State of the Peloton 2025

[Tim Cahill]

Little doping investigation going on in Belgium, breaking just now, anyone hazard a guess?

Huisarts met verleden bij profploeg verdachte in onderzoek naar mogelijke dopingpraktijken

Afgelopen donderdag zijn er in Vlaanderen drie huiszoekingen uitgevoerd in kader van een gerechtelijk onderzoek. Een van de huiszoekingen spitste zich toe op een huisartsenpraktijk in Herentals van een huisarts die in het verleden verbonden was aan een profploeg. Het onderzoek richt zich op...

www.wielerflits.nl

GP with past in professional team suspected in investigation into possible doping practices​

Last Thursday, three house searches were carried out in Flanders as part of a judicial investigation. One of the house searches focused on a GP practice in Herentals of a GP who used to be affiliated with a professional team. The investigation focuses on malpractice, but also on possible doping practices.

The Antwerp public prosecutor's office had previously launched an investigation after information about possible malpractice by the doctor in question. During the investigation itself, atypical prescribing behavior by the GP was noticed and there could be a case of doping practices.

The investigators of the Federal Judicial Police (FGP) Antwerp have collected information during the house searches that will be analyzed in a next phase. Sources have confided to WielerFlits that a general practitioner who was previously affiliated with a professional team is involved in the investigation as a suspect.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Had a little browse to check Belgian team doctors, Guy De Schutter perhaps?

Address: Doornestraat 25, 2200 Herentals, Belgium*

*Not an accusation, you can blame Wielerflits for the jigsaw id.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Had a little browse to check Belgian team doctors, Guy De Schutter perhaps?

Address: Doornestraat 25, 2200 Herentals, Belgium*

*Not an accusation, you can blame Wielerflits for the jigsaw id.

What team did he work for? Alpecin mainly?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I can think of at least one high level pro who live in herentals, I wont mention his name except that it begins with B, and ends with elgian pozzato

 

[E_F_]

Things are going off the rails, when suddenly attacks on the Cipressa stick.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Gianetti being the first guy interviewed after the finish sums it all up

 

[MartinGT]

Gianetti being the first guy interviewed after the finish sums it all up

With Orla swooning over him. Laughable.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Most overdoped MSR since Chiapucchi winning by attacking on the Capi?

 

[zlev11]

fastest Cipressa climb ever. putting full gas EPO dopers to shame.

 

[Froome]

The peloton, including the best riders, appear to be more weaker this year, compared to last years. Let's see how things will go in the next months.

Maybe the CO rebreather has something to do with this.

I was so wrong.

They started the year more slowly, but now they are full gas again. This year will be even more outrageous than last year.

 

[Netserk]

I was so wrong.

They started the year more slowly, but now they are full gas again. This year will be even more outrageous than last year.

Maybe in an absolute sense, but it's a high bar to clear for anyone to deliver a greater shock than Plateau de Beille.

 

[Pozzovivo]

It's important to consider all relevant factors. Simply pointing to faster climbing times as evidence of doping doesn't advance the conversation. Most agree with this in principle—so let’s apply it more consistently?

Just this year, the full attack came on the Cipressa, naturally making the climb faster. A strong tailwind and more aerodynamic equipement, like Pog's new bike, and more aero road helmets also played a role. New tarmac plays a big role etc.

If we ignore these factors and claim every improved performance compared to 30 years ago implies doping, then I could just as easily point out that the Poggio was climbed 20 seconds slower than last year, so there must be less doping now! That would be equally naive, of course.

 

[Netserk]

It's important to consider all relevant factors. Simply pointing to faster climbing times as evidence of doping doesn't advance the conversation. Most agree with this in principle—so let’s apply it more consistently?

Just this year, the full attack came on the Cipressa, naturally making the climb faster. A strong tailwind and more aerodynamic equipement, like Pog's new bike, and more aero road helmets also played a role. New tarmac plays a big role etc.

If we ignore these factors and claim every improved performance compared to 30 years ago implies doping, then I could just as easily point out that the Poggio was climbed 20 seconds slower than last year, so there must be less doping now! That would be equally naive, of course.

No. You can always go slower (for whatever reasons), no matter how doped you are. You cannot always go faster without doping. So the most physiologically demanding performance is far stronger evidence than any weaker performances.

Landis wasn't clean on La Toussuire.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Maybe in an absolute sense, but it's a high bar to clear for anyone to deliver a greater shock than Plateau de Beille.

PdB will be remembered for years to come. What was supposed to be Visma destroying Pogi turned out to be a perfect cooperation of two enemies resulting in an absurd climbing time and showing how high are the limits of modern performance. I remember how shocked I was by a sub-40 minute time.

 

[Froome]

Maybe in an absolute sense, but it's a high bar to clear for anyone to deliver a greater shock than Plateau de Beille.

I wouldn't be surprised if in July we see something even more outrageous.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I wouldn't be surprised if in July we see something even more outrageous.

Maybe in absolute sense (as @Netserk pointed out) but it wouldn't be such a shock as some people (like you) already kinda expect it. Sub-40 minute PdB was something nobody expected then. Most optimistic predictions were like 42-43 minutes. Abyss.

 

[pastronef]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1903953123451822289

View: https://x.com/Hemarina/status/1903953123451822289

 

[Gratemans]

That's probably that French scientist who already talked about being approached by pro cycling teams?

 

[Peyroteo94]

People talk about UAE but Visma's dominance is better than ever too. Both teams are a step above everyone!

 

[Mayomaniac]

People talk about UAE but Visma's dominance is better than ever too. Both teams are a step above everyone!

Van Aert feeling the effect of the police raid against a doping doctor in his hometown.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Van Aert feeling the effect of the police raid against a doping doctor in his hometown.

Totally ridiculous what we saw in the summers of 2020-23.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Just imagining Van Aert pacing around a volcano on his phone to Plugge with a panicked look on his face 'they took the whole f***ing stash!!!

If that theory is true then 15th in a big classic is still quite good, shades of Contador top 5ing the Tour in 2013 after they confiscated his stuff.

Needs to talk to Matt Brennan and Tulett to hook him up with the Richard Freeman connections, one of the best cycling doctors of all time, a legend of the game.

 

[Rackham]

Van Aert's most eyewatering stupid "WTF" moment will forever be dropping Pog on Hautacam.

I've yet to see anyone even attempt to rationally explain what happen in that stage.

 

[Red Rick]

Van Aert's most eyewatering stupid "WTF" moment will forever be dropping Pog on Hautacam.

I've yet to see anyone even attempt to rationally explain what happen in that stage.

Cause he did a 2km pull after being caught from the break ahead and doing the overall climb over 4 minutes slower?

Like dude it doesn't take a whole lot to figure out and if you don't understand I have to assume the most kind option and that's that you refuse to understand because it doesn't fit your narrative rather than the other, less kind assumption.

It's a massive performance but it's not out of line with Ventoux or Prati di Tivo or Col d'Eze. Frankly Col d'Eze was more impressive.

 

[Rackham]

Cause he did a 2km pull after being caught from the break ahead and doing the overall climb over 4 minutes slower?

Like dude it doesn't take a whole lot to figure out and if you don't understand I have to assume the most kind option and that's that you refuse to understand because it doesn't fit your narrative rather than the other, less kind assumption.

It's a massive performance but it's not out of line with Ventoux or Prati di Tivo or Col d'Eze. Frankly Col d'Eze was more impressive.

What 'narrative' would that be, Rick?

The only narrative that's of any consequence is the one that's closest to the truth, aka at least based on the hiostory of this sport: Jumbo and UAE were (are) engaged in an arms race and their gregarios in those TdF's suddenly experienced a delirious performance boost in targeted stages. See Brandon McNulty's performance a day earlier in the Peyragudes stage as a perfect example.

It's not complex rocket science or something you can explain away with after-the-fact logic. What you see is what you get, aka pas normal.