Recent content by PremiereEtape

Regarding the smaller team ideas, hard to see how they can get whittled down? So far a team needs for a gc as a minimum to be competitive : 1 sprinter 1 leadout 1 gc 1 backup 1 domestique for each 1 tt specialist Now, thats seven and admittedly some roles have crossover, but i think...

The sad thing is , his career is almost mirroring Ullrichs. Great rider, fabulous talent but enjoys other things in his life as well, which is affecting him against the singleminded and obsessed professionals in the peloton.

I dont know if its as simple as that. Andy could be in the grips of a sad depression that several people close to him have alluded to over the past few months. A depression that is getting played out right in front of the cameras week after week. Cyclings a tough sport, and if you're not there...

Hi whole thing is always "you guys in the media talk about doping all the time, why don't you focus on me and my achievements".... he may have a point, but sadly a lot of people are interested in it at the moment, so of course the media are going to ask questions. I dont know if I would...

Agree 100%, such an awesome performance doped or not, and more drama than The Count of Monte Cristo. Absolutely incredible and insane. Only Floyd could have done that ride.

Dont know if you're necessarily comparing like for like in that example though....I think stages 14 and 16 of last years event are mountain stages by anyones definition. In terms of distance, stage lengths have been reducing for years across all the big tours....

Thats a very good point. La Vuelta is quickly being redesigned as the "climbers tour", making sure that someone like say, Evans in his heyday or even Wiggins, would struggle to win. TDF is all about the all-rounder, climber vs triallist, whereas the Vuelta is now more geared to classic duels on...

LOL probably goes for my response as well. Apologies!

I think this point in particular is really interesting, and something I find myself asking and not really sure if its doping specific. I think it comes down to two points more so than the doping :- 1. Race design 2. Style of the rider If you note with the people you mentioned, Ullrich...

I don't believe lance threatened him, instead it was a call of one doper to another. After all, they were probably quite good friends. I think Millar did in the book what so many others would do if faced with the same problem : he stayed quiet and did his time, only loosely alluding to other...

I think thats the whole point. I never believed personally that rasmussen was racing clean, I think the problem is that the UCI and the DCU have arbitrarily applied the rules, and continue to do so. Why does Rasmussen get ostracised out the sport, to the point where a great rider is now...

Some more interesting background about why the UCI seemed so bothered is that they were trying to undermine ASO, and what better way to do so than to have a doping scandal right in the middle of the tour? Its also interesting that it was prompted by the Danish branch (DCU), when his rider...

Read this about 2 months ago. Little did I know how relevant it would become! I do think Michael Rasmussen was unfairly singled out, and it will be interesting to see if he ever comes clean and clears up whether he really was the deserving winner of the Tour De France 2007 ( it certainly...

Hi all, Long time lurker, thought time to contribute! Don't know if posted already, but is in the Telegraph here in the UK... Lemond launches scathing attack on McQuaid