From a doping point of view, what do you expect Froom in the vuelta?

[sittingbison]

...He is no more suspicious than late bloomers like Sastre or Evans, who also weren´t linked so far, but had suspicious performance jumps as well..

OK I can understand that, but I think you are wayyyyy off base with this statement, and trying to compare Froome with these two guys.

His career vector is nothing like theirs, and they have not had any suspicious performance jumps. Those two have pretty well the most natural and normal performance increases of any rider going back to pre-EPO days. It is not fair to tarnish them by comparison to Froome, who despite not testing positive has many suspicions hanging over him.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

OK I can understand that, but I think you are wayyyyy off base with this statement, and trying to compare Froome with these two guys.

His career vector is nothing like theirs, and they have not had any suspicious performance jumps. Those two have pretty well the most natural and normal performance increases of any rider going back to pre-EPO days. It is not fair to tarnish them by comparison to Froome, who despite not testing positive has many suspicions hanging over him.

Put progression and age in context and you see both are as suspicious as Froome.

Of course it´s not fair to tarnish them. But it´s also not with Froome. And that´s where it all started with. I am just trying to bring things back into context.

 

[Cavalier]

What context? All those you named had demonstrated period of high-quality results over a long period prior to GT performances. How is that remotely as suspicious as a guy who achieved TWO 2.5 Cat wins suddenly leaping to the podium of a Grand Tour?

 

[Franklin]

Are we still talking of Sastre until age 26, when Froome already had two GT podiums*?
There is nothing but emptiness...

* Before he had no chance to show results, b/c he rode for Minolta or doing mountain biking in Nairobi. I was there ten times. I can assure you, you go unnoticed there.

Ahhhh another blatant lie about Sastre this time

The great thing are once again FACTS:

Sastre:
2000
Vuelta a España
8th, Overall
Winner Mountains classification
2001
1st Stage 3 Vuelta a Burgos
2002
10th Overall Tour de France
2003
Tour de France
9th, Overall
1st, Stage 13


Froome

2007
1st Mi-Août Bretonne
1st Stage 5 Giro delle Regioni (Under 23s)
1st Stage 6 Tour of Japan
2nd Berg en Dale Classic
2nd World Championship Time Trial (Elite group B)
3rd All-Africa Games – 150 km road race [38]
2008
2nd Giro del Capo[39]
2009
1st Day 2 Giro del Capo[40]
1st Anatomic Jock Race
2010
2nd British National Time Trial Championships
5th Commonwealth Games – Road Time Trial

If you think Froomes early career is comparable or even better than Satsre you are on crack.

 

[Cycle Chic]

and if your DS has to google you, you aint up to much.

 

[the big ring]

and if your ds has to google you, you aint up to much.

-- boom --

 

[goggalor]

I hope he keeps climbing like a star and shuts up those who said Contador would've won the Tour by 5 minutes.

 

[sartoris]

What I expect is ... that he gets caught (along with the whole Sky doping structure).

 

[Corona]

What I expect is ... that he gets caught (along with the whole Sky doping structure).

Maybe that would be a good thing for him. He'll then probably get clinic respect like Contadope etc.

It appears you get far more respect once you get popped in here

 

[Fergoose]

Cobo last year rode for GeoxTMC. Movistar had no one in the top 10 by the end of the Vuelta.

Gah, schoolboy error! Helps form a possible explanation for why Cobo isn't on world beating form and likely greatly decreases chances of Valverde being able to challenge Froome.

 

[Benotti69]

Gah, schoolboy error! Helps form a possible explanation for why Cobo isn't on world beating form and likely greatly decreases chances of Valverde being able to challenge Froome.

It is difficult to remember sometimes riders were with other teams

 

[hrotha]

What I expect is ... that he gets caught (along with the whole Sky doping structure).

Expect, or hope?

If UCI goes down, there might be a chance. Otherwise, Sky will keep on living strong.

 

[maxmartin]

unbelievable, leading out the Ben Swift as top GC rider just before tomorrow's big climb. I am just speechless!!!

As if he will never run out of energy.

 

[MrRoboto]

unbelievable, leading out the Ben Swift as top GC rider just before tomorrow's big climb. I am just speechless!!!

Back to the 90's.

 

[Fergoose]

The thing is he knows he's got the upper hand in this first week, but can't guarantee that his rivals won't magically catch up after a rest day. So he'll have to make hay while the sun shines and go hell for leather on todays stage the day after doing a sprint leadout. The lad has no savvy whatsoever about how to avoid arousing suspicion!

 

[the big ring]

unbelievable, leading out the Ben Swift as top GC rider just before tomorrow's big climb. I am just speechless!!!

As if he will never run out of energy.

Ben Swift came 10th. Why would you lead someone out when you clearly have no talent at it, let alone about to race a MTF the following day? Talk about waste of energy.

 

[Bicycle]

Except when I see performances showing a physical element I find unbelievable (Jamaican sprinters, Spanish-based footballers, Nadal/Djokovic) I am prepared to give athletes the benefit of the doubt.

Clearly if top cyclists are still doping then the juice is not as effective as it was in the 90s.

 

[Dalakhani]

Ben Swift came 10th. Why would you lead someone out when you clearly have no talent at it, let alone about to race a MTF the following day? Talk about waste of energy.

When I see something like that, I'm torn between 2 contrasting thoughts...

(1) That he must be doped up to the eyeballs

and

(2) Perhaps he's just a muppet. Could it be that he's so stupid as a cyclist that he wasted incredible natural talent until Sky got him to harness it better.

Based on what else is going on at Sky, I'm leaning heavily towards #1, but this kind of ill-judgement, if left unrestrained, is the sort of thing that could mask a serious talent.

 

[Cycle Chic]

When I see something like that, I'm torn between 2 contrasting thoughts...

(1) That he must be doped up to the eyeballs

and

(2) Perhaps he's just a muppet. Could it be that he's so stupid as a cyclist that he wasted incredible natural talent until Sky got him to harness it better.

Based on what else is going on at Sky, I'm leaning heavily towards #1, but this kind of ill-judgement, if left unrestrained, is the sort of thing that could mask a serious talent.

It was like his behaviour to Wiggins in the TDF with the 'come on, come on' hand signals up the climbs - odd behaviour.

Could it be his sudden appearance on the Pro Tour and he just hasnt got the experience that comes with riding in the pro peloton ?? Sudden appearance - read - doped advance in performance.

 

[maxmartin]

It is a hilly ITT

Can alien CF gain more than 1 min on AC?
Can he gain more than 2:30 min on JR?

 

[Cycle Chic]

What a farcical Vuelta this is - just like the TDF...that performance on the Gallina was comical...reminded me of Rasmussen and Kohl..totally ridiculous ! at least Contador is having off days and Valverde - but Froome is the Chicken all over again.

How is he being allowed to get away with this ?

 

[maxmartin]

What a farcical Vuelta this is - just like the TDF...that performance on the Gallina was comical...reminded me of Rasmussen and Kohl..totally ridiculous ! at least Contador is having off days and Valverde - but Froome is the Chicken all over again.

How is he being allowed to get away with this ?

As long there is people (like Merckx) still praising and defending Lance. Sadly but true it is maybe already part of this sport culture. And sky decides if you can't fight it why not just join it and enjoy it.

 

[Telmisartan new]

What I expect is ... that he gets caught (along with the whole Sky doping structure).

That's where i'm at too.Thanks,summed it up in a nutshell.

 

[maxmartin]

And doping is like contagious disease. If you can do it and get away with it, why can't I do the same thing. Seems in this vuelta, people are already catching up with SKY.

And I expect a very close and tough fight in the next year tour too, scenario of this year tour won't happen again. Oh well at least there is good (can turn bad like Lance) show ahead of us.

 

[Alpehue]

Yeah, that "steak" just leaped into his mouth, it's also just a co-incidence that he's worked in some dodgy teams with some dodgy employees (like Froome is now) and has been able to perform to such a high standard consistently...

But ofcourse it's Alberto, he attacks and stuff so he must be a good guy right?

He's as dirty as the rest of them, not on an Armstrong level but he's a bad one for sure.

Your a fool? did you actually read the verdict, Or do you prefer just throwing around accusations without actually looking into it, he dident get a ban for doping, the ruling body even went so far as to say that he substance found in his body was there unvillingly due to something he ate. And not due to doping.

Im not saying he is not doped, infact im quite sure he is. But he is deffinetly not a proven doper, even though English people tend to say that quite a lot lately.

And when it comes down to looking at results, Froome seems a hell of a lot more suspicious to me, Unlike Contador who was a massive talent from day 1, Froome never really did anything big until a few years ago.

That being said, I enjoy watching both of them ride.