2014 Giro D'Italia: Third Rest Day

[sir fly]

So, how does an average rest day before the decisive stages look?
We know about sleeping, light rides, massages, therapies... But I want to hear something about less usual and more advanced preparations before the final week.
Are the HGH and designer steroids still the number one choice in the recovery?
Do they calculate their transfusions according to the latest readings, a trend during the race and existing bio-passport data, or the early morning micro-dosing is their weapon of choice?
Do the all favorites prefer a recharge during the rest day, or do they do it independently of the rest day, doing it when the data show it's the moment or before a specific stage?

 

[The Hitch]

Usually, the third rest day tends to have the least doping of all the rest days.

 

[sir fly]

Usually, the third rest day tends to have the least doping of all the rest days.

Risk?
.....

 

[proffate]

I think because there are typically only 2 rest days (and The Hitch has forgotten there was an extra rest day after Ireland this year) he's poking fun at your thread title.

 

[HSNHSN]

Usually, the third rest day tends to have the least doping of all the rest days.

Since GTs usually only have 2 rest days, I tend to agree. However, in this particular case? Considering the ferocity of the coming week, I wouldn't be surprised if all favourites 'recharge' right now. The question how they do this is an interesting one still. It will probably take a few years before we get an answer to it, though.

 

[Big Doopie]

Usually, the third rest day tends to have the least doping of all the rest days.

my bad, only just got Hitch's joke!

good one. seriously.

 

[sir fly]

I think because there are typically only 2 rest days (and The Hitch has forgotten there was an extra rest day after Ireland this year) he's poking fun at your thread title.

Right.
But I've, also, written that it's

...an average rest day before the decisive stages...

, so...
I've expected a more profound reply from one of the doyennes of the forum.

 

[proffate]

There's a lot of outrage on this forum, but not a lot of profundity.

 

[sir fly]

Since GTs usually only have 2 rest days, I tend to agree. However, in this particular case? Considering the ferocity of the coming week, I wouldn't be surprised if all favourites 'recharge' right now. The question how they do this is an interesting one still. It will probably take a few years before we get an answer to it, though.

Yes, there's the truth.
Some of the last year's performances and the consistency some riders have managed to achieve lately suggests there's a new approach.

 

[proffate]

To answer the original question, I guess the rest day is a good day to charge up if there's a doping technique that is detrimental in the short term but beneficial over the following days. A lot of medicines make you constipated for example. Otherwise I'm not too sure why the rest day would see extra dopage. On the other hand, days with long transfers might be logistically trickier to dope on. Someone should ask Hamilton or Landis.

 

[Berzin]

There is no one on this board who can answer such questions with any level of veracity.

Doping occurs behind closed doors in a clandestine fashion. No one knows how the Biopassport is being undermined, what drugs are in vogue, or how they are being administered.

I'm closing this thread because the level of speculation is going to go off the charts. We have enough threads going on where this is rampant.

CLOSED.