AToC - what was Backstedt's opinion on the Landis case?

[thingswelike]

Hi all
I missed the AToC coverage. Just wondered what stance Magnus took when commenting on the Landis case.
Did anyone hear?

I remember he didn't mince words when he criticised Rock Racing.

Cheers
thingswelike

 

[theswordsman]

The guy he was working with started out trying to debunk the whole thing, Landis had no credibility, and on and on. It was awful to listen to. Then Magnus had his turn, slipped into neutral, and pretty much said that if there's something to it, we'd learn more soon, and that was that. I only heard him on the day Lance crashed, though

 

[thingswelike]

How disappointing - ah well, thanks!

 

[craig1985]

Magnus Backstedt's offsider was a man named Carlton Kirby. Hearing Kirby commentate was cringeworthy stuff.

 

[bobbins]

Carlton Kirby is the man who said that electric gears were only allowed in time trials and were not allowed in road races as the cost of bikes has to be kept low so everyone can afford to race. I believed that as much as I believed his comments on Landis.

 

[thingswelike]

I know - there must be better than Carlton! Although you need to speak a few languages and constantly talk for a few hours. It must be a pretty tough job. I find Mag to be terrific though - does exactly what a colour commentator should.

 

[blackcat]

sounds like a right royal muppet. Backstedt would be pitying the fool

 

[orange_lycra]

Kirby is excruciating to listen to at the best of times and his response to the Landis stuff had me fuming. Maggie's too polite to make a fellow commentator look like an idiot so he chose not to say much.

One Kirby gem from that race was in discussing George Hincapie's varicose vains, opining that he wouldn't want to have them operated on during his racing career because they might interfere with his "renal dialog"!!!

Not sure what conversations with kidneys have got to do with varicose veins ...