martinvickers
BANNED
- Oct 15, 2012
- 4,903
- 0
- 0
LaFlorecita said:
For the record, what I think is irrelevant. That is kind of my crusade in here, in case you haven't guessed, Fleur. To try and remind people who are going bonkers that their suspicions do not equal proof, or anything even remotely close. Including mine.
But for the record, and since you asked nicely...
Do i believe that Sky have team wide doping plans, or a 'tenerife' top rider doping plan?
No. I don't. British cycling could have chundered along happily soaking up GB public acclaim for it's track exploits, and spitting at pro-road-cycling as a doping haven not worth bothering with.
Indeed, that's broadly what it did do under Peter Keen.
But it got involved. And as astounding as the effect of one TdF for GB cycling may be; the risk to the entire sport in GB if BC were shown to be doping would, in my view, be catastrophic. I don't believe the reward would justify the risk.
I suspect Sky 'push' boundaries - i think that's what their 'powerpoint' with uci/aso whatever was about - i don't know if it's sleeping in altitude tents, using cpap masks with enriched oxygen, but they've hit on something, probably from way back in their track days, and it works for them, so long as they use that one obvious Skytrain tactic. It may end up outlawed; or copied. But for what it's worth (and as I said, it's worth nothing) that's what i suspect.
Do I believe wiggins doped?
No. I think he's a ***, a bit of a toerag, completely inconsistent, a sulky mare and a horror to be around. I'd be happy if I never heard or saw him again. But for all that people here mock it, My hunch is he's clean. Indeed, his troubles this year strike me a a man who strung himself to the very limit for his one shot on a friendly parcours with a weak peleton, and knows it ain't never happening again. That's not super powerful doping to me - that's a hell of a lot of luck (some of it deliberately given by ASO in terms of parcours).
Do I believe Froome dopes.
Yes. I do.
I have absolutely no proof. none. In fact, despite how bonkers people in her go, there is a staggering lack of evidence against anybody on Sky - they really, REALLY, know how to control the narrative. And without such evidence, all the "it's obvious', 'it's 100%', 'disgusting' sh!te written in here is really just, frankly, people trying to get moral high ground to cover what is a more basic and visceral dislike. And hey, fire ahead. But I won't do that. Because I don't see doping scandals as some sort of soap opera entertainment, where it's fun to accuse.
To me, accusing someone of doping is **** hot serious.
Me, I think you need evidence before you hang a man. Even, dare I say it, Armstrong. The problem was we had that EYE-WITNESS EVIDENCE years ago with him - an admission of guilt to both Emma and Betsy, to a lesser extent Bassons. That's not even counting the TUE. And all in an era of absolutely crap testing.
We have nothing similar, so far, i repeat, so far, with Sky. and we just had a load of people released under a cloud by Sky - and NONE of them, to my knowledge have had a bad word to say about Sky. Or Wiggins. Or Froome. on that score.
We also have, BTW, at least three retired female track riders who hate Brailsford, shane sutton or both - Romero, Houvenaghal and Pendleton. Start asking them questions - they may have axes to grind, and in the former two cases, money to make.
WE have impressions of racing, and who sky 'look like' which is entertaining but palpable nonsense as evidence, and the one stinking gun - the hiring of Leinders. Almost certain brought in on recommednation of De Jonge.
That's your first ports of call for actual evidence. Witnesses who might be encouraged to tell the truth.
If Alberto has suddenly improved after the rest day and beats the crap out of Froome would you consider him robbed?
I fully expect at least one great day from Berti.
Please understand. I loathe the fact he doped, and I'm angry with him that he did. Not least because he was the most exciting rider of his generation, and a great hope for moving the sport on after that yank ba$tard. I wanted to cheer for him, he seemed humble, decent. But he doped. I think dopers should be banned for life, first offence. Jailed preferably.
So I won't be happy if Berti wins, or valverde - even though i suspect both are at l;east cleaner now, if only by necessity.
I'll be very happy if Quintana wins.
If Dan Martin found a way to win, I'd be drunk for a week.
Froome strikes me as a cold fish, and I have no warmth to his winning, one way or the other. But as for doping? Whatever my suspicions, I need a site more actual evidence before I write him off.
I'm boring like that. I just don't give the importance to my own hunches that some others seem to.
Fair enough, Fleur?
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram