How dirty is SaxoBank-Tinkoff?

[R0BL4MBT0N]

Where did he say that? That he wouldn't risk too much on the descents is one thing, but did Froome actually say he took it easy on the climbs? He was equal with a full blast going Contador on the first climb, 15-20 seconds ahead of Purito, Piti and Kreuziger. On the second climb he was just a few seconds slower than Purito and faster than everyone else if you consider the bike change.

He said it in an interview with ITV when he was warming down on his rollers

 

[Tyler'sTwin]

Not as dirty as Katusha, Moviestar and Sky.

 

[hrotha]

I think people are being fooled by Contador's poor level, but he's a bit of an oddity. There's still Kreuziger and Rogers.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I think people are being fooled by Contador's poor level, but he's a bit of an oddity. There's still Kreuziger and Rogers.

How would you explain Alberto's poor level when the team is juiced up to the max

 

[zastomito]

Maybe he really is once in a generation rider as JV kinda suggested and is riding clean. I mean all the right signs are there. No sprinting uphill, yesterdays chrono obviously cost him... If he collapses even further I could believe that. Would be pretty good if that's the truth.
Of course, Saxo being dirty taints him in a way.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Roche

Flaco ‏@JonetHernandez1 Sep
I never see Roche riding that strong before. Just saying!

have to agree....didn't Kimmage say he was 'surprised' at Nicolas Roche's team choice...and Nicolas counterattacked saying what team doesn't have a dirty past ?

Having held the red, green, white and polka-dot jerseys at some stage during the past week,.. It's been a great tour for me so far. If you'd said to me a couple of weeks ago that I would be third overall after 10 days, with a stage win and a day in the leader's jersey already in the bag, I wouldn't have believed you.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/oth...ck-only-to-be-dropped-off-again-29546625.html

Roche is also now climbing with the best of them.

 

[BYOP88]

I wouldn't say climbing with the best of them. Yesterday he was yo-yoing back and forth.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Roche all rounder

and the odd one out is ???

not really the physique of a climber but still hanging out with them in this years vuelta.

 

[Ferminal]

Yeh but he already did it in the 2010 Vuelta alongside the uberclean Peter Velits.

 

[pmcg76]

Now let me start by saying I don't like Roche being at Saxo one bit and he is going very well but I think yesterday showed his true level. If Valverde/Rodriguez had not been screwing around, Roche would never have got back on.

Roche finished 7th in the 2010 Vuelta and 12th in the 2012 Tour plus other Top 20 GC finishes in GTs. Considering he is a noted non TT rider, how exactly did he reach such heights on GC??? Wasn't because of soft breaks either.

You are right about Kimmage not being happy with Roche at Saxo but he said in a radio interview back in July that he didn't believe Roche was doping. Maybe he feels differently now, I don't know.

All I know is Roche was climbing with the top guys in 2010, consistently among the top 10 climbers so it's not exactly unusual to see him up with top guys this year. Only difference being the stage win and jerseys. As a direct comparison, Valdepenas de Jaen was also a stage finish in 2010. In 2010 Roche was 8th at 12 seconds, 2013: 4th at 8 seconds whilst trying to save the leaders jersey.

As usual I will wait to see how he goes in the TT, if he is up there with the big TT riders, then yes the suspicions will be there. Until then nothing to really amaze me. Amazing how much more a stage win and leaders jersey means in terms of visibility.

 

[gooner]

have to agree....didn't Kimmage say he was 'surprised' at Nicolas Roche's team choice...and Nicolas counterattacked saying what team doesn't have a dirty past ?



http://www.independent.ie/sport/oth...ck-only-to-be-dropped-off-again-29546625.html

Roche is also now climbing with the best of them.

Kimmage on Newstalk during the Tour had a go at Roche's choice in riding for Saxo but said at the same time there was nothing either to suggest he is doping.

For now I actually have a bit of faith in his performances.

EDIT: Just seen pcmg's post.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Roche - all rounder

He's the healthiest, muscle bound climber I,ve ever seen in the peloton. Climbs with his chest touching the handlebars, stomping on the pedals....and is riding consistently well every day of the Tour and now the Vuelta.....just saying

 

[LaFlorecita]

During the tour he was pretty ****... just saying

 

[the sceptic]

Id rather believe in him than someone that is 30 kg lighter and better at both climbing and TTing.

That said, I dont believe he is clean

 

[pmcg76]

Instead of idiotic trolling, how about addressing some of the points that were made about Roche climbing just as well previously. Roche has been a serial underachiever in terms of winning stages but has been a decent GC rider.

Either he has been doping all along which a guy you have quoted i.e. Kimmage doesn't believe or he isn't. He has not somehow developed a new set of skills never seen before. Maybe you should know something about a rider's past before talking rubbish.

 

[happychappy]

He's the healthiest, muscle bound climber I,ve ever seen in the peloton. Climbs with his chest touching the handlebars, stomping on the pedals....and is riding consistently well every day of the Tour and now the Vuelta.....just saying

Looks about the same weight as Piti.

 

[Cycle Chic]

yeh Nicolas loves himself enough without you florecita..check out his website

http://www.nicolasroche.co.uk/Biography

 

[pmcg76]

During the tour he was pretty ****... just saying

He was better at the Tour than Kreuziger is now?? Actually Roche was poor for most of the first half of the season but he was always set to ride as a domestique at the Tour and be a team leader at the Vuelta. Indeed from the start of the season he knew his main targets were later in year.

 

[gooner]

Instead of idiotic trolling, how about addressing some of the points that were made about Roche climbing just as well previously. Roche has been a serial underachiever in terms of winning stages but has been a decent GC rider.

Either he has been doping all along which a guy you have quoted i.e. Kimmage doesn't believe or he isn't. He has not somehow developed a new set of skills never seen before. Maybe you should know something about a rider's past before talking rubbish.

Take no notice. That's just a set default position by that said poster where anyone who shows up well is automatically doping. You can't be credible with that mindset.

 

[LaFlorecita]

yeh Nicolas loves himself enough without you florecita..check out his website

http://www.nicolasroche.co.uk/Biography

I don't understand this? I do not believe for one second that Roche is clean, but neither do I believe he deserves an entire discussion of his own. He's no Froome, Contador or Pappy Horner.

 

[sniper]

yeh Nicolas loves himself enough without you florecita..check out his website

http://www.nicolasroche.co.uk/Biography

a juicer and a narcist. damn.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Instead of idiotic trolling, how about addressing some of the points that were made about Roche climbing just as well previously. Roche has been a serial underachiever in terms of winning stages but has been a decent GC rider.

Either he has been doping all along which a guy you have quoted i.e. Kimmage doesn't believe or he isn't. He has not somehow developed a new set of skills never seen before. Maybe you should know something about a rider's past before talking rubbish.

I don't believe everything Kimmage says.

I don't disagree that Roche has always hung in there on the climbs. I,ve watched Nico for the past 3 years, always noting his performances, and always thought his riding seemed legit....having the expected 'off' days and 'on' days...what you would expect from a clean rider.

But this Tour and Vuelta he has stepped up a level. Its just unfortunate that its being done with Riis.

 

[barmaher]

What was so notable about his ride in the Tour? Apart from the day into Le Grand Bornard, he didn't do that much work any day. And that day he finished 20 minutes plus back.

His Tour performance was nothing notable. Not bad, not good. Just like a climbing domestique.

 

[my username is flish]

What was so notable about his ride in the Tour? .

Nothing, I think that is the point. He has had an easy tour for the first time in a few years so looks to be a little fresher for the Vuelta instead.

 

[Ferminal]

Yeh his Tour performance was actually average at best. It was clearly planned all along that he would not be 100% in the Tour so that Saxo had a card to play in the Vuelta.