• The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

Schleck - Technology Doping? / UCI investifgation into TT outfit [merged]

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

Adamastor

Jul 8, 2010
136
0
0
Hi guys,

you usually pick up these things so don't know if I have missed a thread on it or not.

http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/01-04-2011/schleck-questo-trucco-80689451773.shtml

Some tried to say, it's an April fool's joke, but I'm not so sure. Thanks to an artificial bump under the body during last weekend's 7km TT of Crit Intl, Schleck could have gained 15-20Watts, i.e. 2" per km.

Interesting to watch the video presented by my fellow Luxembourgers from RTL (Radio Tele Luxembourg) on
http://sport.rtl.lu/news/aktualiteit/101487.html

Schleck answered he was wearing a Camelbag under the shirt (apparently he did his warming up with it).

Ok, specialists in aerodynamics, and prophets of doom, your feedback welcome...
 
A

Adamastor

Jul 8, 2010
136
0
0
Just read on a french speaking forum that Leopard team is "testing" a new method, using air blown camelbacks for gaining aerodynamics on the bike.
 
Benotti69

Benotti69

May 26, 2010
28,143
5
0
I would get rid of the TT stuff and make them ride their normal bikes. the advantages would still be the same between riders, but it would be more about the performance of the body rather than the bikes. I know the bikes only add small %'s but think it is a distraction from the rider's performance. IMO
 
Magnus

Magnus

Apr 8, 2010
1,257
0
0
red_flanders said:
He's using a CamelBack on his chest in a 7 km TT? Not buying it.

Can we just call it cheating instead of doping?
Click to expand...

Or maybe, since it isn't cheating or doping, we don't call it cheating or doping?
 
A

Adamastor

Jul 8, 2010
136
0
0
Trucco?

Question here: is it allowed or not? If it s a camelbak filled with water, shrek might be too heavy (easier to use normal bottles?).

If it s an airblown device, it s "verboten" according to UCI regulation
 
python

python

Sep 25, 2009
7,527
1
0
let's cut the crap.

what is the chance that a professional rider will start an 8 minute all out effort dehydrated so that he would need to drink along the way?

answer: zero.


this was an aerodynamic fairing aimed at exploiting a loophole or the ambiguity in the rules.

illegal ? that's a different question. but the intent is obvious. to me at least.

also, let's recall that this is the very guy who needed the famous spanish gyno "just for training plans" whilst the prosecution is suggesting a prison for his egregious doping practices of dozens of athletes.
 
O

Oldman

Jun 19, 2009
5,220
0
0
Adamastor said:
Question here: is it allowed or not? If it s a camelbak filled with water, shrek might be too heavy (easier to use normal bottles?).

If it s an airblown device, it s "verboten" according to UCI regulation
Click to expand...

Perhaps it's charged with air to deliver the water at velocity. He'd need on spritz in this TT. That could make it legal but bizarre none the less.
 
O

Oldman

Jun 19, 2009
5,220
0
0
JMBeaushrimp said:
It's a chest-mounted bong. Might be a short TT, but Schleck is CHRONIC.
Click to expand...

I'm sure he's got the Norcal prescription and the TUE to back it up. Probably why he was slow at last year's ToC...building up immunity.
 
O

Oldman

Jun 19, 2009
5,220
0
0
Coincidental that Camelback add is scrolling just right of the forum entries? Great ad placement if real.
 
Christian

Christian

Mar 13, 2009
5,245
2
0
My take on this:

A) Camelbacks appear to be within the rules (according to RTL Tony Martin used one in the Paris-Nice ITT)

B) Camelbacks appear to offer an advantage to Schleck besides their initial purpose

From these two I deduce that

C) He'd be stupid not to use them, even if he's not thirsty. Otherwise they must review the rules:

- no camelbacks under 15 km
- a distance/size of camelback ratio (for example 10 km = 0,5 l)
- a minimum consumption of at least half the liquid during the race

Also:

How could all the UCI chaperones not notice if the yellow jersey, the overall winner of the event had so clearly broken the rules? This is the sport where athletes get busted for picograms of substances and these are the people who weigh the bikes to see if they are 1 gram too light.

So if he did indeed break the rules that raises a whole lot of questions about these chaperones, because a blind person could have seen he looked 6 months pregnant. Surely, at one point between TV interviews, winner's ceremony and doping tests he must have changed - hopefully in the presence of a chaperone.

Something that might work against Schleck's explanation:

Doesn't one usually carry a camelback on one's back? Or are there special camelbacks for ITT cycling? The latter would indeed make sense, since a traditional camelback would be counterproductive to aerodynamism (?).
 
isayic

isayic

Jun 23, 2009
128
0
0
red_flanders said:
He's using a CamelBack on his chest in a 7 km TT? Not buying it.

Can we just call it cheating instead of doping?
Click to expand...

Interesting.I wrote about this topic yesterday in another forum. I remember Bobby Julich using a camelback and as the name says it he had it on his back with a tube from the camelback to his mouth for drinking. He used it on longer TTs to save time. With a bottle you alway loose a bit of time by taking the bottle to drink and then putting the bottle back. And only this way a camelback makes sense. A camelback on the chest under the jersey makes no sense. I saw a photo of Frank and there was no drinking tube to be seen and placing a camelback on the chest makes drinking a bigger effort because water flows from above to below and not the other way round. -- What I know is that the team has a big budget but I saw nothing so esquisite to explain needing so much money. But research and development can be very expensive. My guess is that the budget is needed to construct and test several things (don't know what) to enchance performance or testing a gadget to dodge the looming radio ban. You are right that nobody needs a camelback for such a short TT that's nearly a prologue. If the rider drinks enough before starting he doesn't need to drink on such a short course. I could see Frank's performance on TV and can't remember that he drank anything and he also was a bit fast for his TT skills usually it's Andy who ist faster.
 
D-Queued

D-Queued

May 27, 2010
6,333
3
17,485
isayic said:
Interesting.I wrote about this topic yesterday in another forum. I remember Bobby Julich using a camelback and as the name says it he had it on his back with a tube from the camelback to his mouth for drinking. He used it on longer TTs to save time. With a bottle you alway loose a bit of time by taking the bottle to drink and then putting the bottle back. And only this way a camelback makes sense. A camelback on the chest under the jersey makes no sense. I saw a photo of Frank and there was no drinking tube to be seen and placing a camelback on the chest makes drinking a bigger effort because water flows from above to below and not the other way round. -- What I know is that the team has a big budget but I saw nothing so esquisite to explain needing so much money. But research and development can be very expensive. My guess is that the budget is needed to construct and test several things (don't know what) to enchance performance or testing a gadget to dodge the looming radio ban. You are right that nobody needs a camelback for such a short TT that's nearly a prologue. If the rider drinks enough before starting he doesn't need to drink on such a short course. I could see Frank's performance on TV and can't remember that he drank anything and he also was a bit fast for his TT skills usually it's Andy who ist faster.
Click to expand...

Tyler used an ice-filled Camelback in Athens. Of course, we all know what the real fuel was for the jet pack.

Agreed, though, that if you can use a Camelback in a Prologue, you might as well legalize fairings.

Yet, the UCI is too busy with its sticker program for bikes with round tubes and standard triangles to bother cracking down on anything blatant.

Dave.
 
JA.Tri

JA.Tri

May 20, 2010
718
1
0
Agree with consensus. It does constitute a fairing. If it contained mainly water then ok...

However far more likely is a "creative" avoidance of regulations. Shading the regs that close does nothing for FS's rep.
 
R

ricara

Jun 16, 2010
182
0
0
Horrible Positioning!

Positioning on a bicycle is NOT just about the seat height and stem length. The rider has to TRAIN himself to have a good (ie, aerodynamic and efficient) POSTURE on the bicycle.

Positioning is a SKILL like cornering and descending and sprinting. It has to be learned through repetition and practice like any other skill. It doesn't happen just by adjusting your bicycle.

That poor numskull is trying to stuff a balloon in his skinsuit to make up for his horrible positioning. I guess he is desperate now that they are watching like a hawk after sending thousands of dollars to the doping doctors.

Better to spend it on a coach that can teach him how to ride a bicycle properly. Pathetic...
 
B

brianf7

Aug 4, 2009
1,056
1
0
Benotti69 said:
I would get rid of the TT stuff and make them ride their normal bikes. the advantages would still be the same between riders, but it would be more about the performance of the body rather than the bikes. I know the bikes only add small %'s but think it is a distraction from the rider's performance. IMO
Click to expand...

Well writen and it would be a lot more comfortable or as comfortable as you can be in a time trial.

Think of the money they would save. think about it save trying to get into the skin suite for the club TT every year it is a bonus if it still zipps up all the way.
 
JeffreyPerry

JeffreyPerry

Jul 7, 2009
140
3
0
Camelback

Someone had posted something about the water flowing from the head...apparantly you've never drank from one...you have to suck the water out, so it doesn't matter if your standing up with it on your back or if your doing a head stand. Suck the water out.

The UCI saw it prior to FS taking off on his ride. They had no issues with it.

1. I don't think its cheating or doping. As long as water was in it.
2. I find it ridiculous that aerodynamically it could give that much of an advantage. Give me a break, how many pot bellied fools do you see winning the local TT's:rolleyes:
3. If it was filled with water, regardless if he drank during the TT or not (lots of us forget to drink), he weighed at least a couple pounds heavier, therefore negating the aerodynamic advantage.
4. did I mention the UCI saw it? Just checking...
 
BroDeal

BroDeal

Mar 18, 2009
14,644
72
22,580
Despite all the people moaning about the UCI "holding back technology," this is the reason we have restrictions on bikes and equipment. If we got rid of them then bikes would have fairings. Skinsuits for time trials would have padding to alter the body's aerodynamics, like five inches of padding on the trailing edge of a rider's upper arms. I think the stupid looking helmets with the huge built-in visors already go too far.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom