Rabo/Blanco cast doubts about current peleton.

[MAVerick]

It seems to me that the most fascinating part of this interview is a current DS is casting doubt on the peleton riding clean. Tyler Hamilton's book reported that the cyclists among themselves would freely talk about doping methods and types of PEDs. This article implies that this is not so much the case anymore. Furthermore, in the past someone speaking out in this manner would become ostracized by the peleton (Simeoni anyone?). If this does not happen to Verhoeven then it might indicate that the peleton's omerta is not so strong anymore and that they might be riding more cleanly (obviously not totally clean).

 

[BillytheKid]

Natural peaking can be achieved, but the murk of PED use obviously makes it more doubtful than ever that any thing is real. With testing in doubt then everything is up in the air.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3jrWVp2L7U

 

[classicomano]

Bumping this as Belkin team leaders are again questioning certain rider in the Tour.

Belkin distrusts Spaniards Tour

ALPE D'HUEZ - Team manager Nico Verhoeven, the Spanish cyclists after the 18th Tour stage on Alpe d'Huez Thursday implicitly accused of doping practices.

The team leader of Team Belkin had to watch passively as the Dutch Bauke Mollema and Laurens ten Dam had to pay for in the overall standings. A bad day While the Belkin duo in the third Tour Week shows weakness, the Spanish armada advancing. In particular, the performance curve of Joaquim Rodriguez evokes Verhoeven questions. After he played no significant role in the Pyrenees, the Katoesja rider now moved up to 5th place in the overall standings. After doing a remarkably strong for his time trial Thursday Rodriguez also belonged to the Alpe d'Huez to shiners. The climber finished 5th, just over 1 minute for yellow jersey Chris Froome.

Spanish method
"Rodriguez is a Spaniard. They have a method to be. Better in the third week of the Tour, it is good that Contador is dropped on Alpe d'Huez through it, because he was strong in the time trial," say Verhoeven.
Belkin also coach Merijn Zeeman was the 'Dutch Mountain' skeptical. "I see some riders are better at the end of the Tour. Physiologically can not be possible. Maybe they will recover faster than others."

Explanation needed
For Zeeman is the progression of Rodriguez dubious. "He starts suddenly Froome to stabbing, clearly the better of the best rider in the Tour. This is remarkable. There you can think of anything about it. How does he do that, but Rodriguez should explain itself."

Sour grapes perhaps but im glad they are speaking out.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Bumping this as Belkin team leaders are again questioning certain rider in the Tour.



Sour grapes perhaps but im glad they are speaking out.

The Belkin boys knows the game very well.

Its good to see a team speaking out about these ridiculous performances. I like to see more of it from other teams as we move forward.

 

[Lanark]

It's a shame that Verhoeven focusses on the Spaniards, while it's clearly a team thing (Saxo, Sky, Katusha, Movistar). Rodriguez is just the most obvious example, but that doesn't mean we should ignore the rest.

 

[Kwibus]

It's a shame that Verhoeven focusses on the Spaniards, while it's clearly a team thing (Saxo, Sky, Katusha, Movistar). Rodriguez is just the most obvious example, but that doesn't mean we should ignore the rest.

Yeh I agree. It's too easy to only point fingers at the 'evil' Spaniards.

Still I'm glad a team speaks out. Too long that never happened.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

It's a shame that Verhoeven focusses on the Spaniards, while it's clearly a team thing (Saxo, Sky, Katusha, Movistar). Rodriguez is just the most obvious example, but that doesn't mean we should ignore the rest.

agree, but these are baby steps in the right direction.
Changing the culture will be a massive task.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Verhoeven could give his former pupil Menchov a ring how he managed those third weeks at Rabo and Katousha....

Didnt hear them on Ventoux though.

It aient sour grapes for sure, Mollema is sick, Ten Dam is just tired as hell.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Verhoeven could give his former pupil Menchov a ring how he managed those third weeks at Rabo and Katousha....

Didnt hear them on Ventoux though.

It aient sour grapes for sure, Mollema is sick, Ten Dam is just tired as hell.

Not a peep about Porte, either. It's see-through as all hell.

They wouldn't have said a thing if they still had hopes of making the podium, that's for damn sure. They were also crying about Contador's bike changes in yesterday's stage.