Rabo/Blanco cast doubts about current peleton.

[classicomano]

Thought this was a pretty interesting read (sorry if badly translated).

Blanco-team hopes for real level playing field.

Since the release of the USADA report and its aftermath, theres been written alot about cycling's doping past. But what about the now? Are all cyclists fighting fair? A statement of Blanco DS Nico Verhoeven in the "Wieler Revue" shines a different light on that. Asked what is feelings were about the 2012 season he says: "We got completly destroyed a couple of times when we thought we were really good. Namely in Paris-Nice and Tirreno. And we were not the only team. I thought that was shocking."

The fact that the Rabo team was blown away in Paris Nice and Tirreno was not because of bad preperation according to you?
Our team had a pretty high level, but we just couldnt compete. Later I saw something notable: Our best races were just after the big events. After the classics we won in Turkey and Romandie. En also after the Tour, in the Eneco Tour. So then all of a sudden we were really good. And I bet now your'e gonna ask, whats the cause of that?

Exactly. What are you insinuating with this?
Im insinuating nothing, its just an observation.

Peaked at the wrong time?
Verhoeven laughs: Yeah WE peaked at the wrong time, how stupid of us.

Sorry, but what did happen at Paris Nice and the Tirreno according to you?
I dont know, all I know is that we just couldnt compete. You could say that the motivation in Paris Nice was less because we lost the overall on day 2 because of the ecolons. But also uphill we couldnt follow. In the Tirreno we really thought we were good but there we also got wiped out.

Kruijswijk about Tirreno: "Frustrating"
Steven Kruijswijk was aiming for a top 10 in the Tirreno, but ended up as the best Rabo rider in 21st place, 4:40 from Nibali. "Whilst I had the same values as I did during the Tour de Suisse last year where I won the queen stage. So you think youre gonna do really well but you get absolutely nowhere. That is frustrating. You can start doubting yourself, but I dont wanna go that far.

To start accusing is also not necesarry. But you can always say that besides your own top form there are other factors that decide about succes. That is something for the public to consider and take note of. "Yes. I work hard and race clean. but maybe there are riders who walk a different path wich is not the right one. In the spring I also heard the rumors about Aicar, a banned substance that cant be found. Well then I can train my *** off and still ...."

The wording of Nico Verhoeven reminds strongly about the quotes of Rabobank in the spring of 1996 where they talked about getting humiliated. In what way is that comparable?
"That happens a lot less compared to the first year of Rabo. Look what I accomplished as a clean rider: Top 10 in a grand tour, a stage in Suisse. And also Tom-Jelte who proves himself In Australia. Ten years ago you would have sprinters dropping climbers, that never happened to me. In my eyes there are also currently no riders who climb beyond imagination

Ten Dam: "Disappointed after Time Trial"
Laurens ten Dome rode Paris-Nice and finished 43rd, wich he blames purely on "good but not great form" and missing the front group in the ecolon stage. Finding out if there are other causes for that is up to the journalists. Ten Dam also had a moment of frustration in that edition of Paris Nice in the closing time trial on Cole d'Eze. "I was riding full throttle and felt great and thought I was gonna clock a good time, I finished 38th. I was so disappointed that a week later I trained 5 to 6 hours every day out of frustration, shortly after I got ill."

Level playing field
The bad experiences of last year dont necessarily have to mean that 2013 is gonna be the same. Verhoeven hopes that with the aftermath of the USADA report things will change and that teams will think differently about everything. Kruijswijk shares this hope. "After everything thats come out in last few months I really hope they will.

 

[peterst6906]

I guess Blanco will be looking for 'better preparation' in the future.

They'll play the level playing field all right - by getting on the same program as the other teams so they can compete.

 

[cineteq]

Robert Gesink ‏@RGUpdate (yesterday)

New EPO test could help stamp out microdosing http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13859/New-EPO-test-could-help-stamp-out-microdosing.aspx … Next step: More testing and retrospective anti-doping testing!!!

 

[Lanark]

Although you can always doubt if these statements are made in good faith, at the very least they are very interesting.

Those answers about the Tirreno and Paris-Nice are barely veiled acusations against Vacansoleil. In Paris-Nice Lieuwe Westra suddenly learned to climb, something he hasn't repeated on a single instance since then. In the Tirreno Johnny Hoogerland was among the best climbers in a more than decent field, dropping Kruijswijk by more than 2 minutes on the toughest climb. Is Kruijswijk the first rider to actually complain about Aicar? As far as I remember before this we only had Forum-theories and speculation in the media, no confirmation from the peloton that it's actually used.

Ten Dam uses some old-school omerta, implying that it's just not done to speak about doping, only the tiresome media speculates about that. This further reinforces the idea that he is a doper.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Does that explain why Tom Jelle Slagter was butchering good in Australia?

 

[Sophistic82]

i would certainly question rabos ability to peak, i remember they once did an altitude camp right before the TDF and then bonked...well, if you know just a little bit about altitude training you wouldnt be surprised by that.
these people get paid a nice salary for coaching/managing but dont even know the basics and then accuse basically everybody else of doping...

 

[hrotha]

Does that explain why Tom Jelle Slagter was butchering good in Australia?

Tour Down Under is not Paris-Nice, Tirreno, the Ardenes or the Tour.

 

[Mr.38%]

Tour Down Under is not Paris-Nice, Tirreno, the Ardenes or the Tour.

While I do not question ten Dam or the Butcher, TDU is pretty important sponsor-wise and regarding points for the Classix, team order and all that.

 

[Frosty]

i would certainly question rabos ability to peak, i remember they once did an altitude camp right before the TDF and then bonked...well, if you know just a little bit about altitude training you wouldnt be surprised by that.
these people get paid a nice salary for coaching/managing but dont even know the basics and then accuse basically everybody else of doping...

Didnt Gesink come back from altitude just before the tour de suisse last year and was then off the pace in the first few stages?

 

[The Hitch]

While I do not question ten Dam or the Butcher, TDU is pretty important sponsor-wise and regarding points for the Classix, team order and all that.

Disagree there. Tdu is a young race in the off season on the other side of the world which the home countries of most sponsors don't even show and which the top stars rarely yet have the form.for (if they turn up at all).

Didnt Gesink come back from altitude just before the tour de suisse last year and was then off the pace in the first few stages?

Any gesink failures last year though could be well explained by the leg break he was.still recovering from

 

[Mr.38%]

Disagree there. Tdu is a young race in the off season on the other side of the world which the home countries of most sponsors don't even show and which the top stars rarely yet have the form.for (if they turn up at all).

"Estimates relating to the 2011 show that it injected $43 million into the economy, as well as featuring record crowds of more than 780,000 people. Media coverage was estimated at $154 million, while 280 hours of national and international television coverage were broadcast."

Shytty race, eh?

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...wn-Under-as-Santos-extends.aspx#ixzz2KJCbGRC1

 

[gillan1969]

"Estimates relating to the 2011 show that it injected $43 million into the economy, as well as featuring record crowds of more than 780,000 people. Media coverage was estimated at $154 million, while 280 hours of national and international television coverage were broadcast."

Shytty race, eh?

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...wn-Under-as-Santos-extends.aspx#ixzz2KJCbGRC1

in terms of the euro peleton it is however only an aside (albeit a hot and sunny one at this time of year).....

 

[laziali]

Disagree there. Tdu is a young race in the off season on the other side of the world which the home countries of most sponsors don't even show and which the top stars rarely yet have the form.for (if they turn up at all).

Well, the Secret Pro (strongly suspected to be Bernhard Eisel) has rather a different view from you, and he knows:

"The days of the TDU being the party race are gone. Certainly from what I heard, a certain sprinter [ed. Greipel] who has a bit of a party boy reputation only went out one night in Adelaide. Just goes to show how much more serious it’s getting. I’m not sure if it’s still the case, but a few years ago we always needed to be top ten at the TDU because it mattered so much for the team car order at the Spring Classics." http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2013/02/let-the-season-begin/

As for the claim that TDU is not shown in home countries of most sponsors, well, again, the facts are rather different:

"International broadcasters
The 2013 Santos Tour Down Under was broadcast on the following international TV networks.
Africa and Middle East - pan regional Supersport
Asia -pan regional EUROSPORT Asia
Canada Sportsnet and RDS
France Sport+
Japan JSPORTS
Italy RAI Sport 2
Malaysia Astro Supersport
New Zealand Sky TV
Norway TV2 Sport
South America – pan regional TDN and DirecTV
UK BSkyB
USA NBC Sport

TV News
The following international TV networks provided dedicated news coverage of the 2013 Santos Tour Down Under.

Belgium VTM and RTBF
France L’Equipe 21 and France TV
Luxembourg RTL
Netherlands NOS
Norway TV2 Sport
Pan Europe Eurosportnews
Spain Teledeporte
WORLD WIDE NEWS EVS, SNTV, Perform (Omnisport) and REUTERS" http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/tv-coverage.htm

Christopher Hitchins was well regarded for his research. Perhaps you should choose another name?

 

[Mr.38%]

in terms of the euro peleton it is however only an aside (albeit a hot and sunny one at this time of year).....

Right, that's why they are heading for China. And you can argue like this for the USA as well.

What is your companies' strategy if the main market is declining?

 

[hrotha]

TDU is an important race, but you won't see any star peaking for it. That was the point.

 

[Mr.38%]

TDU is an important race, but you won't see any star peaking for it. That was the point.

Greipel is peaking for it. OK, as the winningest rider in 2012 he ain't a star.

 

[laziali]

TDU is an important race, but you won't see any star peaking for it. That was the point.

Greipel's not a star??? Gerro???

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Ten Dam uses some old-school omerta, implying that it's just not done to speak about doping, only the tiresome media speculates about that. This further reinforces the idea that he is a doper.

Uhhhh.... Kruijswijk said that, not Ten Dam.

 

[hrotha]

Greipel is peaking for it. OK, as the winningest rider in 2012 he ain't a star.

I'm sorry, I thought we were talking about winning the GC, this being about Slagter and all?

 

[The Hitch]

"Estimates relating to the 2011 show that it injected $43 million into the economy, as well as featuring record crowds of more than 780,000 people. Media coverage was estimated at $154 million, while 280 hours of national and international television coverage were broadcast."

Shytty race, eh?

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...wn-Under-as-Santos-extends.aspx#ixzz2KJCbGRC1

Out of politeness i never used the term "****ty race", but if you insist, then yes.

You said it was an important race for sponsors and something about how its important for the classics. Its not. A smaller, younger race without special wt status that was held at the same.time, took, with the exception of.Gilbert, all the stars.

 

[Mr.38%]

I'm sorry, I thought we were talking about winning the GC, this being about Slagter and all?

WTH, this is leading nowhere. Greipel won the damn GC before they threw more hills in.

Each and every WT race is important. I named two reasons for TDU which still stand. For each rider or team, winning a WT race/stage is a big thing which may save his/their season - from a sports and financial point of view.

You argue for the sake of arguing. Sucks.

 

[theyoungest]

The only really relevant thing I take from this is Kruijswijk and his power values in Tirreno last year vs. Suisse 2011, which were apparently similar. The rest of it is just plain BS. Rabo sucked in Paris-Nice because they missed the front echelon, Mollema got sick, and Luis Leon can't climb anymore (guess why?). Not because everyone else was mysteriously strong.

Ten Dam got 8th in the Vuelta after that, is he accusing himself of doping?

But you have to keep in mind that this is the tone they've gotta take, if they hope to find a sponsor in the current Dutch media climate. A mission which is pretty hopeless to begin with. But yeah, you give the Clinic folk some extra ammunition to fire with if a guy they don't know suddenly wins a WT race by dropping super climbers the Izagirre brothers.

 

[ToreBear]

Well, the Secret Pro (strongly suspected to be Bernhard Eisel) has rather a different view from you, and he knows:

"The days of the TDU being the party race are gone. Certainly from what I heard, a certain sprinter [ed. Greipel] who has a bit of a party boy reputation only went out one night in Adelaide. Just goes to show how much more serious it’s getting. I’m not sure if it’s still the case, but a few years ago we always needed to be top ten at the TDU because it mattered so much for the team car order at the Spring Classics." http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2013/02/let-the-season-begin/

As for the claim that TDU is not shown in home countries of most sponsors, well, again, the facts are rather different:

"International broadcasters
The 2013 Santos Tour Down Under was broadcast on the following international TV networks.
Africa and Middle East - pan regional Supersport
Asia -pan regional EUROSPORT Asia
Canada Sportsnet and RDS
France Sport+
Japan JSPORTS
Italy RAI Sport 2
Malaysia Astro Supersport
New Zealand Sky TV
Norway TV2 Sport
South America – pan regional TDN and DirecTV
UK BSkyB
USA NBC Sport

TV News
The following international TV networks provided dedicated news coverage of the 2013 Santos Tour Down Under.

Belgium VTM and RTBF
France L’Equipe 21 and France TV
Luxembourg RTL
Netherlands NOS
Norway TV2 Sport
Pan Europe Eurosportnews
Spain Teledeporte
WORLD WIDE NEWS EVS, SNTV, Perform (Omnisport) and REUTERS" http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/tv-coverage.htm

Christopher Hitchins was well regarded for his research. Perhaps you should choose another name?

I know it's a bit off topic, but listing TV stations says very little about how many potential viewers and actual viewers a race has. Remember there are channels that are free and channels that cost money to have access to.

In my case the relevant channel is TV2 sport, I don't subscribe to that channel. I don't know how many do subscribe to the channel, but it it's not many. A total wild guess would put it in about 200 000 possible viewers. While big races like PR and TDF etc are sent on TV2 which is an open channel that can reach the entire population of 5 million.

Hence channel does not equal viewership.

 

[theyoungest]

To continue on this off-topic path: apparently NOS in Holland provided 'dedicated news coverage' of the TDU. Lol, before Slagter actually won the damn thing I didn't see anything about it on TV.

The Tour Down Under is very much not a big race.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

The only really relevant thing I take from this is Kruijswijk and his power values in Tirreno last year vs. Suisse 2011, which were apparently similar.

So Kruiswijk was in better form at Switserland than in the Giro? Strangely I think that is bizar. That would be bad peaking don't you think so?

On Kruiswijks power numbers, it might also come in handy if he took a look who was racing in Tirreno in comparison to Switserland. Yes, there are some 'surprises' but the field was somewhat stronger we might say.

To continue on this off-topic path: apparently NOS in Holland provided 'dedicated news coverage' of the TDU. Lol, before Slagter actually won the damn thing I didn't see anything about it on TV.

The Tour Down Under is very much not a big race.

It is for Rabo, Australia is a big market for them.