Richie Porte - what do we know about him?

[doolols]

Good performance= DOPER!!!!!
Bad performance= DOPER!!!!

Same as

Sky beating all comers = DOPERS!
Sky not beating all comers = DOPERS!

 

[stutue]

More like:

DOPER = DOPER!!!!

Err......yes.

Right behind you with that one

 

[Alphabet]

So you're saying that I should place a bet that Porte has the Australian version of "badzilla", but will kick *** in the Vuelta?

He can't use the 'unique disease' angle though, there's nothing of the sort over here.

 

[stutue]

Same as

Sky beating all comers = DOPERS!
Sky not beating all comers = DOPERS!

Or any team. Doesn't just have to apply to Sky. Let's be fair and judge everyone by the same metric.

 

[the sceptic]

Or any team. Doesn't just have to apply to Sky. Let's be fair and judge everyone by the same metric.

If Contador, Horner, Nibali or anyone else that used to be one of the best in the world suddenly start riding in the gruppetto I will be the first to laugh at them as well.

There is no plausible explanation for why Richie is suddenly a gruppetto rider. The only thing that makes sense is that he is no longer getting any sky science for whatever reason.

Lets see if he will be back to super domestique destroying groups in the tour.

 

[stutue]

Its the only plausible thing if you haven't got much information on which to make a valid and meaningful judgement. In which case, don't make a judgement.

I don't know what Sky are up to (neither do any of us, even if we claim we do), but nonsense arguments harm the potentially strong arguments being made against Sky by others, and make the accusation of paranoid-conspiracy-theory seem quite fair.

 

[20SecondsToComply]

The only thing that makes sense is that he is no longer getting any sky science for whatever reason.

Or perhaps he had a bad day, or is still ill, or maybe punctured / had a mechanical at a crucial time in the stage, or another reason that you may not have considered.

 

[Escarabajo]

Good performance= DOPER!!!!!

Bad performance= DOPER!!!!

More like:

Good Performance = Doper
Bad Performance = Proves he used to be doper!!

 

[stutue]

Well quite. An ex-doper is still a doper.

He may be.

But its not this nonsense that proves it.

 

[the sceptic]

Its the only plausible thing if you haven't got much information on which to make a valid and meaningful judgement. In which case, don't make a judgement.

I don't know what Sky are up to (neither do any of us, even if we claim we do), but nonsense arguments harm the potentially strong arguments being made against Sky by others, and make the accusation of paranoid-conspiracy-theory seem quite fair.

Please dont turn this thread into another "never tested positive, what does the word evidence mean" debate.

 

[20SecondsToComply]

Please dont turn this thread into another "never tested positive, what does the word evidence mean" debate.

Unlike a "whatever they are doing can be assumed to be odd and therefore doping" thread ...

 

[DirtyWorks]

Unlike a "whatever they are doing can be assumed to be odd and therefore doping" thread ...

Yes, nothing about Sky TdF wins is odd. Or, the months-long power peak at incredibly low weight. Looking back at the history of competitive cycling this was a common... Oh wait. No, it wasn't.

Still, nothing to see here.

 

[20SecondsToComply]

Yes, nothing about Sky TdF wins is odd. Or, the months-long power peak at incredibly low weight. Looking back at the history of competitive cycling this was a common... Oh wait. No, it wasn't.

Still, nothing to see here.

I never said that, its just in my limited experience of reading posts on here it seems to be perform well = doping, perform erratically = no longer doping or the doping hasn't kicked in properly. Thats all I meant.

 

[DirtyWorks]

I never said that, its just in my limited experience of reading posts on here it seems to be perform well = doping, perform erratically = no longer doping or the doping hasn't kicked in properly. Thats all I meant.

Ok. Once you peek under the cover of the races themselves it's a messy niche that can be too-quickly reduced to your summary. Stick around!

 

[stutue]

Please dont turn this thread into another "never tested positive, what does the word evidence mean" debate.

Sorry perhaps my comment wasn't phrased simply enough.

You are suggesting that not-doping is the only plausible explanation for Porte not riding at the front recently.

I'm pointing out to you, that just because its the only thing that occurs to you does not mean it is the only possible explanation.

 

[20SecondsToComply]

Ok. Once you peek under the cover of the races themselves it's a messy niche that can be too-quickly reduced to your summary. Stick around!

Well looking back on your comment about the evidence / proof thing there is a whole thread on that, so fair comment. But there are a lot of people on here from the whole spectrum of belief (or not) - just seems that its an easy post to say "must be dodgy" (not that I think Cycling is whiter than white don't get me wrong).

 

[the sceptic]

Sorry perhaps my comment wasn't phrased simply enough.

You are suggesting that not-doping is the only plausible explanation for Porte not riding at the front recently.

I'm pointing out to you, that just because its the only thing that occurs to you does not mean it is the only possible explanation.

You seem to know what you are talking about. Maybe you could present the other possible explanations then, and explain how they make more sense.

 

[Alpechraxler]

Skyjuice could cause neutralizing antibodies in some riders.

 

[Gloin22]

If anyone thinks he won't be in the same shape as he was in Tour 2013 - comes July - they are deluded.

 

[stutue]

You seem to know what you are talking about. Maybe you could present the other possible explanations then, and explain how they make more sense.

Remember how he faltered a little in last years TdF?

What might he do differently this year in preparation, in wonder...

 

[Dear Wiggo]

Richie still wants to lead a GT. I wonder if he's taking the foot off the gas to come into the Tour as a helper but perhaps not as strong as previous years, so he has more in the tank for the Vuelta.

It's what I would do / suggest if that was his goal, but:
* the Tour de France still seems the lynchpin for determining success as a team,
* Sky seem about as dumb as a box of hammers when it comes to judicious use of their talent
* a good showing at the Tour (top 5-10) is probably as valuable as a podium at the Vuelta

Did Porte have the same chest infection / malady as Froome? Did he get antibiotics? He certainly hasn't mentioned them anywhere.

If Henao had not been benched and then outed like he was, this sudden drop in performance across the Sky GT group would seem far less interesting.

 

[DirtyWorks]

You seem to know what you are talking about. Maybe you could present the other possible explanations then, and explain how they make more sense.

Vague references to some other possibilities seems to be the preferred method of polluting the thread.

DW nailed it. Dumb as a box of hammers at grand tours. It will be interesting to see how things shape up in July.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

Remember how he faltered a little in last years TdF?

What might he do differently this year in preparation, in wonder...

I'm not sure if people of your persuasion post this way (circumspectly, rather than talking plainly) but it feels very familiar.

Anyway, I realise you are probably posting in this fashion to some extent due to your position on things and how most (?) posters respond to it, but talking plainly is far more conducive to ongoing discussion than this cloak and dagger, insinuation style which really just has the effect of making it look like you don't actually know the answer to the question you are asking and are stalling for time or something.

 

[darwin553]

Richie nowhere to be seen.. did he DNF or has he just not arrived yet?

He is a smart man our Richie - he will be there when Froome needs him for the big one.

The worst thing is that this illness has put him back another year to establishing himself as a team leader. He really needs to leave Sky IMO - he is better than being just a domestique.

 

[martinvickers]

Richie still wants to lead a GT. I wonder if he's taking the foot off the gas to come into the Tour as a helper but perhaps not as strong as previous years, so he has more in the tank for the Vuelta.

It's what I would do / suggest if that was his goal, but:
* the Tour de France still seems the lynchpin for determining success as a team,
* Sky seem about as dumb as a box of hammers when it comes to judicious use of their talent
* a good showing at the Tour (top 5-10) is probably as valuable as a podium at the Vuelta

Did Porte have the same chest infection / malady as Froome? Did he get antibiotics? He certainly hasn't mentioned them anywhere.

My understanding is it was claimed to be Gastroenteritis, which obviously is nothing like a chest infection, but seemed to go on somewhat longer than you'd expect. I've had it twice and I'll not forget it in a hurry. it can be moderate, but it can be a bad m****f*****; one of those things you're not so much afraid will kill you, as kinda hoping it will!

If Henao had not been benched and then outed like he was, this sudden drop in performance across the Sky GT group would seem far less interesting.

Sergio seems reasonably confident he'll be back, make of that what you will - they don't seem to be hanging him out to dry JTL style...