State of Peloton 2023

[pastronef]

The races are more unpredictable, but not in a way that feels good.

I don't understand? what does that mean?

mind, I watch races and follow the sport without thinking about doping as constantly as many do

 

[Monte Serra]

I don't know, but the winners this year so far seem completely random.
Maybe it's because it's early season, but I am getting the impression that there were a few teams clearly ahead, now the others have caught up. The races are more unpredictable, but not in a way that feels good. I wonder how the season will go on in that regard.

Most of the big name riders haven't even started their season yet, or are still in a build-up phase. So to draw any preliminary conclusions from the pre-season about shifting power dynamics, seems a bit far-fetched.

 

[fmk_RoI]

I watch races and follow the sport without thinking about doping as constantly as many do

The worst thing about the Clinic lately is it's populated by people who only see what they want to see.

"Oh, one of the runts of the peloton is bagging the early season fruit at the start of a new three year cycle - DOPING!"

"Oh, the results of the first half dozen races haven't gone the way I expected them to have gone - DOPING!"

"Oh, someone won a bike race - DOPING!"

 

[BR2]

The worst thing about the Clinic lately is it's populated by people who only see what they want to see.

"Oh, one of the runts of the peloton is bagging the early season fruit at the start of a new three year cycle - DOPING!"

"Oh, the results of the first half dozen races haven't gone the way I expected them to have gone - DOPING!"

"Oh, someone won a bike race - DOPING!"

You think this is what I want to see?
Uhm, no. I would actually enjoy the sport much more if those thoughts didn't constantly come to my mind.

The thing is that there are patterns. And what we see resembles in some ways what happened in the 90s. Of course doping is not the only explanation. But it comes to mind, and the clinic is the only place in the forum where these thoughts and feelings can be expressed. If I had proof or at least anything like it I would write a book about it or turn to people who are responsible. I wouldn't spend my time writing about it in a forum for cycling fans.

 

[pastronef]

You think this is what I want to see?
Uhm, no. I would actually enjoy the sport much more if those thoughts didn't constantly come to my mind.

it's very subjective. I really don't think about doping while watching a race. if I did it probably would be useless and distract me from the racing. I don't know. what I know is I enjoy watching, while many people I chat with, mostly on twitter, can't stop hinting, joking, winking about something grey all the time. fecking tiring I'd say.

 

[fmk_RoI]

You think this is what I want to see?

The thing is that there are patterns.

Pattern recognition is often in the eye of the beholder. Sure, yeah, those stars, the way they're aligned, they look just like James Corden's face. And those clouds are definitely in the shape of Ben Affleck's ass. So yeah, whether you're willing to admit it to yourself, this is what you want to see. Especially if you're seeing patterns in a couple of weeks of pre-season racing. And actually willing to tell the world that that's what you're seeing.

 

[BR2]

Pattern recognition is often in the eye of the beholder. Sure, yeah, those stars, the way they're aligned, they look just like James Corden's face. And those clouds are definitely in the shape of Ben Affleck's ass. So yeah, whether you're willing to admit it to yourself, this is what you want to see. Especially if you're seeing patterns in a couple of weeks of pre-season racing. And actually willing to tell the world that that's what you're seeing.

I know what I'm seeing when I see you.

 

[BR2]

All is well, Pogacar won.

 

[pastronef]

All is well, Pogacar won.

who would you have liked to win?

 

[BR2]

who would you have liked to win?

Nobody in particular. It was a rather emotionless remark, since I had said the winners this year so far seemed random. Well, at least Pogacar doesn't seem random, even if he doesn't exactly scream clean to me.

 

[fmk_RoI]

who would you have liked to win?

I can't believe he beat those Kern Pharma guys - that's totally suss. As is the pattern of one wins from one day's racing.

 

[Ricco']

It took longer than I expected but Jose Ibuprofen work is now showing results.

With Guerreiro and Jorgenson they are the kings of the middle east this year.

 

[Mayomaniac]

It took longer than I expected but Jose Ibuprofen work is now showing results.

With Guerreiro and Jorgenson they are the kings of the middle east this year.

Looking at his Strava file Jorgensen did 460W for just over 18min. I know that he's probably a bit over his listed weight at the start of the season, but that's still a high level performance.

 

[Red Rick]

Cycling is back baby

 

[Mayomaniac]

Cycling is back baby

Just like last years pre-/early season:
"lol, Pogi wins!"

 

[Krzysztof_O]

So the season starts similarly to the last year: Tadej crushing his rivals for fun (while obviously riding panyagua) and Jonas still undegoing some lab tuning (all legal OFC) to prepare a monstrous peak for July.

 

[Mayomaniac]

So new Foia climbing record in Algarve, with a strong headwind, yet another one after Green Mountain...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1626262580401512448

 

[SafeBet]

Almost 20 riders faster than the previous record?

 

[pastronef]

Ineos put a huge pace from the foot. no attacks, no yo yo

 

[PhiLiz]

Now I understand why no one could stage an attack... 18 guys faster than Evenepoel.

 

[Nick2413]

So the season starts similarly to the last year: Tadej crushing his rivals for fun (while obviously riding panyagua) and Jonas still undegoing some lab tuning (all legal OFC) to prepare a monstrous peak for July.

I saw your one of your posts outside the clinic and was curious - what is your theory about advanced training methods for very young cyclists?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I saw your one of your posts outside the clinic and was curious - what is your theory about advanced training methods for very young cyclists?

I meant that nowadays young cyclists look like a finished product and it's for a reason: professional training methods from early years (zones, watts, tests, etc) plus a dedicated doping program as soon as they enter a team that can afford it (especially in case of those most talented guys, teams won't waste their resources for domestiques in the making).

 

[Nick2413]

I meant that nowadays young cyclists look like a finished product and it's for a reason: professional training methods from early years (zones, watts, tests, etc) plus a dedicated doping program as soon as they enter a team that can afford it (especially in case of those most talented guys, teams won't waste their resources for domestiques in the making).

Ah. I was also wondering if there is any chance the young riders are doped even before their bio passports are set up, artificially inflating baseline.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Ah. I was also wondering if there is any chance the young riders are doped even before their bio passports are set up, artificially inflating baseline.

The access to knowledge nowadays is better than ever. Therefore I think that even in their junior years their training in local clubs is very professional and yes, it's likely that they dope in some form from very early years. And once they join a top team the best youngsters enter a top notch doping program immediately, the directors don't want to waste big engines (that are already pretty well trained) and prefer strong results as soon as possible.

 

[Extinction]

View: https://youtu.be/Q5G6t81jPKA