Radio Shack Team Hotel Searched by NAS on Giro Rest Day

[thehog]

It's not fair for Popo. He's just managed to get a new phone and a laptop and now they take them away too...

BTW maybe the presence of the testers in the hotel prevented the Shack riders from refueling?

I understand it was for reasons of "control". The Shack team are "go to" guys. For urgent needs from other teams. Believe me Popo doesn't make his money from cycling.

 

[RdBiker]

It's one thing to not be on top form, but it's entirely another thing to be getting dropped by a 2nd year relative unknown guy and two guys pushing 40.

Did he make a short(ish) pull of 10-20min or was it longer than that? He could certainly do a short interval that the others couldn't easily (/didn't need) to match. Schleck for example didn't necessarily feel like going over a certain limit since he has no aspirations for the general classification

What is a bit surprising is his rapid progression through the ranks in just a few years. Though some of that may be attributed to the fact that he has been a runner before.

 

[euanli]

Longer. He pretty much sat on the front pulling everyone up Baldy

 

[python]

in my estimation, this was:

- a targeted raid with several goals...
- aimed at
- popo
- finding ANY needles as they are the known discovery/shack/postal recovery tools and are off limits now
- obtaining leverage for the us investigators if there was any

 

[mewmewmew13]

ANy news from Johan??

 

[ElChingon]

I think the search was due diligence on the Italians part, what would of you thought had they not searched RadioShack after Sunday's 60 Minutes broadcast?

The other matter is the four officers camping outside their rooms, one to make sure no after search midnight hanky panky, second to make sure the Omerta doesn't come a knocking to lecture them or other. I'd of put someone on the outside looking at the room's windows, we all know the Giro if famous for its window exits at odd hours.

 

[DomesticDomestique]

To be fair to Busche he was an All American NCAA Cross Country runner before making the switch to cycling. So he probably has some natural endurance ability. Having said that he will no doubt be loaded to the gills.

Well let's use that analogy on another AA distance runner in the same event, steeplechase. Jason Donald of Western State College, Slipstream, Bahati Foundation, KBS.

College PR:
Busche 9:08.45
Donald 8:53.70

Years Pro:
Busche 2
Donald 5

Time down on Mt Baldy:
Busche 02:56
Donald 32:21

 

[luckyboy]

Johan didn't give a reason for leaving? This must be for Popovych seeing as they were the only team who got a visit.

Curiouser and curiouser.

 

[theswordsman]

It's one thing to not be on top form, but it's entirely another thing to be getting dropped by a 2nd year relative unknown guy and two guys pushing 40.

Yeah, the self-declared (in the off-season, almost daily) Obvious Favorite To Win The Tour De France looked like a punk in the 75 mile Mt. Baldy stage. Compare that to some of the Giro performances over the weekend, and there's some contrast. Don;t let him race the Tour this year, and see how valuable he is based on the rest of his season. It's less than six weeks to the Tour, he hasn't had injuries...

Sorry, I forgot which thread this actually is. The 60 Minutes stuff applying to Radio Shack would not have been news to NAS. If it was Italians that said the team has made big payments to Ferrari through 2010, they were in the know, along with the Swiss who have investigated him for years. It's possible they were looking for evidence of doping, but maybe they were looking for communications after things hit the fan too? Just a guess. I don't recall actually hearing the words "Radio Shack" during the telecast, which I'm sure was intentional.

Mostly I'd just like to thank all of the people in law enforcement who are taking on the problem of a sport that can't police itself.

 

[alvynmcq]

Well let's use that analogy on another AA distance runner in the same event, steeplechase. Jason Donald of Western State College, Slipstream, Bahati Foundation, KBS.

College PR:
Busche 9:08.45
Donald 8:53.70

Years Pro:
Busche 2
Donald 5

Time down on Mt Baldy:
Busche 02:56
Donald 32:21

I didn't try to say he was clean, I was just saying he had a background in endurance sports. Of course he will be charging.

 

[Kender]

all those people who said they should have search in the ToC instead forget to put your brain in? since when do he italian police have juristiction to search an american team on american soil?

at the very least this was a clear message. if you have associatins with doping we're coming after you. (popo, ferrari)

 

[VeloGirl]

Nothing new except that HTC stayed at the same hotel and did not get searched. Lends support to everyone saying the raid was a result of a tip off....

"HTC-Highroad were also reported by the Italian press to be staying in the same hotel but were not subject to a search."

 

[D-Queued]

Nothing new except that HTC stayed at the same hotel and did not get searched. Lends support to everyone saying the raid was a result of a tip off....

"HTC-Highroad were also reported by the Italian press to be staying in the same hotel but were not subject to a search."

They were the guys in the lobby holding up the 'this way' signs.

Dave.

 

[flicker]

Well let's use that analogy on another AA distance runner in the same event, steeplechase. Jason Donald of Western State College, Slipstream, Bahati Foundation, KBS.

College PR:
Busche 9:08.45
Donald 8:53.70

Years Pro:
Busche 2
Donald 5

Time down on Mt Baldy:
Busche 02:56
Donald 32:21

how good a rider is the donald vs. Busche? What are their records comparatively, last year.?

 

[flicker]

I understand it was for reasons of "control". The Shack team are "go to" guys. For urgent needs from other teams. Believe me Popo doesn't make his money from cycling.

please cite.

 

[Barracuda]

WOW ...alot of experts on who's "doped up to the gills" ...... do you guys have any inside info or are you all on the "juice" also.

Why cant Horner and Levi have had a good week in their own country ??

Busche may have had a good day and a restfull night and felt good about the bike on that day.

Show me the needle/bag/epo/whatever and I will believe you.

WOW ...... talk about glass half empty ....

Why does everyone have to be juiced...... what about these guys .... are they "up to the gills" as well ???

- Pete Sampras Tennis - high performer
- Tiger Woods Golf - high performer
- Sebastian Vettel F1 - high performer
- Lebron James Basketball - high performer
- Kobe Bryant " "
- Jimmie Johnson Nascar - high performer
- Anna Meares Aussie cycling legend.

 

[131313]

how good a rider is the donald vs. Busche? What are their records comparatively, last year.?

I've raced with both guys when they were both at the same point of their careers. They're actually pretty similar riders. Donald had a great result in the ToC prologue forever ago and some people started talking him up as the next big thing. I honestly think he was one of the guys ruined by Vaughters' 'ride 'em into the ground' approach. But that's my guess, I really don't know. He's a solid guy and good all around rider and can get the occasional result. He probably won't be winning a grand tour anytime soon.

Here's the problem with Busche, and really, cycling. He very well could be clean, and really is just a super talent. Running results translate to a degree, but not completely. I know this well. So comparing running times really just gives an indication, but it certainly doesn't tell the whole story about a guy's potential.

But when you join a team with such a notorious legacy, your achievements are going to be called into question. On the one hand, I'd say that's not fair. On the other hand, I'd say you need to open your eyes before you sign on the dotted line, and be honest with yourself about what you're really getting yourself into. Both perceptions, and reality. So frankly, yeah I have my doubts. And given the allegations surrounding the guys who are currently the infrastructure of The Shack, I don't think my doubts are unreasonable.

 

[Polish]

Here's the problem with Busche, and really, cycling. He very well could be clean, and really is just a super talent. Running results translate to a degree, but not completely. I know this well. So comparing running times really just gives an indication, but it certainly doesn't tell the whole story about a guy's potential.
.

Busche sounds pretty strong to me.
Probably throws a nice punch too lol.
Starting his cycling career late however.
Natural talent. Wonder what his VO2 max is....

He REALLY entered the Pain Cave on Mt Baldy.
Rode so many riders right off his wheel and then exploded kaboom.
I hope he gets a kick out of the Clinic Smackdown.
Have to have decent results to be accused of doping here

“Regardless of where he is, he’ll find a way to improve,” Whitsitt said. “He’s truly gifted athletically and he has a good competitive head on him, too. He has a tremendous motor combined with a real sick capacity for suffering.”

http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/11/news/from-cat-2-to-radioshack_101342

Oh yeah - the NAS search was Global Witch Hunt.
What did they find? Waste of Italian Taxpayer euros.

 

[131313]

Busche sounds pretty strong to me.
Probably throws a nice punch too lol.

well, he used to ride for Carney, and I think that's a requirement for his riders. that's OK, I have some pretty big teammates...

I hope he gets a kick out of the Clinic Smackdown.
Have to have decent results to be accused of doping here

I'm proof the clinic allegations don't necessarily equal results! Thanks, though...

Seriously though, I have no idea if he's on the sauce or not. But the sad reality is that his performances, even if they are clean, will be called into question because of his team affiliation. And I don't think that's unreasonable.

Of course, the other possibility is that he's already been passed his white lunch bag...

 

[sheenyp]

And Popo didn't set the world alight in today's ITT, maybe he hasn't slept to well?

 

[teresa]

Mmmmmm - think they'd have been better to head on over after RS check and just checked out Bertie's supper menu!

 

[MarkvW]

WOW ...alot of experts on who's "doped up to the gills" ...... do you guys have any inside info or are you all on the "juice" also.

Why cant Horner and Levi have had a good week in their own country ??

Busche may have had a good day and a restfull night and felt good about the bike on that day.

Show me the needle/bag/epo/whatever and I will believe you.

WOW ...... talk about glass half empty ....

Why does everyone have to be juiced...... what about these guys .... are they "up to the gills" as well ???

- Pete Sampras Tennis - high performer
- Tiger Woods Golf - high performer
- Sebastian Vettel F1 - high performer
- Lebron James Basketball - high performer
- Kobe Bryant " "
- Jimmie Johnson Nascar - high performer
- Anna Meares Aussie cycling legend.

The Kobe reference was what tipped me off. I thought you were serious for a second.

 

[max_powers]

This likely puts another nail in the coffin for Radio Shack sponsership.

Will Bruyneel have a Pro Tour team to run in 2012? Can't always have a Tailwind

 

[uspostal]

I'm just wondering if searching a hotel room in the USA isn't harder than overseas. Would they need a search warrant or could they just show up and say " Hi we're here to do a search "

 

[Barrus]

I'm just wondering if searching a hotel room in the USA isn't harder than overseas. Would they need a search warrant or could they just show up and say " Hi we're here to do a search "

Off course they can just show up and take anything they want, it's not like it is a civilized country such as the US. There is absolutely no protection for human rights in Europe, the police and other authorities can just do whatever they want without anyone really being able to do anything about it