Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2012
We are proud to announce a change to the Velominati Super Prestige moving forward: sponsorship. We are delighted (if a little surprised) at the interest our partners showed in this endeavor, despite the short notice we gave them. Four sponsors will be gracing the sides of our team bus for this year’s race: fi’zi:k is our Super Domestique Sponsor (think Big George without the shoe covers because who’d want to cover those beauties up), while the leadout train is being rounded out by DeFeet, Pavé Cycling Classics, and Malteni Beer. As we all know, fizik gets a lot of love around here as the Contact Point Supplier, and for good reason. So we thought now is as good a time as any to announce that DeFeet has agreed to come on board as Flandrian Best Supplier, the Pavé boys, our trusted guides over the stones and bergs, and Malteni Biere which fills our bidon and keeps us making bad decisions like teaming up with the Pavé boys.
So what does Super Domestique Sponsor mean? Free shoes to the winners – that’s what it means, dillwhips. Free R3’s, yup the Aristocrats, to the three winners of the VSP: TdF GC Winner and the two Stage VSP’s. As you watch this year’s race, look for the likes of Jeremy Roy and Richie Porte riding the R3’s in complete Rule Compliance. As Leadout Sponsor, Defeet is providing a full Flandrian Best Kit including a base layer, Armskins, Kneekers, and Slipstream Belgian booties for the VSP: Tdf GC second place as well plus two pairs of D-Logo socks to each runner-up of the Stage VSP’s. The Pavé boys (also Leadout Sponsors) are putting up a limited Pavé Cycling Classics wool jersey awarded to third place. We can’t ship Malteni (also Leadout Sponsors) legally, so you’ll just have to wait until you’re in Belgium to guzzle some of that lovely nectar or join the Pavé boys for their Worlds Weekend tour with Johan Museeuw where they’ll get you stupid(er) on the stuff.
Gianni’s Ruminations
Finally, the date has arrived. We have all done our training through the winter, contested the Spring Classics, The Ardennes Races, Romandie, Oh the Giro, The Dauphine, Tour de Swiss. Not all were in the VSP schedule but I know most of you wrote down your picks for the others and tucked them under your pillows. It’s training. There has been time to taper down before Saturday’s prologue start in Liége, Belgium. A young neo-pro, The Fish, is leading in points. The hardened veterans have seen these youth come and go, the season is long. A touch of wheels, a moment of youthful idealism, Vladimir Karpets is picked to podium, The Fish goes down, he panics and by the time he is back up he will never see the front again. Or he will continue to mock us all with his astute choices and lead all the way to Lombardy.
I have staked my claim on the yellow kit ownership some time ago and still see this as an epic Cadel-Wiggo battle to the death and if not death, until one of them sits up. But this year might be the time the youth start to fill up the other three places in the top five.
The Shack’s team car has been crashing into every static object all spring and now Bruyneel has been yanked out of the driver’s seat. The ride can only get smoother but with the reluctant leader Frank Schleck staring at over 100km of prologue and time trialing, as was said in the bunker, they are going stage hunting. I could go on for hours about the 2012 TdF but we have other Keepers who need to vent.
Please check the VSP page for the rules, keep an eye on the awesome VSP countdown timer, don’t Delgado your picks. Here is the start list.
I have to give a shout out to a brave group of Velominati who are heading to the Vermont/Canadian border to draft behind a massive dump truck full of Awesome all the way to the Massachusetts state line. It’s a Cogal only deranged people would attempt and as luck would have it, we supply them here. I hope they get their picks in soon as they may be in no kind of shape on Friday to think about such important things.
Brett’s Misconceptions
It’s all about Fränk. It’s perfect. All the pressure’s off. No lil bro to hold him back. Deliberately sucking all year so far, crashing and quitting, a hint of form, Bruyneel slinks off to deflect attention (and suspicion), Fränk suddenly can time trial and a couple of Pharmy style attacks later he wins in Paris by two minutes, taking the sprint on the Champs Elysees for good measure. Maybe not the last bit. Fränk will, however, finish in lil bro’s favourite position. Or suddenly leave with a stomach bug.
Cadel will take this. It’s perfect. All the pressure’s off. No lil bro to worry about in the mountains. Deliberately almost sucking so far, but not. Hints of form, staying low, deflecting attention. Look after the time trials and command the mountains. Safe, not exciting. Or he’ll step on someone else’s dog, breaking his elbow and decapitating the dog.
Wiggo could take this. It’s perfect. A lot of form. A lot of km’s against the clock. Not too many big hills. Too tall socks. Cav left to fight alone. One bad day is waiting there though, the sort of bad day that not even winning the final TT by 2 minutes can alleviate. Or he’ll crash in the first week, breaking both elbows after getting a sideburn caught in his crazy bio pace chainrings.
Sagan will win the first twelve stages, then leave with a stomach bug. Gossy will gratefully step into the vacant green in the greatest heist since Gerro won San Remo. And the Rug Salesman will be all spotty, due to getting in a long break and not sucking as much as even he expected. That’ll help him to 5th and Zubeldia level evanescence.
None of this may actually come close to happening, but whatever does I hope it’s an exciting race. Good luck to those battling hard for three weeks in the VSP race too, it could just turn out to be the main point of interest a couple of weeks from now.
Marko’s Reckoning
The Fish loses two spots on the G.C. but manages to eek out a pair of R3s in a sub-VSP as G’phant peaks in le Grande Boucle and walks away with le Grande Bouprize. Sad thing is, G’phant is legend but nobody remembers him because he only shows for races, not group rides anymore. Fausto rides a calculated, if not boring, race to move up a spot but just misses out. Gianni gets a glimpse of the podium going into the 16th stage and the Tourmalet but drowns in a lactic acid and caffeine soaked bath in that stage’s VSP. Marko Delgados virtually the entire event while he continues building his family a house in direct violation of Rule #11, which is more than we can say for Brett and Frank who were last seen going in the opposite direction with Bruyneel in a Radiotreksanshack team car dragging a muffler through Liege on its way to a USADA hearing near Austin.
In the meantime, two dudes from the Commonwealth – one with sideburns approaching muttonchops and another with an ass on his chin – duel it out in France. There will be some Italian, Spanish, and Russian dudes there too in an epic the likes of which hasn’t been seen in years. Fuck Yeah people, Vive le Tour.
Frank’s Delusions
It happens every single time. I get all weepy-eyed about the Giro and how it’s the Velominatus’ choice for a Grand Tour. Less crazy, better terrain, a comparatively weaker field usually yielding a closer race. But come the Tour, I get all starstruck as the big names line up in the best form they could muster for the season.
I also had decided to pick Twiggo for the big win, but now I’m not so sure. I love that the guy is tall and can get over a mountain, but there is one irrefutable fact that I can’t get over. He looks much too much like Gianni’s avatar, only not as well-kept. The sardonic look on his face along with those whispy sideburns are just too much for me to take. I’m back to rolling with my heart and my questionable sensibilities to favor Grimpelder this time round, now that he’s out of the shadow of his little brother and will be able to put the swivelnecking energy into the pedals instead of looking behind him.
The good news is that the racing always winds up being awesome. And that’s what its about: panache. So long as Wiggo doesn’t pull an Indurain and take 6 minutes on an early TT, I’ll be happy.
Epilogue
Pick carefully, don’t Delgado, and think twice about those rest day swaps; they come at a heavy price and there are some nice prizes on the line which make the Velominati Shop Apron look like a Schleck’s chamois during the descent of the Peyresourde.
The Fine Print: each contestant is of course encouraged to enter all VSP events, but everyone is eligible to take the prizes on only one VSP. If a contestant takes more than one VSP event (GC or Stage) the prize for that VSP will then be awarded to the player with the next highest score. In the event of a tie we’ll do our best to find the fairest way to break the tie. If something doesn’t make sense, please ask; we’re making this up as we go along.
Get your picks in by the time the countdown clock goes to zero, and good luck. Vive le Tour.
@minion You are most likely correct – but this 2012 is a pretty big improvement on previous years for Wiggins.
Cuddles was a World Champ before he went to BMC and his improvement was a lot more gradual (ie. he has been a serious Tour rider all his career – almost won the Giro in 2002 which was his first full time road year) with more of a mental/attitudinal jump when he joined BMC.
Will be very interested to see Evans’ tactics from now on. He seems like he is now more of a risk taker so I hope we see something special. But Sky’s hard tempo will make it pretty hard to get away.
Would love to see all the GC contenders like Nibali, VDB, etc just start launching attacks. Regardless of the result it will then make for a good race.
So I’m cruising Steephill’s links to coverage of today’s stage, and I find this…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/video/2012/jul/09/tour-de-france-2012-stage-nine-video-highlights
…and I ask myself “Is The Guardian using synth voices for their online media these days?” Is this The Future? If so, it’s a little too Ridley Scott for my taste in news broadcasts. (No reflection on Mr. Scott, of course.)
@Marcus Yeah, I think my point is they’ve both developed in the open – the Blue Wiggle left Garmin, developed as a rider, screwed the pooch at the Vuelta last year, has always had a good TT etc – all the pieces are there and accounted for, we’ve seen them happen over time. There’s no Rasmussen crashing out of a tour TT one year and crushing it the next, for instance, with Sky I’m only seeing very careful planning, not any red flags that usually set off suspicion.
And we shouldn’t forget how useful Froome is to Wiggles, and how he’s probably been kept on the leash in the interests of peaking at the tour.
BTW, to all those writing off Wiggles’ track palmares, does the contradiction you’re making smack you in the face as you say it, or have you been doing it for so long you don’t notice anymore? Evidence says the strongest rider at the Tour is a track time trialist. He’s got two Olympic gold medals in the IP, 2004 and 2008. Cancellara was probably cooked as well, or he thought he was in a Team TT and had to wait for Schlecklets.
@Marcus
I’t will also be interesting to see what BMC can do for him as well, he should have at least one other rider who can hang with the climbers in the following weeks. If there’s not, they should just fucking bury themselves to support him.
@minion
Lets look at other very good recent pursuiters (of course they are Australian) – Stuey O’Grady, Renshaw, Graeme Brown, Luke Roberts, Bradley McGee.
Hardly GC men – except for McGee to a very limited extent. And he was Wiggins key pursuit rival for many years.
So no, I dont think track (pursuit) palmares translate that well over to GC riding.
@frank
“Its actually kind of fun watching a tour where the riders I like are out of contention. I don’t actually really care what happens. And you talking about how hard it is to be a Cadel Fanboy, just imagine how hard it is being a Schleck Fanboy, and I’ve been doing that stubbornly since 2008 or so. With zero success.”
That’s some funny business right there. Franko. We are all insane.
@minion
@Marcus
I see where this is going. Because Lance started out as a triathlete, you think the best preparation for winning the tour is a swim-bike-run.
You have a point though, but to claim Wiggin’s track experience is irrelevant ignores what’s right in front of your nose, especially when the tour in past years has been about limiting damage in the mountains and winning the race in the TTs. Lets not forget he also beat Cancellara into third at last year’s world cup.
Just
@Marcus
I think he already is, it looks to me like he’s more interested in marking his white jersey opponents than working for Cuddles. At this point you’ve got to put your foot in his backside and remind him who the top dog is and why. if he doesn’t it kind of implies that BMC have lost faith in defending Cuddles and have rolled over already.
@Marcus
Yes, IP =/= TT, but it isn’t like this is Wiggo’s first season on the road. He honed his position and technique, it is no surprise that he is so good. He is also much skinnier than other trackies, hence climbing and being a better GC. He trained like a madman this year too.
Him tossing the table was more of just being pissed off, and rightfully so, as opposed to Lance’s “We don’t need to talk about it.” attitude. Like the article Oli posted, Wiggins has always been against doping, even agreeing with the UK’s Olympic council that Millar shouldn’t be allowed into the Olympics as recently as this winter or spring.
Completely unrelated, but do sprinters peak? Similarly, I seem to have noticed that Cav has a more “tucked in” position with his arms compared to Greipel with his elbows flying? (they do call him the Gorilla) Maybe I am just imagining this though.
@Marcus
Cuddles has a rough enough history with Mapei to cast a cloud over him, but I certainly agree, he’s had a very gradual ascension. He’s been close, but always the bridesmaid until he won the Worlds and the switch flipped. I think his recent success is really just a mental change more so than drugs or teams or training. He was always close.
Which can be the case with Wiggins as well – he might have just got his head right now that he’s buddies with my boy Yates.
@all
I’m not sure what the definition of cynicism is and how that matches up to how the word is used, but I am not accusing Brad of doping any more than I think most of the other guys may or may not be doping. The fact is, I don’t know and I don’t really care, to be honest – though I’d prefer if they didn’t. All I’m saying is that its very fair for people to have questions and as fans our questions deserve more than a “you fucking cunt” answer.
In the end, in our sport, those saying “they’re clean” are guessing just as much as those saying “they’re doped”. We don’t know. Its a fascinating topic, though, and I love reading everyone’s ideas and thoughts.
@frank
Now I know how Oli feels – you admit you were wrong about Riis but somehow that still makes you right. OK….
The point about track riding is far from irrelevant. (Although the fact that Wiggins was a track rider mainly until 2007explains quite a lot of your table.
The point I was making was that he had a ten year history of being not an also-ran, prior to moving over to road riding.
Track riders train and try prettty hard as well, and to win multiple Olympic and World gold medals over an extended period means you must have some seriously superior physiology going on. Either that or he’s been doping since 2000 and somehow managed never to be caught.
It’s true that track success is no indicator of road or grand tour success, but as with Evans, Sagan and others success at an elite level can be an indicator of better training, athleticism and dedication and means they haven’t just arrived from nowhere.
There is no comparison to a journeyman who has spent the best part of 10 years not winning much, suddenly turning around and being successful – yes Cobo I’m looking at you.
The other part of my argument which you completely ignored because you know it is inconveniently correct is team choice.
If you look at the suddenly successful riders like Cobo, Iglinksy, or Riis if we’re still including him, they have a history of riding and becoming successful in suspect teams with a doping culture or with managers who have that in their history. Apart from his brief and unsuccessful stint with Cofidis Wiggins has achieved his success with Garmin and Sky, two teams which have no taint of doping history and are outspokenly against it.
@Oli Brilliant Article Oli.
FWIW, I’m not at all interested in questioning Wiggins or Froome with regard to their ‘cleanliness’. I’m happy to take it at face value that they are real.
What I think is going to be great about the coming days is the tactics that will play out. Sky has numbers, but now there are enough very key riders down in time far enough that it will suddenly be in thier interests to collaborate. Witness Cuddles, Van den Broek and Nibbles attacking the descent on Stage 8.
Nothing is a foregone conclusion. I see the possibility of a sort of reverse Galibier happening where multiple teams work together to put pressure on Wiggins.
Whatever happens, it’s going to be a ripper to watch.
Oh, and re Armstrong and his USADA lawsuit. What a *unt.
@mouse
That went nowhere, as expected…
@PeakInTwoYears
KRX-10, our esteemed designer, is a longtime friend of mine. At our first job together, our voicemail was computer generated with synth names. He has a scandinavian name and had the presence of thought never to change it.
I wasn’t sure about him when we started working together, but then someone walked into the cubicle and asked him why he hadn’t changed his voicemail. He said, “Because it sounds fucking awesome. I’d be crazy to change it.”
Right then, I knew that he and I were bound to be friends.
@versio
Buck has never, ever, made a VSP swap. In fact, he was in the focus group and wanted us to abolish them altogether.
@minion
Its not so much that track is irrelevant, its that being a good track rider has no bearing on being a good GT rider. Totally different disciplines. What evidence, aside from Wiggins are you referring to? He’s the only rider I can think of who came from a background dominated by track to (begin to) dominate a GT. Though it is certainly true that riding the track has helped round out other riders – including Merckx.
But all those riders were road riders first, who augmented their training using the track. Not the other way around, which is what Wiggins is.
Has anyone mentioned how badass Wiggin’s shoes are? Those Bonts remind me of my first ski boots, which were silver little slippers just like that, with laces and a little silver flap that velocro’d over them to make a nice smooth package. Damn, I loved those boots and those things make me all nostalgic for them.
@ChrisO
You are so all over the map, I don’t know where to start. I never said I was wrong about Riis – the opposite, actually. Riis is known to have made his jump through doping and even his record is more consistent.
The track thing has been covered already and the team choice argument holds little or no water. I realize you’re trying to imply that no one on any of those teams can be doping because they have clean reputations, but we know at this point that no one is beyond suspicion – they’d hardly be the first business in the world to say one thing and do another. Even if the teams are in fact clean (I’d love it if they were), the riders can dope independently and we know they can circumvent the tests. Not to mention that the allegations have started following him even when he suddenly took 4th at the Tour with Garmin. These are not new.
My original observation was that Sky/Wiggins claiming he’s made this tremendous leap from nobody to dominator through paying attention to details sounds an awful lot like Riis making the same claim, and we all know how that wound up.
A lot of words are being forced into a lot of people’s mouths on this and honestly I think this horse has been beat to death. We are all speculating on things that are impossible to prove at this point in time. Its a lot more healthy to have a laugh about it (which was the intention in the first place) and keep having fun watching the bike race (or, better yet, go ride a bike ourselves) than sit and pick nit with each other.
@Marcus
At what point do you start paying attention to where the quotes start and end? For fucks sake, I have no clue where you start and Minion ends – that should be enough motivation for you right there.
@DerHoggz
Wiggins has always very vocally been against doping and that is very cool and goes to his credit. But on the other hand I’ve never heard of a rider being “for” doping. I suggest to anyone who hasn’t that they read Breaking the Chain, the psychology that goes into it is fascinating; some of these riders like Virenque didn’t think they were doping even as they lay on the table with a needle in their ass. Its amazing.
On the subject of Millar, Blood Sweat and Gears had a great scene where Millar talks about being an ex-doper. He has really owned his history and faced up to the reality of it. I don’t know if he’s doping now or not, but his attitude ts something I admire for sure.
Regarding the Olympics, I’m of the mindset that when someone has openly admitted to an infraction and worked with doping agencies, teams, and the UCI to more effectively fight doping, that the rider should be given some leniency. I’m glad to see he’s been allowed to compete.
We all make mistakes, its how we face them that matters. Shit, without making mistakes, I’d be nothing. I’m nothing anyway, but I’d be even more nothing without fucking up as much as I do.
Assuming Marcus is a sprinter, then yes. Several years ago.
@frank
What can I say? Your new IT setup challenges me when it lands my cursor in weird spots.
Easy way to tell the difference between Minion and I: I say the stupid pathetically over-patriotic stuff about Australia. Minion just says pathetically over the top stuff about not being Australian. And the dumb fucker likes eating kangaroo. What a COTHO.
@minion
Dont forget Richie Porte was a triathlete too.
@frank Hey I forgot about the Lexi term, Dirty Shleck Love. You still got it bad.
@frank
While you make a valid and factually correct point you appear to be disagreeing with me in which case I must refer to the scientology handbook as to the best way to deal with you. My hunch is it’s going to tell me to marry Katie Holmes and pretend the baby’s mine, but then again most things do.
Dopers has made the preceding ten years moot, which really is as far back as my cycling memory goes. I think things are changing though, and DS’s might start looking at track backgrounds differently from now on. I know this much, I’d rather watch Wiggins ride a TT knowing his background than watching the Chicken ride one, and knowing he was missing for a bunch of months during the year.
@brett
It is worthwhile directly quoting Cyclingnews here:
A US judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Lance Armstrong against the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
The 80-page-long lawsuit claimed that USADA rules violate an athlete’s constitutional right to a fair trial, and that the agency doesn’t have jurisdiction in his case. Seven hours after being filed, federal judge Sam Sparks, of United States District Court dismissed the claim in Austin, Texas.
The case can be refiled in 20 days on the basis that Armstrong only pleads to information relevant to the case.
Court documents revealed by the New York Times, quote Sparks with having the following response:
“This Court is not inclined to indulge Armstrong’s desire for publicity, self-aggrandizement or vilification of Defendants, by sifting through eighty mostly unnecessary pages in search of the few kernels of factual material relevant to his claims.”
The Court claimed that the lawsuit filed earlier in the day contained “allegations” which were separate to the case and therefore “the Court must presume, were included solely to increase media coverage of this case, and to incite public opinion against Defendants.”
A footnote on the documents states the following:
“Contrary to Armstrong’s apparent belief, pleadings filed in the United States District Courts are not press releases, internet blogs, or pieces of investigative journalism. All parties, and their lawyers, are expected to comply with the rules of this Court, and face potential sanctions if they do not.”
I’m loving it that the system seems to be working. Seriously, who the fuck does he think he is?
@frank
The way you tell me and Marcus apart is that Marcus is a triathlete.
@minion
Think the last proper triathlon I did was during the 1990s – so you are just being plain nasty on that score. You hurt me this time Minion.
As for Lance and his latest legal shenanigans, I am stunned. Presuming he has some pretty high-falutin’ lawyers on the job, they have copped a serious smack in the chops on this one. To have an attempted injunction dismissed so quickly with pretty damning language is a terribly poor reflection on his legal team.
@Oli
Enjoyed this ty.
The joy and spectacle of human beings going beyond themselves, of sacrificing themselves for a noble and incredible performance was replaced by grinding cynicism amongst a large section of true, passionate cycling fans. Anger and hatred became the currency of the Twitter timeline and the forum post. I have done it, too. It’s no fun anymore. Its grim.
I don’t think Wiggs is calling fans of the sport c**ts, but cowardly anon social network users. It’s a rallying call to all of us to delete twofacebook and twatter forever. I have never had either though, so it’s easy for me.
Like Frank says above, shut up and ride your bike.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Evans
2. Wiggo
3. Nibali
4. Froome
5. Rolland
First rest day swap. Froome in for sadly abandoned Weight of a Nation.
I suck even more now, VSP score wise.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Cuddles
2. Wiggles
3. Nibbles
4. Froome
5. Eggtimer -les
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Twiggy
2. Cuddly
3. Sharky
4. Vandenbrockty
5. Gaysinky
@G’phant Hmmm – haven’t actually made any swaps (yet), so not sure why it tells me I have. Fat thumb syndrome,probably.
I’m prepared to go down with the ship on Schleck and Gesink given that they’re still upright and I know nothing so must take it on the chin like a man.
However staying with Hesjedal when he’s not actually in the race seems just a little perverse to me – so Froome it is
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Cuddles
2. Wiggo
3. Grimpelder
4. Vroom Vroom
5. Guessing
@minion
@frank
Seems to me Minion is winning this argument, and with style too
With all the hard work he’s put in and the pressure he’s under, how is Wiggo’s outburst not understandable? Wrong maybe, but understandable. I didn’t like him but I’m coming round to him
Sky are the best prepared team at the Tour, it’s blindingly obvious. And by prepared I don’t mean ‘prepared’, obviously. And their PR machine is good at reminding us how prepared they are. The fact that they’ve gone on so much about their hard work, climbing to the moon and what not, helps me persuade myself that maybe it’s ok. Maybe
clean. Naivity? Maybe
I think my kids must have spiked my drinks when I originally picked….Sagan in the top 5 WTF! Really not sure about the order or if I lose points by changing the order so I am going to man up an stick with Frankie at number 2….Froomedog comes flying up the order on the basis that “damn can the boy time trial!”…..if I were brave I might even put Froome at 1 on the basis that Twiggo is still liable to find a ditch to fall in…although I have heard a rumour that Sky are going to put stabilisers on his bike for the descents!
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Bradley Wiggins
2. Frank Schlek
3. Cadel Evans
4. Chris Froome
5. vincenzo nibali
dua swops per me. In comes Vroom and a mountain goat.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Wiggins
2. Evans
3. Froome
4. Nibali
5. Menchov
So I selected Froomeauto spell turned it to groomed, given his age I like that.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Cadel
2. Schleck Elder
3. Groomed (actually Froome))
4. Wiggins
5. Roche
What the fuck happened to Gesink? First place is a done deal, right?
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Wiggo
2. Evans
3. Nibali
4. Froome
5. Van Garderen
@frank
I’m with @meursault on this, it wasn’t aimed at the fans but at anyone who slings shit in the hope that it will stick whilst hiding behind the anonymity of the internet and made up usernames. The outburst wasn’t about the question itself but the manner in which it was asked.
Take Brailsford up on his offer to go behind the scenes and write it up here. I’m sure if there was anything untoward going on they’d have hidden it away but it’s be a great opportunity to have an in-depth look around a pro team set up.
Ditched Schleck in favour of Menchov … what was I so stupid to think that Schlek was goiung to come good ?
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Wiggins
2. Cuddles
3. Nibbles
4. Froome
5. Menchov
Meh. Froome in for Ryder. Just glad I got a good deal on a pair of White Ladies a couple of weeks ago.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Cuddles
2. Wee guns
3. Guessing
4. Froome with a view
5. Rollaids
@frank
Frank you just can’t help contradicting yourself. On the one hand you dismiss the ‘team choice’ argument as holding no water but then you start talking about the role of doping psychology with people like Virenque and Millar. In Racing Through The Dark Millar is very clear (albeit in a self-serving way) about the critical role that the team environment plays in doping.
I’ve said before that one of the clear lessons we learn from doping busts and admissions is that the team and managers/DS are vital links. Saunier-Duval, Gerolsteiner, Telekom, Festina all had a doping culture which at worst encouraged and at best turned a blind eye. Teams like Sky and Garmin have extremely pro-active anti-doping programs – they don’t just say “Naughty naughty” they have processes like banning external medical consultation, no-needles etc.
I think that also played a part in Wiggins’ reaction to the question – he wasn’t asked about doping in cycling, he was asked about comparisons to the US Postal team i.e. is Sky like US Postal ? It’s fair enough to ask about doping generally, but a professional reporter should be able to make a distinction between the US Postal team of Bruyneel and Armstrong and the Sky team of Brailsford which has been so clear about its doping policies. Just because some idiots on Twitter can’t make the distinction is no reason to ask it in a post-stage press conference.
Which is all just another way of covering up that I’m making two swaps, although they are replacements for injury and I know it is in the rules that it incurs a penalty but nevertheless I think it sucks.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Evans
2. Wiggins
3. Froome
4. Nibali
5. Van Den Broeck
@ChrisO Welcome to my world!
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Wiggins
2. Evans
3. Nibali
4. van den Broeck
5. Froome
While I feel @frank made some valid points that I hadn’t considered, so do the rest of you. I feel like you’re all distant friends of mine and hate to see you arguing. The swearing wasn’t called for but after a gruelling day in the saddle it’s understandable.
No-one has mentioned that last year Wiggins was almost in the form of his life but crashed out, we’ll never know, he might have stopped Cadel getting his first TdF win. Then one could say that if he’d had a different cassette he might have taken la Vuelta had it not been for an ASTOUNDING day from Cobo (dare I say, who looked far more like a juicer). This years form has been building for quite a time but now le Tour is his to lose.
I hope to see Wiggins do something unexpected, like attack or pull in an attack or take a mountaintop stage win, go for it Wiggo.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Wiggins
2. Evans
3. Nibali
4. Froome
5. Menchov
@Marcus
Dammit I used to think one was to tell Marcus and I apart was that I had feelings. Now Marcus has those too so I’ll have to think again.
That was quite a shellacking the judge gave Pharmstrong’s Lawyers, couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
@Ali McKee
PS changes? Hell no run what you brung. The irony of doping discussions and havng Veino in my top five is great.
I’m only swapping because Ryder abandoned. I just can’t bring myself to pick Wiggo or Cuddles, even though one of them will probably win. Call me crazy, everyone else does!
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Chris Froome
2. Rui Costa
3. Rein Taaramae
4. Tejay Van Garderen
5. Richie Porte
@mouse
I love this so much, especially the footnote, that I am going to quote it all again! – last weak punches of a beaten man / bully – good on the US Judiciary for putting it out there so straight, I imagine he will be reeling that they are punching back – no bully ever likes that
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Wiggo
2. Froome
3. JVDB
4. Nibbles
5. Annoying Aussie
What a shame we are discussing yesterday’s TT performances in such a disparaging way – Wiggo has been top 3 TT for the past couple of years, he weighed 82kg at the 2008 games, which he repeated his obsessive monastic training application, and was going great guns last year when he crashed – he now weighs 71kg
Are riders not allowed to apply themselves so dilligently any more – he spins up the mountains at one speed, doesn’t attack and keep going, and no doubt will suffer next 2 weeks when the attacks start coming – he is the king of the measured pacing – boring maybe, but cheating, come on guys, let’s lift the cynicism and enjoy it for what it is – Britains top 2 time trialists peaking (Froome, despite his climbers body, is actually a top TT rider primarily)
Brailsford has used the same group for the build up to this for the 4 stage races he has used Wiggo in as build up, then gone off training, instead of doing this and that races, Classics etc – I think they are pushing the bar up in terms of targetted GC riding preparation – chapeau to them
@Sauterelle
You crazy!