State of the Peloton 2025

[Rob5091]

Yep, a new year and the race for UCI points is the big incentive for certain teams. Will Czar Nicholas (Raudenski) finally find a motor or will some new rocket fuel speed up the peloton even more?

 

[yaco]

If the rocket fuel is not on the banned list, then it's a non issue. Some seem to conflate moral issues with legal issues.

 

[Netserk]

If the rocket fuel is not on the banned list, then it's a non issue. Some seem to conflate moral issues with legal issues.

If the moon is made of cheese, then ...

 

[pastronef]

RedBull-Bora leaves the (useless) MPCC

 

[Rob5091]

It was all fake news and a witch hunt apparently ... Lance was a good guy, who even ...gulp ... trained in the rain! Are we going to see a Lance run for CEO of USADA? Yep, 2025 is starting off just fine and dandy -
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...-never-knew-of-lance-armstrongs-doping-scheme

"And I'm not going to say anything bad about him, because as a person, as a teammate, he was the best there is. ... I have a lot of respect, consideration and admiration for him.

 

[TrekCyclist]

Any more news on how effective CO rebeathing really is?
There were some rumors that it not only effects HCT but also muscular metabolism.

 

[Rob5091]

I did link to a Japanese study for using CO for old people with Sarcopenia ( loss of muscle strength and muscle mass with aging) Japan has of course lots of old people!
(This is the study https://keio.elsevierpure.com/en/pu...ed-cell-therapy-as-an-exercise-mimetic-for-sa)

 

[Rob5091]

More on the ongoing topic of cyclists and their mental health - ADHD, Lemond & Gaul.
https://velo.outsideonline.com/road...inner-charly-gaul-led-to-a-diagnosis-of-adhd/

 

[Tim Cahill]

Padun has retired (PCS)

It only seemed right to post it here.

Take it easy Mark, you were a mad bastard.

 

[Rob5091]

Padun has retired (PCS)

It only seemed right to post it here.

Take it easy Mark, you were a mad bastard.

A sad start to the year, hope he does n't end up on the front line.

 

[YavorD]

Padun has retired (PCS)

It only seemed right to post it here.

Take it easy Mark, you were a mad bastard.

The real TdF 2021 winner. Pogacar couldn't even drop Vingegaard on the long climbs let alone Padun.

Pogacar is a luck merchant.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The real TdF 2021 winner. Pogacar couldn't even drop Vingegaard on the long climbs let alone Padun.

Pogacar is a luck merchant.

Mark would've easily won the Tour in 2021 but he was glowing too much in the dark.

 

[repre]

Padun has retired (PCS)

It only seemed right to post it here.

Take it easy Mark, you were a mad bastard.

Bad back, tried to heal up last year, nothing worked out. Dude just *** up physically.

Can't believe he takes so much *** from the people who doesn't know a bit about him. Could be great rider if not health issues.

 

[Rob5091]

Ilkhan Dostiyev gets a four-year ban for his CERA positives - https://velo.outsideonline.com/road...n-devo-rider-hit-with-four-year-ban-for-cera/
Look forward to seeing him back in the peloton in 2028.

 

[Rob5091]

Pidcock the younger brother is another on Ritalin ...TUE's must abound in the peloton at the moment. Reminds me of when everyone suddenly got asthma.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ha...agnosis-and-how-medication-was-life-changing/

 

[Sciatic]

Ilkhan Dostiyev gets a four-year ban for his CERA positives - https://velo.outsideonline.com/road...n-devo-rider-hit-with-four-year-ban-for-cera/
Look forward to seeing him back in the peloton in 2028.

Team response (of course): "“I can state with absolute certainty that Astana Qazaqstan Development Team has no connection to this incident . . . "
fun to imagine them adding:
"because our doping methods are sophisticated and up to date, not this old-school crap Ilkan was using."

 

[Divergence]

I am kinda having mixed feelings about Hessman returning to the peloton. On the one hand you do not want to encourage doping and bringing back a "proven" doper (WADA vs NADA) is not good. On the other hand he was kinda the fall guy and I am glad he gets the chance to prove himself again his former hypocritical team.

 

[pastronef]

Pidcock the younger brother is another on Ritalin ...TUE's must abound in the peloton at the moment. Reminds me of when everyone suddenly got asthma.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ha...agnosis-and-how-medication-was-life-changing/

being diagnosed with ADHD he's got every right for medication and TUEs

 

[Ripper]

Team response (of course): "“I can state with absolute certainty that Astana Qazaqstan Development Team has no connection to this incident . . . "
fun to imagine them adding:
"because our doping methods are sophisticated and up to date, not this old-school crap Ilkan was using."

I mean, CERA????

 

[Ripper]

being diagnosed with ADHD he's got every right for medication and TUEs

Yup. Generally speaking, it is a pretty specific diagnosis with pretty clear criteria.

 

[Rob5091]

being diagnosed with ADHD he's got every right for medication and TUEs

Absolutely. He's the latest pro-cyclist to talk about their mental issues and it's a welcome trend.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Well here it is, I thought when the article came out last July the explanation seemed a bit far fetched, but there is obviously enough smoke for them to be spooked into taking these measures.

The UCI bans repeated inhalation of carbon monoxide, and introduces measures to ensure participation of best teams in top-tier road events

www.uci.org

The Management Committee of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) met in Arras (France) on 31 January and 1st February, alongside the 2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, which are being held in Liévin from 31 January to 2 February.

To protect the health of riders, the UCI Management Committee approved a ban on the repeated inhalation of carbon monoxide (CO). The ban will come into force on 10 February 2025.

As a reminder, CO is commonly used in sports medicine to measure total haemoglobin (Hb) mass and blood volume, especially to examine the effects of endurance training and altitude exposure on oxygen carrying capacity. However, its repeated inhalation can result in acute and chronic health problems, for example headaches, lethargy, nausea, dizziness, and confusion. Such symptoms can worsen at any time and develop into problems with heart rhythm, seizures, paralysis, and loss of consciousness.

The new regulation forbids the possession, outside a medical facility, of commercially available CO re-breathing systems connected to oxygen and CO cylinders. This ban applies to all licence-holders, teams and/or bodies subject to the UCI Regulations and to anyone else who might possess such equipment on behalf of riders or teams.

The inhalation of CO will remain authorised within a medical facility and under the responsibility of a medical professional experienced in the manipulation of this gas for medical reasons and in line with the following restrictions: only one CO inhalation to measure total Hb mass will be permitted. A second CO inhalation will only be authorised two weeks after the initial Hb measurement.

For riders in UCI WorldTeams, UCI Women’s WorldTeams and UCI ProTeams, any CO inhalation for the purpose of determining total Hb mass must be recorded in the medical file established for each athlete, in compliance with Articles 13.3.020 to 13.3.026 of the UCI Medical Rules.

The UCI’s ban is independent of the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-doping Regulations, however the UCI has officially requested the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to take position on the repeated use of CO in and out of competition.

 

[yaco]

Is there a test for this? if not you are relying on intelligence and it will need to be damn good intelligence.

 

[Unchained]

Is there a test for this? if not you are relying on intelligence and it will need to be damn good intelligence.

I am guessing no test. And it's fairly complicated from UCI posting, but the idea that physical items like a recognized device or tanks being prohibited from being in your possession is a clue. So if you see riders showing sudden interest in welding or glass blowing that will be a clue for UCI police.. WADA doesn't have a Gas-Stopo team yet..

 

[Cookster15]

Is there a test for this? if not you are relying on intelligence and it will need to be damn good intelligence.

I think the effects of inhalation of CO would show up in the markers tracked by the biological passport. Ultimately, whatever drug or method is used, it can't provide a performance benefit if it doesn't boost the volume of oxygen delivered into the bloodstream for use by the muscles.