Rogers quits Tour de Suisse to head to altitude

[karlboss]

I know that this is the clinic, but leaving that aside.

How was he doing in the race? Maybe this was just an excuse to get out, before he was shown truly lacking? Similar to a proposed reason that Dauphine had an understrength line up.

 

[the big ring]

I think you should fill in Contador, Armstrong, Menchov, and a few other TdF contenders on this theory. They're all naively racing right before the Tour. I think they need a copy of Big Ring's Guide to Winning the Tour.

If Rogers disagrees, why did he even start the TdS?

In the end, I submit my posts as opinion - as you must do yours. I'm certainly not going to second guess why he started, but it's derigeur for pros all the way up to Armstrong to start a race with no intention of finishing it.

No offense to my compatriot Mick, but I would not lump him in with the riders you mention, even if he is going for TdF GC this year.

It would also be interesting to see how many days racing they each have to compare - pretty sure Lance has about 10 ;-)

 

[the big ring]

Yeah. At the same time, the guy who's won 7 of those Tours thought he'd do just as well staying in the race. But hey, Mike Rogers knows better, right?

Not sure if you are trolling here, but people don't have to train exactly the same way as Armstrong to win races. Just. You know. In case that's what you were implying...

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

I thought they shut that place down. Or maybe I'm thinking of the Human Plasma clinic.

LOL, no they didn't close down the Freiburg University Clinic.

Susan

 

[rata de sentina]

I don't believe altitude training has been shown to be particularly beneficial--the studies show the jury is out on it.

There is no jury in science. There seems to be a body of opinion in sports science which is contrary to yours. Thats why athletes continue to use the various modalities of "altitude training" often at considerable expense. There are many studies which show benefit and some which show modest benefit, I haven't seen much evidence that it's deleterious. The question is really how much benefit is useful at the elite level. Less than 1% might win you a race but may not be detectable by crude measures of performance. It's obviously quite complex and not just about erythropoiesis but I don't think you can just pass it off as if it were a fad. There's a good scientific basis for it in my opinion.

Anyway getting back to the topic, it can't be equated with racing. Maybe Rogers wasn't feeling so good after the first couple of days, who knows. If he was going to do altitude training prior to the TdF he would have to start now as it takes a few weeks to get any benefit.

 

[red_flanders]

There is no jury in science.

Right. Thanks. i had no idea.

The point is, that if there are benefits of altitude training, and there may be, they are not massive. They are even somewhat doubtful, though they do (among other less beneficial things) cause (probably) increased RBC count.

With that being the case, pulling out of a race and heading for altitude (the latter being something several riders puport to be doing before the Tour) seems odd to me. It may be the case that he's looking to avoid the weather or overtraining. If so, why not just say that?

As mentioned before, "altitude training" as with "altitude tents" in past years, is a good way to explain RBC count increase should it be questioned in the future. This (and other riders') announcement seems like a pre-emptive communication.

 

[wiry pyruvity]

There's a lot going on at the Tour de Suisse...perhaps he needs to set up his TDF headspace...

 

[auscyclefan94]

didn't the tds go near fribourg the other stage. strange, as michael only rode two days of the tds and pulled out. he was already doing altitude training before at sierra nevada. so why go to switzerland and then go back there after a few days to do some more. Something does not add up.

 

[Frosty]

didn't the tds go near fribourg the other stage. strange, as michael only rode two days of the tds and pulled out. he was already doing altitude training before at sierra nevada. so why go to switzerland and then go back there after a few days to do some more. Something does not add up.

It went near Fribourg but i think it is Freiburg in Germany that is related to doping?

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

It went near Fribourg but i think it is Freiburg in Germany that is related to doping?

Yes, two totally different cities.

Susan

 

[Galic Ho]

All part of the plan A . Mick Rodgers was in vertual Yellow when he crashed out of the tour in 2005.
He then came down with illness so he probably wants to avoid another bout of that.
Relax do mountain work at his own pace and hope he has that form he had back in 2005 he can win it he is good enough.
and of course he missed that crash.

Evans is better than Rogers and he cannot win it. Most of the top level coaches at the AIS have said as much. They know Cadel has a better engine but Mick has the social grit and tactical nous that Cadel doesn't but lacks the firepower via the pedals.

@BlackCat. Rogers is tame. What can a man from Canberra do on twitter? Tell me to head to his home town for some good Fireworks and XXX Pron! To those who don't know, that is what Canberra is famous for other than being our (Aussie) national capital. That's about all he can do other than bay on the interwebs like most here do.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Yes, two totally different cities.

Susan

My bad!!!!!!

 

[craig1985]

Ivan Fannini said in 2008 a lot of riders who drop out of the Vuelta with the World's in mind, do it so they can get a 're-fill' of EPO (or micro dose).

 

[Ferminal]

Ivan Fannini said in 2008 a lot of riders who drop out of the Vuelta with the World's in mind, do it so they can get a 're-fill' of EPO (or micro dose).

For sure.

Most probably extracted in the last month, so EPO is vital to achieving "peak form" for the start of the TdF.

 

[nevada]

I heard him and Cav had a bust up.

 

[Dewulf]

There's a lot going on at the Tour de Suisse...perhaps he needs to set up his TDF headspace...

I heard him and Cav had a bust up.

some combination of the above two points start to make a lot of sense, and since you have to give the media a reason, why not say "altitude training". You obviously couldn't say anything about inter-team strife, if that was the case.

 

[Ripper]

There is no jury in science. There seems to be a body of opinion in sports science which is contrary to yours. Thats why athletes continue to use the various modalities of "altitude training" often at considerable expense. There are many studies which show benefit and some which show modest benefit, I haven't seen much evidence that it's deleterious. The question is really how much benefit is useful at the elite level. Less than 1% might win you a race but may not be detectable by crude measures of performance. It's obviously quite complex and not just about erythropoiesis but I don't think you can just pass it off as if it were a fad. There's a good scientific basis for it in my opinion.

Anyway getting back to the topic, it can't be equated with racing. Maybe Rogers wasn't feeling so good after the first couple of days, who knows. If he was going to do altitude training prior to the TdF he would have to start now as it takes a few weeks to get any benefit.

True. A quarter percent gain could get you 30-60 seconds over the course of the race, just looking at key stages, and that does not even address aspects of recovery.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

LOL, no they didn't close down the Freiburg University Clinic.

Susan

They didn't? Now I'm really at a loss to explain Kloden's lack of form.

 

[BroDeal]

True. A quarter percent gain could get you 30-60 seconds over the course of the race, just looking at key stages, and that does not even address aspects of recovery.

You can increase your power to weight ratio by significantly more than 0.25% simply by taking a dump in the morning. A quarter percent of 400W is 1 Watt. Tires in different states of wear have rolling resistance that varies by more than that.

 

[blaxland]

Evans is better than Rogers and he cannot win it. Most of the top level coaches at the AIS have said as much. They know Cadel has a better engine but Mick has the social grit and tactical nous that Cadel doesn't but lacks the firepower via the pedals.

@BlackCat. Rogers is tame. What can a man from Canberra do on twitter? Tell me to head to his home town for some good Fireworks and XXX Pron! To those who don't know, that is what Canberra is famous for other than being our (Aussie) national capital. That's about all he can do other than bay on the interwebs like most here do.

Can you still buy fireworks in canberra?

 

[rikdewy]

I heard him and Cav had a bust up.

This would make sense since Rogers and Haussler are compatriots... oh and Cavendick is as annoying as a snappy/yappy little yorkshire terrier.

Wasn't the silent protest led by members HTC-Col team?

 

[Ripper]

You can increase your power to weight ratio by significantly more than 0.25% simply by taking a dump in the morning. A quarter percent of 400W is 1 Watt. Tires in different states of wear have rolling resistance that varies by more than that.

Good one, and true!

Depends on how you measure things. A quarter percent of 4 hours of climbing and TT is 36 seconds. A quarter percent of 12 hours of racing is nearly 2 minutes. Of course the other stuff matters. So does the big D. But every bit gained is that much quicker.

 

[hughmoore]

Wasnt Tony Martin leading the race. I would have thought he would have supported him to maintain the lead?

 

[Willy_Voet]

You can increase your power to weight ratio by significantly more than 0.25% simply by taking a dump in the morning.

You should be hired as a technical adviser for some PT team. Give you a bottle of Exlax, a box of plastic bags and a portable scale. Your task: Calculate power to weight ratios each morning before the stage.

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

So all those 'stomach problems' that were affecting Cack early on this year were all part of a special weight-loss/improve your watts plan?