lieuwe! said:
I've never seen young Spanish or Italian top riders say the same things about Valverde, Scarponi, Basso, etc. So, either the new Belkin guard are actually a degree worse than their Southern European counterparts (not only keeping up omerta and evading the subject but actually going on the attack while doping themselves), or they are actually speaking the truth.
This is the dilemma also when assessing e.g. the German riders.
Very vocal against doping, but still providing world class results (Martin, Kittel). I don't buy it. I think they're worse, until i've seen actual evidence of their cleanlihood.
Look at Sky and Brailsfraud, same story, very vocal against doping, but you know what, let's hire Leinders.
A third (though perhaps farfetched) option is team doping. Go to the team doctor, get yourself a 'vitamin' shot, no further info. So some guys might genuinely think they're clean, whilst riding around doped to the eyeballs.
The 3rd week doesn't tell me much other than that the dutchies don't seem to be taking the risk of refilling at second rest day.