Ok. Two Bahrain riders in a row is a red flag in itself. I hate Bahrain for bringing Padun to the race. At least we could have had some competition.
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Ok. Two Bahrain riders in a row is a red flag in itself. I hate Bahrain for bringing Padun to the race. At least we could have had some competition.
Given he seems to broken two records on his raids (second one is still questioning, but it seems either broken or very close to it). I doubt it would have mattered if the others were closer. He still did the ride in bad weather breaking records while pacing himself.What if Pog did this number and some others could keep up closer? Would it have blown the clinic more or less?
And why are the so fast then?I know this is a strecth, but, maybe what we're seeing in this year's TDF is what "clean" looks like. Froome is probably back to his pre-transformation self. Thomas is Thomas before he decided to give grand tours a go and magically became a climber.
I know this is a strecth, but, maybe what we're seeing in this year's TDF is what "clean" looks like. Froome is probably back to his pre-transformation self. Thomas is Thomas before he decided to give grand tours a go and magically became a climber.
It would be a collective clinic show!What if Pog did this number and some others could keep up closer? Would it have blown the clinic more or less?
But but...today he looked tired...right? That's what ES commentators felt the need to repeat it several times, how tired he looks... Although for me he didn't look more tired than the rest and not even close to how tired he should be after such a effort. Same commentators made doping innuendo every day during Ala's run at 2019 TdF, I wonder what changed.It’s the lack of effort on his face. He’s awful at faking the tired out look at the finish line. At the end of the TT he was as fresh as a daisy.
If everyone was doping then the gaps wouldn't be like this. You also look at rider's faces or people from within the cycling world and you know what is happening lately is not normal by the peloton's standards.
This 100%. I can handle that there is doping in cycling. But I can't handle when there's not the slightest shred of parity in the doping among the top riders in the world.We're seeing a permanent rinse repeat cycle ad infinitum.
What you saw yesterday was no different from Lance destroying the Alpe D'Huez in 2001, specifically the moment he passed poor hapless Laurent Roux without a glance.
Since that day we know two facts: both were doping, but they weren't doping equally.
Roux (who got caught later) admitted he had some pills in his pocket & the usual cheap stuff the small teams could their hands on, Lance meanwhile had the best program & the political power required to make it stick (Verbruggen & the UCI in his pocket).
And that's why the omerta endures because at every level of this Peloton & sport, you'll find there's doping to varying degrees on a level from to 1 to 10 (10 being the highest with the backing from the right authorities).
I am convinced of this because that's what the history of cycling has proven to be true (& considering the names of the men behind the scenes & in the teams like UAE, it's pretty evident). In fact yesterday was probably the biggest p*ss-take & finger in the eye of the anti-dope regulators ever, like a total humiliation of anyone with pretences of making the sport "clean". Like saying "we won, you lose".
Except for Pogacar you mean, right?I know this is a strecth, but, maybe what we're seeing in this year's TDF is what "clean" looks like. Froome is probably back to his pre-transformation self. Thomas is Thomas before he decided to give grand tours a go and magically became a climber.
It’s the lack of effort on his face. He’s awful at faking the tired out look at the finish line. At the end of the TT he was as fresh as a daisy.
Given how things have gone this year, it feels like things are becoming more blatant and I've found myself wondering if we're nearing that part in the cycle where something concrete comes out as someone pushes it too far. Perhaps a gentleman's agreement on how far one go is being trashed, at least that's the impression from those comments in Le Parisien after Padun's second win:And that's why the omerta endures because at every level of this Peloton & sport, you'll find there's doping to varying degrees on a level from to 1 to 10 (10 being the highest with the backing from the right authorities).
I am convinced of this because that's what the history of cycling has proven to be true (& considering the names of the men behind the scenes & in the teams like UAE, it's pretty evident). In fact yesterday was probably the biggest p*ss-take & finger in the eye of the anti-dope regulators ever, like a total humiliation of anyone with pretences of making the sport "clean". Like saying "we won, you lose".
What is revealing are the faces his rivals pull while seeing Pog's performances. WVAs and Dumoulins from last years PDBF stage, or Küngs on wednesday are instant meme material and at the same time an insight into what riders themselves actually think about it.
Did you see Pogacar climbing the Colombiere in the big ring? who else did that?
Roglic/Jumbo fans complaining about the lack of 'doping parity' (whatever the *** that means) is not a good look
Lol, no, but although I'm not a Jumbo fan I can understand the sentiment... if there has to be doping you at least want it to be kind of equal.
Edit: it's not like Vingegaard's and van Aert's performances are totally unsuspicious, though...
Please find me the example of Roglic dropping everyone by 3 minutes on a single mountain stage. Or find Contador for that matter.Roglic/Jumbo fans complaining about the lack of 'doping parity' (whatever the *** that means) is not a good look