Most memorable doped performance? 2010-2020

[will-10]

That one should be emphasized. A guy who, at most, could hang on around top10 in a few hard climbs (not exaclty Stelvio tier, but let's be charitable) turns himself into a world class climber destroying everyone on the Stelvio. Within 1km (around 9km until the end of the Stelvio) of him hitting the front, everyone but TGH, Hindley and Kelderman are dropped. Kelderman doesn't manage to hold on for even 2km. Breaks the Stelvio record climb in the process. Then, after a descent when the difference stays more or less steady, proceeds to put another minute into everyone in a few flat kms until the beginning of the last climb.

In Sestriere, after destroying everyone bar TGH and Hindley on one of the passes, puts the hurt on his team-mate and Hindley and looks like the strongest climber on the race, neutralizing several attacks by Hindley. The GC duo lose his wheel several times on the final climb too.

A freak show for the ages, a performance only matched and surpassed by the Dawg two years before in its ridiculousness.

It's a good one. One of those days where I often think we'll look at differently given time - I think it'll be another couple of years til we really know what the level of that Giro was. Yeah they went fast, but where it fits in vs. how quick everyone's going up every climb this year remains to be seen, IMO.

The only other caveat I can come up with for the Dennis performance is that he's done the odd freaky ride on high altitude stages here & there through his career.

 

[Mayomaniac]

It's a good one. One of those days where I often think we'll look at differently given time - I think it'll be another couple of years til we really know what the level of that Giro was. Yeah they went fast, but where it fits in vs. how quick everyone's going up every climb this year remains to be seen, IMO.

The only other caveat I can come up with for the Dennis performance is that he's done the odd freaky ride on high altitude stages here & there through his career.

The odd thing is that he was dropped pretty soon on the much easier Madonna di Campiglio climb by his breakaway companions just one day earlier.

 

[yaco]

The odd thing is that he was dropped pretty soon on the much easier Madonna di Campiglio climb by his breakaway companions just one day earlier.

Actually, Dennis was the last survivor from the breakaway that were swept up by the peleton.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Actually, Dennis was the last survivor from the breakaway that were swept up by the peleton.

?
The top 10 of the stage were all in the breakaway and Dennis wasn't one of them.

 

[yaco]

?
The top 10 of the stage were all in the breakaway and Dennis wasn't one of them.

Dennis was in a breakaway two to four days before he took over the race - And he was the last rider caught by the peleton.

 

[roundabout]

Yeah, but that was Piancavallo, a different day and a different climb.

 

[Nick2413]

Here is the photo of the most doped moment in history:



This is only comparable with moments like Riis in Hautacam, Pantani in Alpe D'Huez 95 and 97. Contador in Verbier is peanuts compared to this. Pogacar dropping his power meter reminds me of Michael Corleone dropping the smoking gun!!!!

Here’s a question - what would happen if they did this climb (Huez) on a pivotal GC day in current times (or have they recently)? Do riders have to be cautious not to get too close to record performances in situations like this? It’s such a famous climb with such a ridiculous obviously supernatural time, but I feel some of the current crop could get dangerously close...

 

[Red Rick]

The odd thing is that he was dropped pretty soon on the much easier Madonna di Campiglio climb by his breakaway companions just one day earlier.

Yeah that's another thing that makes the 2020 juice seem like an instant nuclear button

 

[railxmig]

Considering what kind of perf we witnessed in 2020 i would exlude it. It seems the last decade was a bit slower than the previous two ones. My most memorable clinic injection was Contador vs Froome stutter drag on Col du Beal on Dauphine 2014. 2nd would go to Froome's Landis on Giro 2018 and 3rd to some of those Nibali sudden revivals (Vuelta '13 and especially Giro '16). People are forgetting that in 2013 Angliru in was Nibali who was pushing for like 90% of the climb while before that he was dropping time on random bergs. Honourable mentions goes to La PSM Froome and Nibali '14. The overall clinic award goes to Froome thanks to being a transformer (2010 -> 2011).

 

[BigCoward]

So to flip it, what is the best performance which you think has a shred of credibility to it?

 

[Red Rick]

Considering what kind of perf we witnessed in 2020 i would exlude it. It seems the last decade was a bit slower than the previous two ones. My most memorable clinic injection was Contador vs Froome stutter drag on Col du Beal on Dauphine 2014. 2nd would go to Froome's Landis on Giro 2018 and 3rd to some of those Nibali sudden revivals (Vuelta '13 and especially Giro '16). People are forgetting that in 2013 Angliru in was Nibali who was pushing for like 90% of the climb while before that he was dropping time on random bergs. Honourable mentions goes to La PSM Froome and Nibali '14. The overall clinic award goes to Froome thanks to being a transformer (2010 -> 2011).

Nibali got destroyed on short hills in every Vuelta he did after 2010. Col du Beal I think looks funnier because of the accelerations but that's kind of what can happen if you take it easy enough before that. Nibali's 2014 Tour just completely lacks the Contador/Froome reference.

 

[Red Rick]

So to flip it, what is the best performance which you think has a shred of credibility to it?

Thomas de Gendts 2012 Giro?

 

[roundabout]

I am curious why you think so. I mean, sure he didn't try to ride for GT GC post Vacansoleil (as far as I remember), but there is quite a gap between a GT podium and finishing 40th which is his next best GT GC (after checking wiki).

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Thomas de Gendts 2012 Giro?

Thomas de Gendts 2012 Giro has no credibility lol.

 

[BigCoward]

Thomas de Gendts 2012 Giro has no credibility lol.

The question was a shred of credibility, not no suspicion.

 

[will-10]

Its a fair call. The favourites group were literally freewheeling down the valley and gave him five minutes by the base of Stelvio, and de Gendt still had Carrara. De Gendt did not go that fast on Stelvio. He climbed about the same speed as the guys he'd matched throughout the race (8th-10th best climbers).

 

[roundabout]

Its a fair call. The favourites group were literally freewheeling down the valley and gave him five minutes by the base of Stelvio, and de Gendt still had Carrara. De Gendt did not go that fast on Stelvio. He climbed about the same speed as the guys he'd matched throughout the race (8th-10th best climbers).

He dropped Cunego and Nieve very easily.

 

[Escarabajo]

Foliforov in 2016 Giro!

 

[QuickZulu]

Foliforov in 2016 Giro!

I'd completely forgotten about this. I'd never heard of him before that Tour, and next thing he's destroying some pretty big names on a mountain ITT.

I have to mention that Steven Kruiswijk was also ridiculous in that Giro.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Foliforov in 2016 Giro!

At that time he was still somewhat know as someone who had been a big talent in the u23 ranks, but looking back it was a bit of a one hit wonder.
Overall Firsanov was crazier during that spring, the guy was flying.

 

[Red Rick]

I'd completely forgotten about this. I'd never heard of him before that Tour, and next thing he's destroying some pretty big names on a mountain ITT.

I have to mention that Steven Kruiswijk was also ridiculous in that Giro.

Nah Kruijswijks numbers weren't even that high in that Giro. It was just not a sky high level Giro and the top level GC rider in that race decided to start the final 2 stages with a 5 minute deficit.

 

[staubsauger]

At that time he was still somewhat know as someone who had been a big talent in the u23 ranks, but looking back it was a bit of a one hit wonder.
Overall Firsanov was crazier during that spring, the guy was flying.

Firsanov actually would've won that mtt towards Seiseralm if he wasn't blocked by the Tinkoff team car if I remember correctly!

 

[Mayomaniac]

Firsanov actually would've won that mtt towards Seiseralm if he wasn't blocked by the Tinkoff team car if I remember correctly!

I don't know if he would have won, but he would have been clearly ahead of Valverde.

Foloforov was always a specialist for MTTs, so looking at his u23 results it looked like it was just the first win of a big talent. Looking back at it now it clearly looks shady because he never did anything after that race.
1 year earlier he put over 1min into everyone else in the MTT in the GP of Sochi (1:28 into Firsanov).
In 2014 he finished 4th on gc in the Tour de l'Avenir and 6th in the Ronde de l'Isard (he won 2 stages, the points and the KoM classification) and finished 5th in the short ITT with an uphill finish in Coppi e Bartali.
In 2013 he finished 5th on the gc in the Giro della Valle d'Aosta.
As a first year u23 rider he finished 5th in the final MTT of the Giro della Valle d'Aosta.

 

[staubsauger]

I don't know if he would have won, but he would have been clearly ahead of Valverde.

Foloforov was always a specialist for MTTs, so looking at his u23 results it looked like it was just the first win of a big talent. Looking back at it now it clearly looks shady because he never did anything after that race.
1 year earlier he put over 1min into everyone else in the MTT in the GP of Sochi (1:28 into Firsanov).
In 2014 he finished 4th on gc in the Tour de l'Avenir and 6th in the Ronde de l'Isard (he won 2 stages, the points and the KoM classification) and finished 5th in the short ITT with an uphill finish in Coppi e Bartali.
In 2013 he finished 5th on the gc in the Giro della Valle d'Aosta.
As a first year u23 rider he finished 5th in the final MTT of the Giro della Valle d'Aosta.

Wasn't it even Tiesj Benoot who came up for him on Twitter, calling him a true talent he had battled with numerous times in the youth ranks?

It was a Belgium rider I think m

 

[Mayomaniac]

Wasn't it even Tiesj Benoot who came up for him on Twitter, calling him a true talent he had battled with numerous times in the youth ranks?

It was a Belgium rider I think m

I think it was Benoot or Wellens, one of those 2.