Remco Evenepoel

[Mayomaniac]

I think Vino and Kash f*d up and used each other's blood, or somehow cross contaminated. Same with Tyler and Santi

Yeah, all 4 got caught for homologous transfusions. At least with Santi and Tyler it was a new test

 

[samhocking]

Very hard to estimate the level of such a win compared to competing for GC, but it does show I guess there was a large mental component to the collapse on the Aubisque. Once he cracked he didn't have it in him to fight and lose 7 minutes like Almeida.

Could be. I'd say Quickstep and their GT racing journey are more like where UAE, Jumbo & Sky were in their first few years aiming for GC. All of them took a few years to really get it all dialed in and not experience the really bad days, just off days. It was interesting the main thing Remco wanted to improve was the back room staff, nutrition especially. Look at how much Jumbo and Ineos focus on that alone. They're hitting 100 staff, Quicks Step is what 30-40 staff max? It all makes a difference imo.

 

[Netserk]

I should add - I would be very surprised if bags of blood are even present during grand tours now.

They work and they are safe. The only reason for them not be used would be some new blood substitute that already maxes out the budget of what the passport allows.

 

[topcat]

It’s not in the bag.
We don’t know what happened to him on stage 13. I would suspect he had a bad day, he’s human and gave up. On stage 14, he responded to his meltdown in the best way possible.
He has some issues he needs to deal with. This is only the beginning of the Remco story. He will rise again.

 

[Netserk]

It’s not in the bag.

"It's not about the bike bag."

 

[Savant12]

Remco, going out all guns blazing...or is it all bags dropping.

 

[Aimar16]

Another ITT masterclass is coming

 

[Ripper]

They work and they are safe. The only reason for them not be used would be some new blood substitute that already maxes out the budget of what the passport allows.

Indeed! It's more the risk of getting caught that I was referring to.

 

[Netserk]

Indeed! It's more the risk of getting caught that I was referring to.

Which hasn’t been an issue the past decade.

 

[Ripper]

Which hasn’t been an issue the past decade.

Which makes me wonder if it has been used less in the past decade.

Of course, it's not like either of us are sneaking around team hotel rooms at night to check on whether that is true or not! 😆

 

[Netserk]

I think the performances and blood values of Horner in 2013 show very well how much you can get away with at that point and how well they work. I think the default assumption should be that Contador, Valverde, Nibali, Froome, Quintana etc. were all blood doping in that period.

 

[Ripper]

I think the performances and blood values of Horner in 2013 show very well how much you can get away with at that point and how well they work. I think the default assumption should be that Contador, Valverde, Nibali, Froome, Quintana etc. were all blood doping in that period.

You could be right, I just think it is less and less likely. However, I could certainly be wrong. As I am less and less involved at the top end of the sport, I also know less about what could be happening

EDIT: I should add that my post was more related to what happens during races

 

[zlev11]

I think the performances and blood values of Horner in 2013 show very well how much you can get away with at that point and how well they work. I think the default assumption should be that Contador, Valverde, Nibali, Froome, Quintana etc. were all blood doping in that period.

yes definitely. reminder that a minor rider on a small team, Stefan Denifl, was confirmed to be dropping blood bags, won a Grand Tour stage and was not caught by the tests or the passport as recently as 2017. Operation Aderlass showed that even really inconsequential riders were still blood doping in that era and speeds have only gone up since that all went down.

 

[awavey]

Bardets post stage interview is interesting though as he isnt describing a breakaway the GC are just letting happen, he's saying he could barely keep up with Remco, having to sprint out of every corner just to stay with him, and thats those two working together apparently. Bardet was just being Bardet in thinking he could carry on like that for 90km, a smarter rider might have just let Remco get on with it

and then Remco gifts him the trophy and a jersey like he's some neo pro at his first race. wth is that all about ?