Teams & Riders Froome Talk Only

[DirtyWorks]

He can do whatever he wants now it makes no difference.

This is not true at all. If he faded into teens-ranking at the International elite level, I'd believe he's riding cleaner. If he faded into high-national ranking, then I'd believe him to be riding cleaner still.

The guy never had the low-level results consistent with a grand tour podium.

 

[kingjr]

This is not true at all. If he faded into teens-ranking at the International elite level, I'd believe he's riding cleaner. If he faded into high-national ranking, then I'd believe him to be riding cleaner still.

But you would still be convinced that he was doping in the first place.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

But that still has the problem that it makes his 2012-13 level look ridiculous.

At this point, if he's doping, and like many I strongly suspect he is, Froome's in a Catch-22. If he cleans up and his results drop away, it makes quite clear that his 2012-13 results were doping because he isn't able to continue to perform at that level. But if he continues to dominate with performances that are regarded as suspicious, as his 2012-13 performances were, then he continues to be regarded as a suspicious rider and probable doper.

The only way I could see for him to step back a level without causing suspicion would be if he had an injury. An illness won't do at this point, because an illness has already been used to justify his increase in level, and people are inherently suspicious of illness stories surrounding Froome now. It would need to be something like crashing out of a race and missing time to injury, so that people could see it wasn't smoke and mirrors, then returning not as strong a rider. And I'm sure all but the most rabid of Froome-haters would prefer him not to get legitimately badly injured, which takes that "solution" out of the equation.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

But that still has the problem that it makes his 2012-13 level look ridiculous.

At this point, if he's doping, and like many I strongly suspect he is, Froome's in a Catch-22. If he cleans up and his results drop away, it makes quite clear that his 2012-13 results were doping because he isn't able to continue to perform at that level. But if he continues to dominate with performances that are regarded as suspicious, as his 2012-13 performances were, then he continues to be regarded as a suspicious rider and probable doper.

The only way I could see for him to step back a level without causing suspicion would be if he had an injury. An illness won't do at this point, because an illness has already been used to justify his increase in level, and people are inherently suspicious of illness stories surrounding Froome now. It would need to be something like crashing out of a race and missing time to injury, so that people could see it wasn't smoke and mirrors, then returning not as strong a rider. And I'm sure all but the most rabid of Froome-haters would prefer him not to get legitimately badly injured, which takes that "solution" out of the equation.

What if he spend 4 months in African swamps, caught badzilla for real, returned to an established hospital in Britain, got diagnosed with the disease and returned to being a grupetto rider again?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Sorry, let me get this straight. Repeating his unbelievable performances will prove his legitimacy and his cleanliness?

The mind boggles.

It makes no sense. Froome doesn't really come across as very intelligent to be honest but maybe he is as the skybots will inevitably swallow it.

 

[proffate]

before it was 7 TDFs, now it's 6 (last year + 5 more). Clearly 7 is only achievable on a US Postal style program, but 6 is human.

 

[peloton]

But that still has the problem that it makes his 2012-13 level look ridiculous.

At this point, if he's doping, and like many I strongly suspect he is, Froome's in a Catch-22. If he cleans up and his results drop away, it makes quite clear that his 2012-13 results were doping because he isn't able to continue to perform at that level. But if he continues to dominate with performances that are regarded as suspicious, as his 2012-13 performances were, then he continues to be regarded as a suspicious rider and probable doper.

The only way I could see for him to step back a level without causing suspicion would be if he had an injury. An illness won't do at this point, because an illness has already been used to justify his increase in level, and people are inherently suspicious of illness stories surrounding Froome now. It would need to be something like crashing out of a race and missing time to injury, so that people could see it wasn't smoke and mirrors, then returning not as strong a rider. And I'm sure all but the most rabid of Froome-haters would prefer him not to get legitimately badly injured, which takes that "solution" out of the equation.

As always, well written.

Pretty much agree with everything (never wish any rider to crash or get injured, as any other cycling fan would either)

 

[The Hitch]

But you would still be convinced that he was doping in the first place.

If Horner finishes the Giro this year in first place I and the entire cycling world will be convinced he doped at the 2013 Vuelta.

If Horner finishes the Giro this year in 132nd place, doesn't finish top 100 in a single race this season I and the entire sporting world will also be convinced he doped at the Vuelta in 2013.

In short Horner's results in results from here on out have no bearing on whether people think he doped in 2013. They know he did based on the performances and some of the hypocricy.

So why would you expect Froome to be any different to Horner in that regard? It doesn't matter what places a rider finishes after.

Froomes performances are suspicious for 200 different reasons. Another 200 if you add the pure coincidence that the only other remotely comparable transformation this millenium happens to have been his compatriot on the exact same team. What he does from here on in can't change any of that.

 

[BroDeal]

But that still has the problem that it makes his 2012-13 level look ridiculous.

At this point, if he's doping, and like many I strongly suspect he is, Froome's in a Catch-22. If he cleans up and his results drop away, it makes quite clear that his 2012-13 results were doping because he isn't able to continue to perform at that level. But if he continues to dominate with performances that are regarded as suspicious, as his 2012-13 performances were, then he continues to be regarded as a suspicious rider and probable doper.

You have not taken human evolution into account. Sometime between August 2012 and June 2013 the ozone hole took a vacation from Australia. During its sojourn over the British Isles, the unfiltered cosmic radiation caused enough mutations to allow clean riders to match the times of history's greatest dopers. Some say the hole was spotted over England last month, so the new leap in evolution this year should enable riders to exceed the times of even the most reckless of dopers. Froome is taking no chances, which explains that hideous sunburn of his. Expect to see Froome faster than ever this year.

It is all pretty simple and innocent when you know the facts. We can only hope that Froome does not overdo it and grow a third eye.

 

[kingjr]

So why would you expect Froome to be any different to Horner in that regard? It doesn't matter what places a rider finishes after.

I'm sorry but I have no idea what you want to tell me here. You basically just repeated what Libertine said, and what I meant to say.
Well except that I'm not convinced of both these two doping. And why mention Horner at all

 

[Granville57]

Were he to falter and fail over the next few years, people would be even more convinced that he was on some magic juice for 2012/13.

If he goes to win, oh, I dunno, let's say Seven TdFs, he will find himself under equal or even greater scrutiny and suspicion.

But that still has the problem that it makes his 2012-13 level look ridiculous.

At this point, if he's doping, and like many I strongly suspect he is, Froome's in a Catch-22. If he cleans up and his results drop away, it makes quite clear that his 2012-13 results were doping because he isn't able to continue to perform at that level. But if he continues to dominate with performances that are regarded as suspicious, as his 2012-13 performances were, then he continues to be regarded as a suspicious rider and probable doper.

Good post, Granville

 

[DirtyWorks]

But you would still be convinced that he was doping in the first place.

His transformation is totally consistent with every other doped transformation before his. It is walking like a duck, quacking like a duck, has feathers like a duck, behaves like a duck, produces power like other doped ducks, then struggles to finish once off his target event.

Is it a duck? I think so.

 

[wirral]

His transformation is totally consistent with every other doped transformation before his. It is walking like a duck, quacking like a duck, has feathers like a duck, behaves like a duck, produces power like other doped ducks, then struggles to finish once off his target event.

Is it a duck? I think so.

Indeed, nothing close to a world-beating performance before his 26th birthday then BAM.

 

[The Hitch]

His transformation is totally consistent with every other doped transformation before his. It is walking like a duck, quacking like a duck, has feathers like a duck, behaves like a duck, ]produces power like other doped ducks, then struggles to finish once off his target event.

Irrelevant.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

To be honest, the most difficult part of that Froome article for me to accept, was not his flawed logic. It was the blatant PR regurgitated by a news media, and the following claim:

After years of being dogged by the bilharzia virus

It's not a virus, it's a parasite - like a little worm.

Forgive the reliance on wikipedia, but this

Trapped eggs mature normally, secreting antigens that elicit a vigorous immune response. The eggs themselves do not damage the body. Rather it is the cellular infiltration resultant from the immune response that causes the pathology classically associated with schistosomiasis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schistosomiasis

Says nothing about "eating blood cells".

CDC puts it slightly differently:

Symptoms of schistosomiasis are caused by the body's reaction to the eggs produced by worms, not by the worms themselves.
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/schistosomiasis/gen_info/faqs.html

We've never been told any specifics on Froome's particular strain of worm infection, so there may of course be more specific info on the effects he experienced, and thanks to the transparency of Team ZTP Sky, we'll probably never know.

The symptoms listed in various places are also pretty intense, and I fail to see how a cyclist would go on training and racing with

Fever, chills, cough, and muscle aches

without seeing a doctor and getting some proper medical attention.

Despite a 5 minute google leading to wiki and more believably CDC, this PR bilzharia "dogging" is repeated ad nauseum, with noone - not even apparent Daniel "Interview Pit Bull" Benson wishing to get to the bottom of WTF Sky are on about when they claim this is the sole reason Froome was essentially a hack cyclist both before and during his bilzharia infection, or how its eradication explains Froome's meteoric rise to the top of the pro cycling heap.

 

[sniper]

We've never been told any specifics on Froome's particular strain of worm infection, so there may of course be more specific info on the effects he experienced, and thanks to the transparency of Team ZTP Sky, we'll probably never know.

Recall (I think from Walsh article or book) Sky's excuse for not providing pre-2011 data on froome was that it would give an unfair advantage to the opponents.

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

Recall (I think from Walsh article or book) Sky's excuse for not providing pre-2011 data on froome was that it would give an unfair advantage to the opponents.

Pretty sure Sky's ZTP is not Zero Tollerance Policy, but rather Zero Talking Points.

Transparency...

 

[El Imbatido]

Pretty sure Sky's ZTP is not Zero Tollerance Policy, but rather Zero Talking Points.

Transparency...

I thought it was 'Zero Transparency Policy'?

Which means they are doing a prettyy good job of it

 

[will10]

But that still has the problem that it makes his 2012-13 level look ridiculous.

At this point, if he's doping, and like many I strongly suspect he is, Froome's in a Catch-22. If he cleans up and his results drop away, it makes quite clear that his 2012-13 results were doping because he isn't able to continue to perform at that level. But if he continues to dominate with performances that are regarded as suspicious, as his 2012-13 performances were, then he continues to be regarded as a suspicious rider and probable doper.

Maybe Froome should go down the Cunego-route. He doesn't get much heat from the Clinic these days.

 

[SundayRider]

Maybe Froome should go down the Cunego-route. He doesn't get much heat from the Clinic these days.

No chance, this years Tour will be a repeat of last years, possibly even bigger margin of victory.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

I realise it's only PR, but there's been more than one person hinting that Froome can generate even more power this year. If anyone is looking to give him a run for his money, they need to match last year's performance + some more %.

 

[SundayRider]

I realise it's only PR, but there's been more than one person hinting that Froome can generate even more power this year. If anyone is looking to give him a run for his money, they need to match last year's performance + some more %.

any links to any of those stories? Thanks

 

[LaFlorecita]

I realise it's only PR, but there's been more than one person hinting that Froome can generate even more power this year. If anyone is looking to give him a run for his money, they need to match last year's performance + some more %.

Sigh. What a joke.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

any links to any of those stories? Thanks

Struggling...

Kerrison refused to speculate on how many Tours Froome could win, but he said the team is studying ways to further improve his performance.

“Chris is in the early stages of his development,” Kerrison said. “If you look back at his progression, his actual raw power numbers haven’t improved that much. What’s improved is his ability to deliver that in real race situations. … There are a few little rough edges that we can smooth out over the next couple of years, so he uses his talents more efficiently.”

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/jul/15/team-sky-chris-froome-tour-de-france

 

[Ferminal]

I thought Julich already mastered that hence his 2011 explosion.

Funny that the only riders who don't know when to deliver the Watts all end up at Sky.