Nicole Cooke attacks drug cheats in the womens peloton

[sniper]

In 2012 he was on the payrol.
If you speak italian, here's a 2012 interview with Bartolucci about Team Sky.

http://video.sky.it/sport/ciclismo/dietro_le_quinte_del_team_sky_parla_il_dottore/v87710.vid

 

[sniper]

a reminder, i think from the sky thread a coupla months ago.

...
Dr. Fabio Bartalucci has been with Sky since last year and he was one of those who was served notice by Italian prosecutors back in 2001 when he was Doc with the Bonjour team.

 

[coinneach]

this is a hihgly crucial, highly interesting, highly revealing bit you're citing here.

Just in case its not 100% clear, the "he" in the quote is Magnani, not Bartalucci

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Not in pro cycling it isn't. Plenty of evidence to suggest that. Bassons once said that cycling teams only have team doctors for 1 reason, Doping. He said he never needed the Doctor for performance and when he did need a doctor he would go to his GP.

Very difficult to go to your GP when you spend most of the year away from home. Maybe you can explain how European based riders racing in Argentina or Australia next week will get any medical assistance they may require without access to a doctor.

 

[sniper]

Just in case its not 100% clear, the "he" in the quote is Magnani, not Bartalucci

yes yes, very clear thanks.
no less crucial!

 

[Benotti69]

Very difficult to go to your GP when you spend most of the year away from home. Maybe you can explain how European based riders racing in Argentina or Australia next week will get any medical assistance they may require without access to a doctor.

Depends where you are based. If you are based in Girona, your GP will be in Girona.

Every race has a doctor. So why the need for team doctors?

What medical assistance does a rider require? Sure the legal meds they take during a race they have with them.

If they have a fever, there is a race doc. If if gets more serious there is the local hospitals and medical centres.

They dont spend that mucht iem away from home. Remember they 'train' to race. Not like the old days building up race pace with early season races. They race less so are at home more, unless you are off 'altitude' training.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Lizzie Armistead can't resist wading in - Cycling Is Clean Now, Move Along, Nothing To See Here....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/21036935

 

[Benotti69]

Lizzie Armistead can't resist wading in - Cycling Is Clean Now, Move Along, Nothing To See Here....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/21036935

What else would you expect from a medal winner at the last(6months ago)olympics?

David Millar on the radio this week saying the sport is clean now?

Really, since when. Katusha no licence for 2013. Ibarguren still working with OPQS. the list is long of people and dots that point to no change.

These people have decided to go the blind them with PR rather than a real will to change

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Lizzie Armistead can't resist wading in - Cycling Is Clean Now, Move Along, Nothing To See Here....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/21036935

I had to laugh at the irony of this post.

 

[dottigirl]

Nicole Cooke's 'full' statement

Anyone noticed the disparities between different internet sites?

I noticed bits missing in the Guardian's version.
http://m.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jan/14/nicole-cooke-retirement-statement
Part of the paragraph about the team house, the name of the TDF, the nationality of her teammate. Which is weird for the Guardian.


Apparently another site has omitted references to Hamilton?

 

[Bavarianrider]

Which world records were these, then?

Men teamsprint
Men team pursuit (staggering 15 seconds faster compared to the 90es)
Woemn team pursuit

Again i don't say she doped herself.
All i say is, if she talks about things like that. She should talk about her countrys performance first.

 

[86TDFWinner]

Doctor Doctor! What will it take for me to win the 1989 Tour de France?!

And you know this how? please explain...

 

[JimmyFingers]

Men teamsprint
Men team pursuit (staggering 15 seconds faster compared to the 90es)
Woemn team pursuit

Again i don't say she doped herself.
All i say is, if she talks about things like that. She should talk about her countrys performance first.

Why? She's not part of the track set up, but presumably knows plenty about it. I fail to see why she should mention it in a retirement statement

 

[Wallace and Gromit]

Men teamsprint
Men team pursuit (staggering 15 seconds faster compared to the 90es)
Woemn team pursuit

Again i don't say she doped herself.
All i say is, if she talks about things like that. She should talk about her countrys performance first.

Sorry - I misunderstood your point. I thought you were referring to breaking World Records that were still standing from the EPO era.

The womens TP is not really a good reference point as it is such a new event. As such, new world records are to be expected frequently, as they simply represent personal bests for mainly young trios from GB and Australia.

The mens Team Sprint hasn't been around that long. First OGs in 2000, if memory serves, so again, improvements are to be expected as the event evolves.

The mens TP is an interesting one, to be sure.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Men teamsprint
Men team pursuit (staggering 15 seconds faster compared to the 90es)
Woemn team pursuit

Again i don't say she doped herself.
All i say is, if she talks about things like that. She should talk about her countrys performance first.

Talking of a country's track world record performances:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/welte-sets-200-meter-world-record-in-colorado-springs

2 fastest times ever, at the time. Still, by a long way the world record.
Also broke the team sprint world record. 32.549 in the Melbourne world champs.
Lovely girls and I have little doubt, clean.

 

[Wallace and Gromit]

Talking of a country's track world record performances:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/welte-sets-200-meter-world-record-in-colorado-springs

2 fastest times ever, at the time. Still, by a long way the world record.
Also broke the team sprint world record. 32.549 in the Melbourne world champs.
Lovely girls and I have little doubt, clean.

Niemke's kilo in the World Champs was none too shabby either: 0.083s off the first sub minute kilo at sea level.

And Rene Enders has the fastest first lap in the team sprint, albeit at altitude.

 

[martinvickers]

Niemke's kilo in the World Champs was none too shabby either: 0.083s off the first sub minute kilo at sea level.

And Rene Enders has the fastest first lap in the team sprint, albeit at altitude.

did you hear Brailsford's recent comment re Ed Clancy and the Kilo? I'm not sure I've ever heard him so bullish about a rider, not even Hoy.

 

[Wallace and Gromit]

did you hear Brailsford's recent comment re Ed Clancy and the Kilo? I'm not sure I've ever heard him so bullish about a rider, not even Hoy.

What did Sir Dave say? I've not heard details, though I know he's got his eye on Clancy as "Man 3" in the Team Sprint, which handily frees up a berth in the Rio TP squad. I wonder if Wiggo and Cav could be talked into filling it?

Clancy must be ideal for the kilo (not to mention as Clinic fodder!) given his mix of speed and endurance. He did a sub 61s ride in the Omnium in the OGs and must have been pretty tired when he did it. Sir Chris maintains that to achieve your best in the kilo, one must specialise on the training for it, given its unique demands, so there may be more to come from him in that event.

There are rumours that the kilo may be unaxed for Rio. That would be interesting to say the least.

 

[martinvickers]

What did Sir Dave say? I've not heard details, though I know he's got his eye on Clancy as "Man 3" in the Team Sprint, which handily frees up a berth in the Rio TP squad.

"If there's any sense the kilo will be reinstated to the Olympic programme, and if it is Ed will win it in Rio".

I wonder if Wiggo and Cav could be talked into filling it?

Talked into it - they're champing at the bit - both have publically stated they want to do it - presumably taking the places of Thomas and Clancy.

There are rumours that the kilo may be unaxed for Rio. That would be interesting to say the least.

I like the omnium - but i would like to see kilo and ip reintroduced

 

[JimmyFingers]

So, she openly admitted in this article to a "medical programme" - 'knowing', as an insider, that it meant doping?

She actually voluntarily gave an interview where she basically loudly 'admitted '"I'm doped like a loon, motherf***ers"?

yeah, of course she did.

This. I compared the assertion she was referring to doping as a medical programme in a conversation with a journalist as doing a robbery and carrying a large sack with 'SWAG' written on it. That certainly wasn't she was meaning in anyway.

You don't telegraph the fact you're doping in interviews or statements to the press. People here may seize hungrily on 'coded' phrases that fit your narrative but the simple fact is if you are doping you are going to hide as well as you can, unless you're a complete moron.

You also don't dope and then make a statement about retiring referring to Hamilton as filthy, being highly critical of LA and liken doping to hands-in-other-people's wallets, and blame the decline of the women's sport on doping scandals.

You go 'hey I'm retiring, thanks for all the fish' and slink off to take up punditry, or become a DS, or start a charity or something.

100% clean. I'd bet the farm on it.

 

[dadane]

Playing catch-up here.

Any other links to the original article? The one posted has been shut down.

 

[Franklin]

honestly it beggars belief when a sports person like Nicole can bare her soul then way she does in that statement and still get lazy criticism here, like she's upholding omerta or more so she's a cheat. It stinks of the bias and sneering I loathe about this place

It is one of the most heartfelt, admirable statements to come out of the sport and deserves our respect

Indeed, it's absolutely crazy that we even wonder why she chooses to get involved with a dope-doctor.

How dare we point out real world connections (aka. facts) and notaccept her own words which fail to mention the darker stories surrounding that doctor.*

FAITH is so much nicer than FACTS.

How dare we be critical! How dare we question someone when his/her acts belie their noble words!

Facts and acts are so inconvenient when we have those blissful words.


* Some crazy people would say that it would be rather appropriate to explain about that if you push out blanket accusations. But those people simply have no faith!

 

[Franklin]

If Cooke is indeed lying through her teeth, the levels of hypocricy in that open letter of hers are staggering.

Though as far as women's cycling is concerned, I'm leaving an (albeit small) opening for the thought that some programs are being administered without the cyclist knowing what she is actually receiving. It would imply a huge naivity, but hey, i've seen naive women before.

Noble god's creatures (women) never ever could lie (unless they are as unwomanlike as Longo). Whereas men like Lance, Floyd, Tyler, Carl are obviously flawed creatures, it is absolutely inconceivable that a woman is in any way hypocritical.

Her words, her inflection, it's all so much better than those silly connections with a dodgy doctor. The nerve that people have to even look at those facts when such a lovely creature tells her story! The notion that an athlete(a woman!) might not tell the truth! The idea that an athlete convinces him/herself that what he/she does is not cheating (and what the others do is!).

Everyone looking at the facts is quite simply a horrible person! Faith always beats out facts!

 

[Mellow Velo]

Indeed, it's absolutely crazy that we even wonder why she chooses to get involved with a dope-doctor.

How dare we point out real world connections (aka. facts) and notaccept her own words which fail to mention her involvement with that doctor.

FAITH is so much nicer than FACTS.

How dare we be critical! How dare we question someone when his/her acts belie their noble words!

Facts and acts are so inconvenient when we have those blissful words.

Just wondering what thoughts you have, or if you feel the same way about Marianne Vos?

 

[Franklin]

Just wondering what thoughts you have, or if you feel the same way about Marianne Vos?

Considering her progression, parents and some oddities I definitely don't have much hope.

The real issue here is that we all know 14 year olds use drugs (weed, booze) or are criminal. Yet somehow it's inconceivable that a young athlete crosses that line.

So many, many times it's trotted out that someone was already good when young... and all I have to do is look at a Dutch Equestrian legal section which is innundated with cheating teenagers (and yes, dope involved). And I doubt that Equestrians are worse people than cyclists.

Yes, I hope Nicole is clean. I also laud her statement. But the backlash against Benotti's statement is just idiotic. He states a truth, she dealt with a doctor who certainly has question marks. We also know that the words of an athlete are just as valuable as my words... namely you can only judge me by my actions.

There is certainly reason to think her doctor is ok. There certainly is reason she thanks him for all the right reasons. But considering her own statements it's also reasonable to point out exactly this question mark.