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HiroAntagonist said:Have there been any notable reactions via Twitter and the like?
BigMac said:Curious though, is Thomas Sky's most bizarre transformation? Compared to Froome, for instance, at least there was a transformation here, whereas Froome came out of the bottom half of GC standings to contend Grand Tours, night to day. Wiggins, too, seemed to be more unbelievable. I guess we pick Sky's ridiculousness as whole and get outraged by another unexpected performance, which despite not being the biggest joke ever, gets our attention because it marks the zenith of Sky's flagrant team program, and we feel like we can't take it no more. I mean, at least this guy was already showing something on the hills two or three years ago. That doesn't justify his current season ofc, and while Monchique was sort of within believable, his Rettenbachferner and now Tour performances defy logic and common sense. But at least t'was the lowermost gradual, instead of a completely out-of-the-blue suck-it-up kick career and performance.
snccdcno said:FoxxyBrown1111 said:OK, everybody has a round with those pics... so I join.
Actually, besides doping, I see cyclists suffering. That´s all. Thomas has a different grimace. But it´s not like he is laughing all the way up like another infamous doper did in Spain.
Indeed, today's picture was great but still prefer this one
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The Hitch said:BigMac said:Curious though, is Thomas Sky's most bizarre transformation? Compared to Froome, for instance, at least there was a transformation here, whereas Froome came out of the bottom half of GC standings to contend Grand Tours, night to day. Wiggins, too, seemed to be more unbelievable. I guess we pick Sky's ridiculousness as whole and get outraged by another unexpected performance, which despite not being the biggest joke ever, gets our attention because it marks the zenith of Sky's flagrant team program, and we feel like we can't take it no more. I mean, at least this guy was already showing something on the hills two or three years ago. That doesn't justify his current season ofc, and while Monchique was sort of within believable, his Rettenbachferner and now Tour performances defy logic and common sense. But at least t'was the lowermost gradual, instead of a completely out-of-the-blue suck-it-up kick career and performance.
Sky transformations ranked out of 10 (imo)
For comparison. I will list a few others first.
Armstrong 7
Indurain 7
Sayer 3
Riis 8
Santamborgio 5
Horner 8
Jallabert 7.5
Average gt winner 3
5 Mick Rogers 6
4 Richie Porte 7
3 Geraint Thomas 7.5 (and rising)
2 Chris Froome 10
1 Bradley Wiggins 11
BigMac said:Curious though, is Thomas Sky's most bizarre transformation? Compared to Froome, for instance, at least there was a transformation here, whereas Froome came out of the bottom half of GC standings to contend Grand Tours, night to day. Wiggins, too, seemed to be more unbelievable. I guess we pick Sky's ridiculousness as whole and get outraged by another unexpected performance, which despite not being the biggest joke ever, gets our attention because it marks the zenith of Sky's flagrant team program, and we feel like we can't take it no more. I mean, at least this guy was already showing something on the hills two or three years ago. That doesn't justify his current season ofc, and while Monchique was sort of within believable, his Rettenbachferner and now Tour performances defy logic and common sense. But at least t'was the lowermost gradual, instead of a completely out-of-the-blue suck-it-up kick career and performance.
Augstyn and Cummings went to Sky...Fearless Greg Lemond said:We can now safely say Barloworld was one of the most talented teams out there. Let's ask Corti on his views regarding Thomas.
Archibald said:Augstyn and Cummings went to Sky...Fearless Greg Lemond said:We can now safely say Barloworld was one of the most talented teams out there. Let's ask Corti on his views regarding Thomas.
Augustyn is a year younger than G, so would he be a GT contender next year if he'd stayed with Sky?
contador977 said:SlickMongoose said:Love this photo:
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Even Froome is like..... wtf?
Thomas looks like he is laughing, or just laughing.
Froome doesnt look to be breathing hard at all.
Quintana suffering.
Contador suffering.
TVG suffering.
Valverde suffering.
Dont pisss on my leg and tell me its raining.
Kernel said:If Thomas is on par with Basso and Armstrongs time of '04. We should warn the poor guy. He may have testicular cancer :O
samhocking said:Just take comfort knowing that Sky is on the same path as the BC Track Program and nothing untoward has been found in that success story and rider transformation in 20 years now. I would guess nothing untoward will be found with Team Sky after 20 years either considering it's the same chap heading it up!
SlickMongoose said:Love this photo:
![]()
Even Froome is like..... wtf?
samhocking said:Thomas's entire career until 2013 has been focused on the track while being a domestique to pay the bills. It's completely pointless to look at his road palamares to determine a riders validity or potential in the classics or GTs when they are permanently training to 4 year Olympic programme on the track.
In my view, his Junior Roubaix win in 2004 was probably the only early indicator he had something special for the road, but he chose the track instead. Really his rise on the road only began in 2013 after the London Olympics. It has taken a year to transform him back to his 2004 potential for the classics and then another year to be a good climber. I don't see anything unbelievable in Thomas other than hard work and desire and love of the sport.
Just take comfort knowing that Sky is on the same path as the BC Track Program and nothing untoward has been found in that success story and rider transformation in 20 years now. I would guess nothing untoward will be found with Team Sky after 20 years either considering it's the same chap heading it up!
samhocking said:In my view, his Junior Roubaix win in 2004 was probably the only early indicator he had something special for the road, but he chose the track instead. Really his rise on the road only began in 2013 after the London Olympics. It has taken a year to transform him back to his 2004 potential for the classics and then another year to be a good climber. I don't see anything unbelievable in Thomas other than hard work and desire and love of the sport.
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SKYMagic™ only works on british riders.Gogojv said:samhocking said:In my view, his Junior Roubaix win in 2004 was probably the only early indicator he had something special for the road, but he chose the track instead. Really his rise on the road only began in 2013 after the London Olympics. It has taken a year to transform him back to his 2004 potential for the classics and then another year to be a good climber. I don't see anything unbelievable in Thomas other than hard work and desire and love of the sport.
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Paris roubaix juniors and also espoirs is a great indicator for climbing top 5 tdf. The Dutch are struggling with Gesink and Mollema for top 10. They should go for top 5 with Former winners juniors/espoirs. Shame Veelers, Sinkeldam, De Kort, Kreder and Vermeltfort are more focussing on lead out and sprinting. ...
BYOP88 said:samhocking said:Thomas's entire career until 2013 has been focused on the track while being a domestique to pay the bills. It's completely pointless to look at his road palamares to determine a riders validity or potential in the classics or GTs when they are permanently training to 4 year Olympic programme on the track.
In my view, his Junior Roubaix win in 2004 was probably the only early indicator he had something special for the road, but he chose the track instead. Really his rise on the road only began in 2013 after the London Olympics. It has taken a year to transform him back to his 2004 potential for the classics and then another year to be a good climber. I don't see anything unbelievable in Thomas other than hard work and desire and love of the sport.
Just take comfort knowing that Sky is on the same path as the BC Track Program and nothing untoward has been found in that success story and rider transformation in 20 years now. I would guess nothing untoward will be found with Team Sky after 20 years either considering it's the same chap heading it up!
Winning Junior Roubaix means nothing, after all guys like; Sergey Lagutin, Eric Baumann, Dmitry Kozonchuk and Damien Nazon(lantern rouge "winner" in the '98 TDF) have won Paris–Roubaix Espoirs and achieved nothing of note as a pro. I guess they just had bad luck that they weren't born in Britain.
Mr.38% said:SKYMagic™ only works on british riders.
Some former winners of Paris Roubaix Espoirs:Walkman said:BYOP88 said:samhocking said:Thomas's entire career until 2013 has been focused on the track while being a domestique to pay the bills. It's completely pointless to look at his road palamares to determine a riders validity or potential in the classics or GTs when they are permanently training to 4 year Olympic programme on the track.
In my view, his Junior Roubaix win in 2004 was probably the only early indicator he had something special for the road, but he chose the track instead. Really his rise on the road only began in 2013 after the London Olympics. It has taken a year to transform him back to his 2004 potential for the classics and then another year to be a good climber. I don't see anything unbelievable in Thomas other than hard work and desire and love of the sport.
Just take comfort knowing that Sky is on the same path as the BC Track Program and nothing untoward has been found in that success story and rider transformation in 20 years now. I would guess nothing untoward will be found with Team Sky after 20 years either considering it's the same chap heading it up!
Winning Junior Roubaix means nothing, after all guys like; Sergey Lagutin, Eric Baumann, Dmitry Kozonchuk and Damien Nazon(lantern rouge "winner" in the '98 TDF) have won Paris–Roubaix Espoirs and achieved nothing of note as a pro. I guess they just had bad luck that they weren't born in Britain.
To be honest, you are not doing yourself any favor with that argumentation. Just that some talented* young cyclist didn't make it big does not validate anything. Just look at the NHL.There are number 1 draft picks that were big busts, yet the majority are dominating the league. So to say, it means nothing to be the number 1 pick is just no true. You are likely among the best young athletes.
And the fact that he focused on track up to 2012-2013 should the give some slack. Not as in, "he is clean" but to say: "OMG he is worse than Bjarne Riis" is maybe a bit much if you ask me.
*In cycling it was/is hard to tell who is talented as they often(?) started doping pretty early.