because I am hungover and unproductive I will actually address your idiocy. My point about doing as little as possible was related to racing – not training, not riding your bike, channeling the V or whatever you want to call it. When you ain’t racing, yes burn all your matches – but when you are racing (you seem to talk like you might?), you race selfishly, do as little as possible and try to win. And Wiggo has done that perfectly.

Do your fellow competitors think you are as big a cunt as we do? Although then again, maybe they like the stupid fucker who pulls the breakaways in for them – bet you are a champ at that. Because you felt the need to describe your own racing I am guessing you are a little battler racing in some shit US town in some shit division with a bunch of other shitty riders. And you feel the need for validation by coming on here and talking about your little race. You are an embarrassment you little boy.

I think Ive only said this twice since Ive been a member here and I think the first time was to you as well. Fuck off. Seriously.

@unnamed

@scaler911

@unnamed

@scaler911

@versio

@Buck Rogers You make it easy in fact to realize that I should stop visiting this site. A long break would do me good (hurrah). And you can feel a sense of achievement by ridding me of this site (hurrah). I will at least check in to get good reports from the other contributors posts. And can try to discount any nonsense.

You know what dude, go. You’re not only a fucking tool, you’re not even funny. You claim to “know Campagnolo (who here doesn’t), and then have the balls to admit that you’re going to bait people. You’re a fucking troll of the lowest common denominator. You have nothing to contribute through your barely coherent posts anyway. “Punch someone in the face”. Be gone with your bad self, and I can only hope to be side by side with you in the pack someday. Fuck you.

Just needed you to release me. You are the bigger man here.

So now you’re just going to log in with different WordPress accounts. Who’s the child here? Go clean your chain or something. How was that 3hour ride anyway? If you can type, you didn’t go hard enough.

You can easily update your nickname in the account. I asked Frank to delete my profile if it was at all possible. The route went faster than expected. Grow up.

The last thing I’ll say to you. Deleting your account and coming back with a different handle somehow is going to make you more palatable? Grow up indeed.

You sound like the dumbest Cat 2 fuckup out there! Now that’s funny.

@scaler911

@unnamed

@scaler911

@versio

@Buck Rogers You make it easy in fact to realize that I should stop visiting this site. A long break would do me good (hurrah). And you can feel a sense of achievement by ridding me of this site (hurrah). I will at least check in to get good reports from the other contributors posts. And can try to discount any nonsense.

You know what dude, go. You’re not only a fucking tool, you’re not even funny. You claim to “know Campagnolo (who here doesn’t), and then have the balls to admit that you’re going to bait people. You’re a fucking troll of the lowest common denominator. You have nothing to contribute through your barely coherent posts anyway. “Punch someone in the face”. Be gone with your bad self, and I can only hope to be side by side with you in the pack someday. Fuck you.

Just needed you to release me. You are the bigger man here.

So now you’re just going to log in with different WordPress accounts. Who’s the child here? Go clean your chain or something. How was that 3hour ride anyway? If you can type, you didn’t go hard enough.

You can easily update your nickname in the account. I asked Frank to delete my profile if it was at all possible. The route went faster than expected. Grow up.

The last thing I’ll say to you. Deleting your account and coming back with a different handle somehow is going to make you more palatable? Grow up indeed.

@unnamed

@scaler911

@versio

@Buck Rogers You make it easy in fact to realize that I should stop visiting this site. A long break would do me good (hurrah). And you can feel a sense of achievement by ridding me of this site (hurrah). I will at least check in to get good reports from the other contributors posts. And can try to discount any nonsense.

You know what dude, go. You’re not only a fucking tool, you’re not even funny. You claim to “know Campagnolo (who here doesn’t), and then have the balls to admit that you’re going to bait people. You’re a fucking troll of the lowest common denominator. You have nothing to contribute through your barely coherent posts anyway. “Punch someone in the face”. Be gone with your bad self, and I can only hope to be side by side with you in the pack someday. Fuck you.

Just needed you to release me. You are the bigger man here.

So now you’re just going to log in with different WordPress accounts. Who’s the child here? Go clean your chain or something. How was that 3hour ride anyway? If you can type, you didn’t go hard enough.

You can easily update your nickname in the account. I asked Frank to delete my profile if it was at all possible. The route went faster than expected. Grow up.

@scaler911

@versio

@Buck Rogers You make it easy in fact to realize that I should stop visiting this site. A long break would do me good (hurrah). And you can feel a sense of achievement by ridding me of this site (hurrah). I will at least check in to get good reports from the other contributors posts. And can try to discount any nonsense.

You know what dude, go. You’re not only a fucking tool, you’re not even funny. You claim to “know Campagnolo (who here doesn’t), and then have the balls to admit that you’re going to bait people. You’re a fucking troll of the lowest common denominator. You have nothing to contribute through your barely coherent posts anyway. “Punch someone in the face”. Be gone with your bad self, and I can only hope to be side by side with you in the pack someday. Fuck you.

Just needed you to release me. You are the bigger man here.

So now you’re just going to log in with different WordPress accounts. Who’s the child here? Go clean your chain or something. How was that 3hour ride anyway? If you can type, you didn’t go hard enough.

@mcsqueak

@RedRanger

Oh, and I had to try and be cool by copying Scaler911, but that’s par for the course.

That’s your first problem right there then…

Ya. Can’t trust a thing that comes off my keyboard.

@versio

@Buck Rogers You make it easy in fact to realize that I should stop visiting this site. A long break would do me good (hurrah). And you can feel a sense of achievement by ridding me of this site (hurrah). I will at least check in to get good reports from the other contributors posts. And can try to discount any nonsense.

You know what dude, go. You’re not only a fucking tool, you’re not even funny. You claim to “know Campagnolo (who here doesn’t), and then have the balls to admit that you’re going to bait people. You’re a fucking troll of the lowest common denominator. You have nothing to contribute through your barely coherent posts anyway. “Punch someone in the face”. Be gone with your bad self, and I can only hope to be side by side with you in the pack someday. Fuck you.

Just needed you to release me. You are the bigger man here.

@Buck Rogers You make it easy in fact to realize that I should stop visiting this site. A long break would do me good (hurrah). And you can feel a sense of achievement by ridding me of this site (hurrah). I will at least check in to get good reports from the other contributors posts. And can try to discount any nonsense.

You know what dude, go. You’re not only a fucking tool, you’re not even funny. You claim to “know Campagnolo (who here doesn’t), and then have the balls to admit that you’re going to bait people. You’re a fucking troll of the lowest common denominator. You have nothing to contribute through your barely coherent posts anyway. “Punch someone in the face”. Be gone with your bad self, and I can only hope to be side by side with you in the pack someday. Fuck you.

@versio

Gone riding for the next 3 hours. Hope to return to this wonderful site for some positive-cycling-affirmation afterwards.

This kind of affirmation?

Yes, someone got it (positive-cycling-affirmation)! Like leaving a trail of candy for six-year olds.

Hi, Welcome to VAA, Velominati Assholes Annonymous, lets get the meeting underway.

Hi, I’m Minion and I’m an Asshole, (All; Hi MInion) I frequently disagree with comments on completely irrelevant points, for no other reason that arguing over arcane cycling facts or points of view for arguing’s sake. I spend time at work formulating smartarse responses to other posters, and use obnoxious images and videos from well known television shows and movies to try and make a humorous point.

Problem, me? Fuck no I don’t have a problem. I blame Marcus, that fucker’s got it bad. And the rest of you lot, you’re ALL fucked.

What 12 point plan? Step one’s 20 hour riding weeks?

(apologies to teetotallers and people who have dealt with AA/NA that shit ain’t funny)

Hello Minion. And thank you… thank you.

Man, I’m sorry but I have to comment.  I really have tried to hold back but Frank, is there a chance of voting someone of the island around here?  Hell, you can vote me off if you want.  But, come on Frank, what do you say?

Buck — man, I’m sorry but I have to comment. I visit this site often only to find that you are still licking balls in your clique.

And sure, ask Frank to handle it. Vote me away from your community. Do as you see fit. (You guys really lose control)

You may not like me as an online personality. But you would prefer me as a fellow cyclist that knows Campagnolo. Knows every spec on the machine that I ride. And continues to train, race and look to other fellow cyclist to further the experience. You and DerHoggz are becoming a real asses. You could use a punch in the face.

A certain poster who will go unnamed seems to think he has “deep” posts.  In reality his posts are a sophomoric attempt at intelligent discourse, not too different from the garbage I handed in to my English professor last year (which would really make them freshmanic).  Need to pad up a word count, sweet, grab a thesaurus, then throw adjectives around like a madman.

You just implied that “these” posts were deep. Grammar Queen! I am only disappointed at this “cycling” community with the observation that most all of my past and recent posts have been very simple. A few contributors here (unnamed) have been perplexed by these posts from the past. Even confused. And then they (unnamed) do not move on. No more to say, but I will continue to bait you thru this thread.

@scaler911 I voted for that guy.

Ha! I gave him $5.

I’d be more impressed if you voted for this guy:

@minion

@brett

If it’s a slower, cleaner race, surely the naturally talented bike riders are going to emerge? Not that the rest of the peloton are  slouches, but Porte’s had a star over his head for a while, and Rogers? No question about his pedigree. Seems like an odd target to pick when half the Astana team have been done at least once for actually cheating

http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2012/06/victories-disappointments-and-how-epo.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_in_cycling

Great article on Henry Cardenas. Thanks a million, Minion.

Cheers, ironically if Bretto had read that article, he might have understood what I was getting at. But he didn’t have his Clifford the Big Red dog book with him, to look up the words he might not know.

Hi, I’m Minion and I’m an Asshole, (All; Hi MInion) I frequently disagree with comments on completely irrelevant points, for no other reason that arguing over arcane cycling facts or points of view for arguing’s sake. I spend time at work formulating smartarse responses to other posters, and use obnoxious images and videos from well known television shows and movies to try and make a humorous point.

Problem, me? Fuck no I don’t have a problem. I blame Marcus, that fucker’s got it bad. And the rest of you lot, you’re ALL fucked.

What 12 point plan? Step one’s 20 hour riding weeks?

(apologies to teetotallers and people who have dealt with AA/NA that shit ain’t funny)

@mcsqueak

@RedRanger

Ah, I’m picking up what you’re putting down now. I’m a little slow.

Yet another reason Frank really has to work on coding in some friendly emoticons.

Emoticons!!??!! If Frank codes those on this site, I’m driving straight to his place and kicking him squarely in the twig and berries.

More likely is that I’ll add some code to remove them. Fuckin’ hate those things. Just say what you mean merckxdamnit and if you can’t take the time to express yourself fully, don’t say anything or do a piss-poor job of it and we’ll rip on you for a while and get a kick out of it.

Gone riding for the next 3 hours. Hope to return to this wonderful site for some positive-cycling-affirmation afterwards.

This kind of affirmation?

@RedRanger

Oh, and I had to try and be cool by copying Scaler911, but that’s par for the course.

That’s your first problem right there then…

@RedRanger

Ah, I’m picking up what you’re putting down now. I’m a little slow.

Yet another reason Frank really has to work on coding in some friendly emoticons.

Emoticons!!??!! If Frank codes those on this site, I’m driving straight to his place and kicking him squarely in the twig and berries.

Ah, I’m picking up what you’re putting down now. I’m a little slow.

Yet another reason Frank really has to work on coding in some friendly emoticons.

@RedRanger

I never implied he wasn’t awesome! I just said borderline incoherent.

I was actually the one implying something. my NYC sarcasm does not translate well in written form.

Oh, and I had to try and be cool by copying Scaler911, but that’s par for the course.

I never implied he wasn’t awesome! I just said borderline incoherent.

Borderline incoherent

except that guy is awesome.

@RedRanger

Tommy V seems to be a darn good team player.

Pierre Rolland (Europcar) gets a push from Thomas Voeckler after flatting during stage 14 of the Tour de France

I love him, but he is such a cartoon character – he even shoves a bike the wrong way (maybe there isn’t a right way)

to be fair, he is wearing cycling shoes. you cant really run or get much traction for a good solid push.

Pointed at no one in particular. From an unnamed Velominati asshole

@versio My problem is not Marcus’ understanding of the sport but anything that you ever posted. You’re borderline incoherent.

Why would Wiggo take it upon himself to ride off the front at any point other than the very end of of today’s stage? Assuming he could have done so, which today’s distancing of niblles suggests that he could have done, he may have broken one or two riders earlier but that would leave him open (and unnecessarily tired) to attacks from other teams in the days that followed.

I wouln’t say it’s been the most exciting race in terms of the GC but put that down to an embarrassing failure by anyone else to take the challenge to him. What the fuck do you want him to do? Wait for Cuddles to catch up?

“Everything” ?? That’s not good. I will make an effort to only contribute when needed.

Why are you now discussing Wiggo going off the front? I never mentioned Wiggens. I was only adding to Marcus’ statement that the sport is about “using as little energy as possible at all times.” And I simply gave an example (my personal experience this week training) that sitting in is not what the sport is about “at all times”. You fellas need to read more often and look at the context of each post. So let’s leave it at that.

Why would Wiggo take it upon himself to ride off the front at any point other than the very end of of today’s stage? Assuming he could have done so, which today’s distancing of niblles suggests that he could have done, he may have broken one or two riders earlier but that would leave him open (and unnecessarily tired) to attacks from other teams in the days that followed.

I wouln’t say it’s been the most exciting race in terms of the GC but put that down to an embarrassing failure by anyone else to take the challenge to him. What the fuck do you want him to do? Wait for Cuddles to catch up?

Cannot believe how idiot clowns are knocking Wiggins for following wheels. He has ridden the perfect race. Anyone complaining about his racing style, you need to find a new sport. This one is about using as little effort as possible at all times.

A rewrite to appease three unnamed Velominati assholes:

Marcus you don’t undertsand the sport then “” entirely. For me today’s ride was about using the biggest effort the entire time. Not your ideal of the smallest effort possible at all times. I was not planning to sit in and wait. I planned to go off the front today with The V Meter and would not look back to the chase. This is how my day was won and I realize that you are expressing the tactic of sitting in the overall stages to survive the Tour.

My point: the effort in a bike race is “never little” if at all possible.

No response from the three unnamed Velominati assholes is required, but would be appreciated by others here.

@brett

@Dr C

You want a first class tit? Listen to Andy going on…

“Today I can tell you that I am disgusted with cycling,” Schleck said. “I love this sport more than anything but now it’s really hard for me and for the whole family.”

Poor little twats. The sport’s done them wrong.

I’m done and over the swivel brothers. I really tired to get behind them, but it’s always an excuse “my chain came off and now my stomach is filled with anger”, ” I was poisoned”, “my vajay jay hurts”, “I wasn’t really prepared for the Giro”. Go away now and leave the racing to the real hard men of climbing.

+1

He speaks a whole lot better than he did after the 2009 TDF and it’s great that he is seeing and appreciating how hard everyone has worked for him and not just in the race. Would ove to see him domestique for Froome next year but I don’t see it, also hard to see where Cav will fir into this GT hungry team.

Froome in the Vuelta against Clenbutador and Grimpedler’s slightly more pissy brother should be good.

@Dr C

You want a first class tit? Listen to Andy going on…

“Today I can tell you that I am disgusted with cycling,” Schleck said. “I love this sport more than anything but now it’s really hard for me and for the whole family.”

Poor little twats. The sport’s done them wrong.

I’m done and over the swivel brothers. I really tired to get behind them, but it’s always an excuse “my chain came off and now my stomach is filled with anger”, ” I was poisoned”, “my vajay jay hurts”, “I wasn’t really prepared for the Giro”. Go away now and leave the racing to the real hard men of climbing.

@Marcus

@versio

Not quite sure what you are trying to get at with your unique turn of phrase – but if you are somehow trying to talk about your own racing, then I am sorry for conveying the impression that I could somehow give a fuck about that.

I guess I could have extended my sentence to read “using as little effort as possible at all times – to achieve one’s goals” – but I thought that was pretty clear. Perhaps I overestimated some people’s skill in making inferences.

Versio is obviously little Tommy V. (The cunning linguist)

“And you sir!” I have been riding hard all week and have had little to contribute here — other than I have been riding the hell out of my bike. The times that I do contribute are short and to a point about cycling. You may have to seek and understand the point, but I promise that it is not buried. The other posts that I read here give a sense that their actual bike riding time is buried by time on this blog. I know that you mean no harm, but you also mean no result or product. It does not matter (to you). You continue to sneer and I will continue to ride and maintain the hell out of my bike.

Ahh, I’m only joking. Only had to say something here. To contribute as an online community.

@Mikael Liddy

@frankany chance you can some kind of translation coding for @versio‘s posts? That way it might be easier to work out what he’s on about when he’s disagreeing with people. At least @Marcus keeps things reasonably straight forward (as long as he steers clear of the latin).

I’ve been trying to figure that out for ages myself. My nearest guess is that, since he’s American, he takes his posts and runs them through Google Translate as Jinastubarniarian and then back to English. It’s the only explanation.

Why do you delight in throwing your own under the bus? And you have used the Google joke before. Please “try harder”

@frankany chance you can some kind of translation coding for @versio‘s posts? That way it might be easier to work out what he’s on about when he’s disagreeing with people. At least @Marcus keeps things reasonably straight forward (as long as he steers clear of the latin).

First of all, Mikael Liddy. Harminator, frank have all won their asshole badge for the week. The hours upon hours these three spend on this blog has gained them much asshole merit. All three! I would agree that my post are short and concise and require reading and thought. These three men are prone to scan posts and fall happily into uncomprehension bliss. Remember one thing when you three are here (giggling at posts) or out on your bike (giggling) — “try harder” and you will find meaning.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/video-wiggins-on-froome-the-future-the-tourmalet-34649/

I love Wiggo. No bullshit, and as an avowed Indurain fan I have zero problem with Sky’s “asphyxiation” of the Tour.

That is just fantastic. Boy, has that guy come far in terms of comfort speaking to the press even in just 3 weeks…I prefer a race with more fireworks, but this has been a beautiful win by what appears to be a very level-headed guy.

@Dr C  that chick’s tongue terrifies me.

if that were more common, the male of the species could quickly become obsolete

@Oli Now that’s a good sporting interview. Wiggo is class.

I’d love to ride it purely on the V-Meter but I still quite new to all this so I like to compare what my body is telling me with a bit of data. I do find that I’m looking at the numbers less and less these days but being my first TT I was a little wary of going to hard at the beginning and popping before I got out of sight of the start.

Who knows I may get to the stage when I can ride by feel alone but at the moment I can go harder, closer to my perceived limit with a bit of data. The trick will be to push that limit point out a little bit each time.

I usually just display speed, cadence and HR but set it to flip to time of day on page 2 so that I could go for a warm up ride without risk of missing my starting slot. For whatever reason it refused to show the second page until I hit the start timing button as I set off. After that it seemed that every time l looked down it was showing the time which I really hate to see as it reminds me of how much more time I have to endure the pain for.

I love Wiggo. No bullshit, and as an avowed Indurain fan I have zero problem with Sky’s “asphyxiation” of the Tour.

@Dr C

You want a first class tit? Listen to Andy going on…

“Today I can tell you that I am disgusted with cycling,” Schleck said. “I love this sport more than anything but now it’s really hard for me and for the whole family.”

Poor little twats. The sport’s done them wrong.

I reckon it’ll turn out that he was poisoned, and it’s all Bruyneels dirty work, and we’ll all come to love the Schlecks again – well actually, we won’t care, as they aren’t really competitive anymore

I wonder where this leaves Faboo and Jensie??

I don’t think it’s their lack of ‘cracking’ that’s been the issue, more so the seeming lack of ambition to attack (from Wiggo anyway, we all know what happened when the Froome Dog was let off the leash). As Marcus said, it’s smart tactical racing when they know that Wiggo doesn’t need to attack when he can decimate the field in the TT, but it doesn’t lend itself to an entertaining contest for anyone but a Wiggo fan.

One of the things that attracts me to this sport is the notion that it’s a sport for those who take responsibility for their actions and results, something that seems increasingly lacking in society with all the X-Factor instant celebrity and entitlement culture. Instead I find myself surrounded by a whole bunch of people moaning that Sky have made this race boring because they’ve had a look at the route, assessed their strengths and weaknesses, come up with a plan and executed it to a t.

Wiggo gained time in the time trial and has been expecting his rivals to try to make it back up. Why would he look to attack and use up energy when there are several days left when he might still be attacked by a number of teams and that expended energy might prove decisive? So what if that’s not Merckxian, if everybody did that it would lessen the legend and the ignorant public wouldn’t ever believe the sport was cleaning up it’s act.

If anyone has made this dull it’s the other teams and their main players for not fronting up and having a serious, concerted do-or-fucking-die go. everyone knew they’d need to make up time to counter his TT but so far there’s been no real attempt to do so. BMC have been a complete joke, after buying up all the available stars you’d be forgiven for not realising they were actually a team for the lack of assistance they’ve given Cadel; Radio Missin’ Schleck couldn’t even work out who their team leader was and we’ll probably never be sure as to whether one of them committed chemical Schleckupu to avoid embarrassment or if he was poisoned by his evil manipulative boss; Liquigas haven’t been quite as embarrassing but they’ve not shown the power that they demonstrated at the Giro, maybe they could have driven the peloton from the front as they did for Basso in Italy to try and soften up the Sky train or are their hearts not in supporting Nibbles now that they know he’ll be taking the silverware with him?

It would be nice if Wiggo rode away from his rivals, including Froome, at today’s summit finish as he hinted he might do to Nibbles at the top of the Peyresourde when his stamped on that last attempt.

@Mikael Liddy this little rant isn’t aimed at you, more at the other teams for bottling it. I just can’t see how doing something well and to your strengths can make a race dull when the other teams haven’t done anything to counter. Obviously if someone takes a flier and puts time into him today then great but I can’t see it.

@brett

If it’s a slower, cleaner race, surely the naturally talented bike riders are going to emerge? Not that the rest of the peloton are  slouches, but Porte’s had a star over his head for a while, and Rogers? No question about his pedigree. Seems like an odd target to pick when half the Astana team have been done at least once for actually cheating

http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2012/06/victories-disappointments-and-how-epo.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_in_cycling

Great article on Henry Cardenas. Thanks a million, Minion.

You want a first class tit? Listen to Andy going on…

“Today I can tell you that I am disgusted with cycling,” Schleck said. “I love this sport more than anything but now it’s really hard for me and for the whole family.”

Poor little twats. The sport’s done them wrong.

Tommy V seems to be a darn good team player.

Pierre Rolland (Europcar) gets a push from Thomas Voeckler after flatting during stage 14 of the Tour de France

I love him, but he is such a cartoon character – he even shoves a bike the wrong way (maybe there isn’t a right way) – apparently his sisters were at the finish line, which was nice

1 29 actually.

I’ve followed Cadel’s career from a barely-teen who was kicking ass on the mtb. I tipped him to win the Tour before he won the mtb World Cup for the first time. I screamed my lungs out supporting him when he rode the junior Worlds in 95 in Germany, and yes I criticised him when he was acting like a twat. I’m no anti-Cadelite or a fanboy, but I respect his magnificent career and was sad to see him suffer like that last night.

Truly this was one of the most painful things to watch – I am a not Cadel fan, but that was ghastly – it is sometimes not right that the cameras spend so much time on such a high profile star, who has contributed so much, fighting with the man with the hammer – my heart really went out to him – hope he has a better day today

Ivailo Gabrovksi, a Bulgarian rider who had a spectacular stage win for a Continental-ranked Turkish team at the Tour of Turkey and went on to win the race tested positive for EPO after that stage win, the UCI has announced. He has been provisionally suspended.

Of course it’s correct, just painful to watch. Good on em, they won the race the way they could do best.

@Mikael Liddy

@brett

@frank

I couldn’t care less if Cadel won or not, but I like to see some exciting racing, or at least not knowing the result two weeks from Paris.

I still can’t get my head around Porte and fucking Rogers being able to climb like that. Not right.

Richie can climb, don’t forget he wore pink & won the best young rider at the 2010 Giro.

What I wanna know is since when can EBH lead a pack over a couple of HC climbs?

Surely the fact they are so far down on GC shows how the sky lead outs buried themselves to a predesigned plan and then blew up.

This.  Sometimes the most straightforward scenario is correct.

I don’t think it’s their lack of ‘cracking’ that’s been the issue, more so the seeming lack of ambition to attack (from Wiggo anyway, we all know what happened when the Froome Dog was let off the leash). As Marcus said, it’s smart tactical racing when they know that Wiggo doesn’t need to attack when he can decimate the field in the TT, but it doesn’t lend itself to an entertaining contest for anyone but a Wiggo fan.

@brett

@frank

I couldn’t care less if Cadel won or not, but I like to see some exciting racing, or at least not knowing the result two weeks from Paris.

I still can’t get my head around Porte and fucking Rogers being able to climb like that. Not right.

Richie can climb, don’t forget he wore pink & won the best young rider at the 2010 Giro.

What I wanna know is since when can EBH lead a pack over a couple of HC climbs?

Surely the fact they are so far down on GC shows how the sky lead outs buried themselves to a predesigned plan and then blew up – it is not as if they rode with Wiggo and Froome to the finish line….

Maybe we can blame Wiggo and Froome for making the tour boring, as neither of them have cracked under attack – that said, as a fan, waiting for them not to be able o respond has been pretty anxiety provoking – WIggo looked completed shagged at interview last night

@Chris

@Dr C 

Don’t know what happened really. Legs felt weak and useless until the last quarter. I’ve ridden the course a bunch of times but always as part of a longer ride trading pulls with my sensei and I don’t think I’ve ever done such a short ride so judging my speed was tricky. The HR suggests I got it about right but I’ve a nagging sense that I could have gone harder. What’s the bets I go pop just after the halfway point next time as I try too hard?

sounds like you should go Tommy V, ride with out the gadgets, and rely on your V-meter next time?

@Chris

@Dr C 

“Kids have trashed the house” so when the wife got home the TV room was spotless and you hadn’t scorched the wall outside and set the curtain alight when you pulled the BBQ up to the window?

yep, standard scenario

@minion

@brett

If it’s a slower, cleaner race, surely the naturally talented bike riders are going to emerge? Not that the rest of the peloton are  slouches, but Porte’s had a star over his head for a while, and Rogers? No question about his pedigree. Seems like an odd target to pick when half the Astana team have been done at least once for actually cheating

http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2012/06/victories-disappointments-and-how-epo.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_in_cycling

I’m not questioning their pedigree, but when has Fuckin Rogers ever ridden like that in the mountains? He’s a dodgy fucker, remember when Millar got done and Fuckin Rogers inherited the TT World title? Wouldn’t you think he’d be a bit pissed that a doper took his moment of glory from him? Not a peep.

What, a rider schooled in the T-Mobile brand of preparation? He was probably doing fucking cartwheels that he wasn’t caught!

@brett

If it’s a slower, cleaner race, surely the naturally talented bike riders are going to emerge? Not that the rest of the peloton are  slouches, but Porte’s had a star over his head for a while, and Rogers? No question about his pedigree. Seems like an odd target to pick when half the Astana team have been done at least once for actually cheating

http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2012/06/victories-disappointments-and-how-epo.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_in_cycling

I’m not questioning their pedigree, but when has Fuckin Rogers ever ridden like that in the mountains? He’s a dodgy fucker, remember when Millar got done and Fuckin Rogers inherited the TT World title? Wouldn’t you think he’d be a bit pissed that a doper took his moment of glory from him? Not a peep.

And when did we ever see an ‘Astana Train’?

@Marcus

As I recall – Brett is an Anti-Cadelite from way back. In fact, funnily enough, his legendary post of Sep 13 2009, “There’s a couple of Roos loose in the Top paddock…” just appeared below in my random articles.

I’ve followed Cadel’s career from a barely-teen who was kicking ass on the mtb. I tipped him to win the Tour before he won the mtb World Cup for the first time. I screamed my lungs out supporting him when he rode the junior Worlds in 95 in Germany, and yes I criticised him when he was acting like a twat. I’m no anti-Cadelite or a fanboy, but I respect his magnificent career and was sad to see him suffer like that last night.

Makes me regret even more that I picked him 5th in the 16 Stage.

That’s right. And “Guilt By Association”. but the patriotic lil’ koont stepped right in line when he finally made good. And who can blame him? It was a great win.

Just poking fun for fun’s sake.

Pierre Rolland (Europcar) gets a push from Thomas Voeckler after flatting during stage 14 of the Tour de France

@brett

@frank

I couldn’t care less if Cadel won or not, but I like to see some exciting racing, or at least not knowing the result two weeks from Paris.

I still can’t get my head around Porte and fucking Rogers being able to climb like that. Not right.

yeah, that’s why it took you three weeks and two new apartments to clear the stench you left after he won last year.

As I recall – Brett is an Anti-Cadelite from way back. In fact, funnily enough, his legendary post of Sep 13 2009, “There’s a couple of Roos loose in the Top paddock…” just appeared below in my random articles.

Versio is obviously little Tommy V. (The cunning linguist)

I don’t think you should compare @versio with Tommy V.  Tommy is not as nearly effervescent or eloquent.

@frankany chance you can some kind of translation coding for @versio‘s posts? That way it might be easier to work out what he’s on about when he’s disagreeing with people. At least @Marcus keeps things reasonably straight forward (as long as he steers clear of the latin).

I’ve been trying to figure that out for ages myself. My nearest guess is that, since he’s American, he takes his posts and runs them through Google Translate as Jinastubarniarian and then back to English. It’s the only explanation.