sars1981 said:What a shock that was. Explanations adduced by the commentators:
Possibly "didn't eat properly" a la Armstrong.
Risidual pains from crashing the days before.
Sometimes the body doesn't respond well after a rest day.
Nice to see all the usual suspects shining though.
buckwheat said:This is why the only meaningful discussion about Pro cycling takes place in the clinic.
CycloErgoSum said:What I don't understand is how can clean riders compete happily alongside the likes of Contador, Armstrong, Basso, Menchov, F. Schleck et al. Are they happy to keep quiet to cash their paycheques and pick up the crumbs in lesser races, stage wins?
buckwheat said:This is why the only meaningful discussion about Pro cycling takes place in the clinic.
CycloErgoSum said:The reason commentators, especially the likes of Phil and Paul, ignore the obvious is that their livelihood depends on not alienating the new and casual fan demographic who would turn off the sport if the truth about doping was canvassed.
Some canny commentators allude to doping cryptically as a nod to more seasoned fans.
Poor Cadel, true, but it does blow away suspicions that he'd turned to the dark side. Either that or he's hopelessly behind the curve on an unsophisticated program. He's a strong, committed rider who nonetheless displays some fragility in stage races, always picking up a bug or blowing.
What I don't understand is how can clean riders compete happily alongside the likes of Contador, Armstrong, Basso, Menchov, F. Schleck et al. Are they happy to keep quiet to cash their paycheques and pick up the crumbs in lesser races, stage wins?
Wallace said:Or it could be that he has a broken elbow. Maybe you should wait a little bit to see what the explanation is before you start congratulating yourself about how meaningful a discussion you're having.
forty four said:so your somehow certain all other gc guys are doped which they probably are but your also certain cadel does not which he probably does thats funny and naive.
by the standards of some on here i should be able to use various peds go right past my cat-3 status and win the tour next year right? i mean its that easy right? lol utterly ridiculous. hormones and rbcs dont pedal the bike for you. why are any of you on here you hate it all so much. me i dont hate cycling i know drugs or not its a brutal sporting event and these guys are all high level gifted athletes la included. bike racing is hard doped or not put simply. man there are some bitter burnouts on here go watch another sport.
forty four said:so your somehow certain all other gc guys are doped which they probably are but your also certain cadel does not which he probably does thats funny and naive.
by the standards of some on here i should be able to use various peds go right past my cat-3 status and win the tour next year right? i mean its that easy right? lol utterly ridiculous. hormones and rbcs dont pedal the bike for you. why are any of you on here you hate it all so much. me i dont hate cycling i know drugs or not its a brutal sporting event and these guys are all high level gifted athletes la included. bike racing is hard doped or not put simply. man there are some bitter burnouts on here go watch another sport.
buckwheat said:This is why the only meaningful discussion about Pro cycling takes place in the clinic.
The broken elbow is the problem: With it he can't jump out of the saddle and sprint uphill at 40 km/h. Which, as Contador and Schlecklette showed us today, is an essential skill in TdF mountain stages.Wallace said:Or it could be that he has a broken elbow. Maybe you should wait a little bit to see what the explanation is before you start congratulating yourself about how meaningful a discussion you're having.
sars1981 said:I think Evans dopes. I just dont think he transfuses.
Big Doopie said:absolutely. it is simply ridiculous to try and predict what will happen. it all depends on blood refills. the eurosport boys were "surprised" at how "almost 39 year old armstrong" was able to recover so well (better than he did when he was 24!). sean said "he really didn't expect him to be going so well".
that is why following the actual sport as a fan is ludicrous.
the clinic is the only place to discuss performances.
goggalor said:The broken elbow is the problem: With it he can't jump out of the saddle and sprint uphill at 40 km/h. Which, as Contador and Schlecklette showed us today, is an essential skill in TdF mountain stages.
goggalor said:The broken elbow is the problem: With it he can't jump out of the saddle and sprint uphill at 40 km/h. Which, as Contador and Schlecklette showed us today, is an essential skill in TdF mountain stages.
CycloErgoSum said:Of course he would've been dropped by Conti and AS when they started jumping. But he was dropped riding tempo in the saddle. I imagine a busted elbow would hinder you in a number of ways, but still...
I apologise if my answer is inadequate. I haven't had it vetted by Wallace, you see.
2wheels said:Way too bitter and cynical on this one! The first stage after a rest day always has a GC casualty or two-- today it was Cadel. So what? Who knows how he was feeling on the bike.
Schleck and Contador are the two best climbers, and they had Voigt pulling his hardest for them-- why does it amaze people that they opened a two-minute gap at the steep end of a 20 km climb? It's not always about dope-- sometimes tactics, natural ability, and desire can play small parts in cycling.