Recent content by orbis_25

That's a little unfair. They've consistently won at least one classic a year for the last four years, and Tony Martin won Paris Nice this year. But I understand what you're saying. Their success in grand tour stages, especially at Le Tour, was a dominant part of their image. But let's face it...

What? Why? I love July round here, there are enough ridiculous threads and posts to keep me entertained for, well, an entire month. The rest of the time it's full of people who actually know something about cycling posting. Pah! It's not like I come here for insightful, informed comments :rolleyes:

Niki Terpstra, that's who. Not the biggest rider in the world, but certainly well known with an impressive palmarès. And cycling is a game for domestiques. Without them, there are no winners. There are no teams, no races, no sport. It takes a team to win, not just one rider. If cycling was...

I'm just not buying into a TV victory. He is a far stronger, more consistent rider than he was in 2004 (which has seen him pick up some big wins since then), but we are yet to see any big attacks from the favourites, any "blow the race apart" rides. I'm impressed that TV managed to hold on...

So many possibilities, so I'm going with the top 3 format. In no particular order (drum roll please)... - Champs Elysees 2005 for sheer audacity. "Ceremonial stage? Whatever, I'm going to get me 5th place. Take that, Levi." - Gap 2003 for exploding the race, even if most remember this for...

I don't buy the language barrier reasoning either. There is simply no way that at a race of this magnitude, the race doctor does not speak English. If he doesn't, then a large portion of the peloton can be treated but not effectively. I can't imagine Le Tour taking such risks. I also don't...

Based on Evan's performance yesterday and the form of some of his rivals over the last few weeks, I would tentatively make a punt on a top 5 for him. Yesterday's finish suited him better than other GC contenders, so purely on the backing of that it's too early to call. But when you combine...

But you're just presenting arguments for which rider is better. This thread is about which riders are overrated. There's a difference. Hushovd can't be seen as overrated. His palmares is rather good. It's not the best, but he has some big wins and solid podiums. For a rider to be overrated, they...

Here's the text of the rule: "Article 1.1.006.2 No licence to participate in the sport as Staff under clause 1.1.010 (general manager, team manager, coach, doctor, paramedical assistant, mechanic, driver or other function as specified on the licence) shall be granted to a person who has...

I've been wondering the same thing. Does the rule apply if you're caught doping before 1 July and become a director after that date, or only if you're caught doping after 1 July? My other concern with this is that this is a blanket ban on convicted dopers, regardless of their attitudes after...

First of all, we need to distinguish between GC riders and GC riders. Same thing, right? Ah, no. J-Rod and Gadret have done well in stage races, including grand tours. However, they really excel in the mountainous ones. Throw either of them in a tour with a large number of flat, ITT kilometers...

Some of these rules seem odd. No trainer? Obviously that's required. No agent? Err, ok, I'll give that the benefit of the doubt, as Ricco's agent was probably involved in his illicit dealings. But no lawyer? That makes no sense to me. I can't see how Ricco's lawyer can have helped him dope...

Katusha have been pretty bad so far. I know Pozzato isn't the most popular rider around, but I always hold out hope he'll achieve something. This year he's been non-existent. Rodriguez was 2nd at Fleche, Kolobnev 5th at Amstel, which are both impressive results, but other than that there hasn't...

It's true that in most circumstances a rider's race number bears no lasting importance (apart from possibly number 1). This is a different situation, though. I can't recall any time before when a rider's number has been adopted by the larger cycling family like Wouter's has. Number 108 has...

It always amazes me the amount of hatred which is directed towards hipsters on cycling websites. I assume we're talking about the "cool kids" who ride brakeless track bikes on the mean streets of [insert hip, happening place here]. People, they ride bikes. You ride bikes. I rides bikes...